Among the very remarkable things disclosed in this report of Dr. Baly, we find that during the first four years of the period of time embraced in it, when the average term of imprisonment was less than one hundred days, the cases of insanity were 11 or 3.28 per 1,000 prisoners, and that in the last four years, in which fifty-six days were added to the average length of confinement, the cases of insanity rose to 19 or 4.70 per 1,000! So that, omitting those who recovered in prison, the ratio in the first four years was 1.49 per 1,000, and, the last 2.72, or nearly double! It has been generally conceded even by the most zealous opponents of separation, that its tendencies are quite harmless and even wholesome, when not extended much beyond twelve months; but Dr. Baly's report presents an entirely new view of the case. He tells us that the ratio of insanity is twice as high in the second three months of confinement, and more than three times as high in the third, as it is in the first. His table is as follows: -----------------------------+-------------+------------+--------------- |Approximative| Number | Annual | Number |of Cases of |ratio per 1,000 Periods of Imprisonment. |of Prisoners | Insanity | of Cases of | who passed |occurring in| Insanity for | through |each Period.| each Period. |each Period. | | -----------------------------+-------------+------------+--------------- First Three Months | 16,000 | 9 | 2.25 Second Three Months | 8,400 | 9 | 4.28 Third Three Months | 4,200 | 8 | 7.61 Fourth Three Months, or later| 1,200 | 4 | -- -----------------------------+-------------+------------+--------------- But it unfortunately happens that the reasons assigned for these results would go to disprove them. "The various feelings of remorse, shame and despondency," and the "withdrawal of the external sources of excitement," would be much more likely to work upon convicts' spirits during the first three months, than during the third three months, especially when the termination of the sentence is so near at hand. But the whole statement is so extravagant, and so contrary to the received opinions of even anti-separatists themselves, that we are disposed to give it very little weight. Dr. Given, late resident physician of the Eastern State Penitentiary, whom we must all regard as at least an uncommitted party, expresses his conviction of the entire safety of separation for the term of twelve months, even in the case of minors; but beyond that, in their case, he would seldom extend it. See his Report for 1852.