and laundry,—giving nearly fifty in a hundred. Attempts towards increasing the workers on the female side, have hitherto not been so successful as on the male. An arrangement, however, has just been completed, by the removal of the higher class females to the new building, which provides a work-room; and, as an additional qualified attendant has been engaged to superintend, one of whose special duties will be to induce and encourage patients to engage in such occupations, better results are anticipated in future.

Recreating, as also instructing the insane patients, is justly not overlooked; on the contrary, such appliances in their treatment seem liberally supplied. Thus, lectures, concerts, and other sources of amusement and instruction in the town are visited, whenever an opportunity occurs, and to which convalescent paupers, as also private patients, have access. Lecturers, vocalists, bands of music, and so forth, are likewise frequently secured, wherever possible. Besides the above, there is a weekly dance, which forms a great centre of attraction, in addition to other amusements, constituting often an important item of moral improvement. Skittles, quoits, bowls, and drilling, with other out-door games, being often arranged during summer. Pic-nics, excursions to the country, and visiting various scenes of interest in the neighbourhood-highly deserving notice, on account of their natural beauty and historical relations-have often been participated in by numerous pleasure-seeking parties of inmates, who could properly appreciate or benefit by such privileges.

Reading and intellectual culture, whenever applicable in such a community, are further far from being neglected. Newspapers and serials being supplied, to satisfy this appetite-natural even in lunatics. Besides the literary stores of this, institution, which furnishes its quota of amusement and instruction, portions of the more fastidious reading inmates are supplied with books from the public library in town. Attendance on religious services also constitutes an important feature; and recently, a large addition has been made to the number of patients attending chapel, many being even inmates who, formerly, would have been deemed unfit to engage in such duties. A considerable portion of the community, male and female, both of pauper and private patients, occasionally attend the public churches of Montrose, with evident advantage.

Recently, the physical health of most residents has been good, and, on the whole, satisfactory. Unlike the former season, cholera has not prevailed in this establishment since that period; but it seems worth mentioning, on the other hand, that in the beginning of last February, erysipelas broke out, five cases having occurred in four weeks; whilst lately, an epidemic of apoplexy

made its appearance: four instances of that disease having occurred during five weeks; three being females in advanced life, and whose insanity had been of long standing. Of the above, two died after a few days' illness: whilst the third, it was reported, has now nearly reached her former condition, viz., chronic mania, with periodical excitement. Very few patients were sick in bed, the day I visited the asylum: and, in this respect, there seemed nothing novel or worthy of remarking.

Notwithstanding the average insane patients, irrespective of attendants, varied last year from 215 to 220, and the number amounts now to 229, only one resident medical officer is attached to this institution-viz., Dr. Gilchrist, who is likewise superintendent. At the Glasgow Asylum, with 381 lunatics, there are three medical attendants, as already stated, which gives one to every 127 patients. Consequently at Montrose, there ought to be at least one resident assistant also, seeing the physician has by by far too many duties now to perform. Not only has that officer to undertake occupations personally, which may be called manual, and of minor importance, but he must likewise attend to and supervise the entire establishment. Further, as many inmates are ladies and gentlemen, who become often more difficult to manage than pauper patients, they are in a higher degree exacting as to the attendance required; besides which, seeing such cases contribute greatly towards the profit of this institution, its present medical staff is certainly too limited. In fact, this defect is even more prominent than at Dundee, where, although the asylum contains fewer lunatics, there is also an attending physician, who shares the responsibility with Dr. Wingett. Here, moreover, irrespective of the patients being in greater number, the medical superintendent has no professional assistant. Hence, if absent for recreation or otherwise, only for short periods, which occasionally must occur, as that gentleman is not a prisoner, proper aid may not be readily procured, should any emergency supervene.

Some months ago, a second medical officer was voted by the Board of Management; but difficulties respecting the appointment having arisen, and as only a very paltry salary was proposed, hitherto no result has followed this proposition. Indeed, it is said, several parties did not think the measure absolutely necessary, since they considered four or five hours per day were quite as much as any person could possibly spend on the patients under treatment. If such opinions really existed, these authorities would almost seem to have an impression that, the medical superintendent of an asylum has really no other functions to undertake, beyond those of a mere prescriptionist. Moral management must then constitute no part of the conception entertained, regarding the great utility of possessing an adequate

professional staff, in extensive institutions for the insane. Notions of that description are most erroneous; and wherever it should be still supposed an additional medical officer is merely wanted, for the purpose of preparing medicines, dressing sores, or to perform minor operations, and be engaged only in inferior employments, such an idea is altogether a mistake. Consequently, both at Dundee, but especially in the asylum now under review, there ought to be, at least, two resident medical attendants.

Before concluding these remarks, I must however add-indeed, my now doing so is only an act of simple justice-that Dr. Gilchrist performs his varied yet multifarious duties most zealously, even although these have been, of late, greatly augmented, as well from the introduction of many new attendants-at first but imperfectly acquainted with their several occupations—as also on account of the large accession of new patients. Besides the above important considerations, it should further be noticed, in consequence of frequent and sometimes important changes of internal arrangements, Dr. Gilchrist's labours have lately been materially increased; whereby the onerous and other functions taxing the energies of that officer did not invariably prove so smooth in their course as could have been wished, or the marked assiduity displayed fairly entitled him to anticipate.

(To be continued.)

ART. IV.-AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE INSANE.
(Continued from page 82.)

I AM dead. Like Seneca, I have been bled to death by my persecutors, who each had a cupful of my blood. I well remember that I have suffered death with resignation, and praying to God that he would forgive me my manifold sins. My voice has been heard; but I am not yet worthy of being numbered among the Elus. My good and bad actions during my lifetime are carefully weighed by our Supreme Judge; the latter are too numerous, but my repentance at the hour of death is taken into consideration. According to my belief, as a Roman Catholic, I am doomed to pass a certain lapse of time in Purgatory. My murderers have already been overtaken and struck by the justice of men. They did not repent; they are damned for eternity.

In atonement for my sins on earth, and before I may obtain the kingdom of Heaven, I must be put to the test, and tempted by the Infernal Powers for several hours every night. I am, therefore, carried into the dominions of Satan, who endeavours, by a display of magic operations, to show me that his puissance is too great to be resisted successfully, and that sooner or later I

shall give way. He also tries to persuade me that he can make me more happy than I am in purgatory. He points to a number of his subjects, among whom I recognise my persecutors, who seem to enjoy their present position.

For the first time, I feel an invincible courage within myself. I firmly answer that I despise him, his threats, and his promises, and that, with my God's assistance, I fear nothing, and may defy all the monsters in his dark kingdom. The room then assumes a more gloomy appearance; it is vaulted like a cellar; a sulphuric smoke comes out of the fire-place, so thick as to conceal many objects from my sight, and to stifle me. The walls are covered over with grimacing, horrid monsters, at all of which I now laugh fearlessly, saying that this is nothing compared with what I saw many a time when I attended theatres. Now and then, if I perceive that the attacks made against me are too powerful, I am, as it were, inspired to have recourse to prayer. I therefore repeat uninterruptedly, aloud, and in any language I know, our Lord's Prayer, which I had nearly forgotten, together with Glory be, &c. ; or I sign myself. I remark that no one of the devil's attendants, or even himself, dare to touch me while I am praying. On the contrary, they seem to suffer a great deal inwardly, and slink away, in uttering curses; but they return to the charge as soon as I leave off praying. After a long, a very long struggle, I grow weaker and weaker; I can hardly speak for want of a drop of water, which I would not, however, accept from unholy hands. I am smothered; perspiration flows down my checks; my strength is exhausted; the evil spirits profit by my prostration; I feel crawling about me and on me repulsive reptiles or animals, such as serpents, toads, frogs, rats, mice, &c. There are myriads of them. Their size is so large that I must see them through a microscopic glass. Here my good angel comes to my deliverance. I am carried back to purgatory. Now I fall asleep.

I have slept until eight o'clock-three or four hours, I should think. My head is clearer; I am not so restless; the noise in my ears is lighter. The two other patients tell me that I had a very bad night. My eyes were rolling in their sockets, like those of a madman. I was very noisy. I seemed to fight for a long time. I spoke sometimes in Latin, sometimes in English, but mostly in an unknown language. The night-nurse wanted to make me drink, but I could not, even with the assistance of the cook (man). It was fortunate that I could not stir.

The doctor comes in, and finds that my pulse is less agitated. Notwithstanding the nurse's report about my excitement of last night, he orders that I should be free in my movements. The strait-waistcoat and other courroies are taken off. No visions

until night, when I fancy that Satan himself is lying by my side. I also imagine that my persecutors have resumed their places in the other beds. They say that it is a shame. I am sleeping with the devil. They see his long flat feet hanging out of the bed, and from which I try in vain to disentangle mine. In my opinion, Satan has taken the shape of a wolf. His head is remarkable by two short horns. The whole of the body, with the exception of the two feet, which are as cold as ice, is covered with long yellow hairs, emitting a most nauseous smell. He again speaks to me in a threatening manner. I do not listen to him. My only answer is, that I no longer fear his power, because God is my protector. Then I commence to pray, sometimes in a low voice, sometimes aloud, but always composedly, as if I felt quite safe. I still hear the once dreaded voices; but reason seems to have returned-she tells me not to trust sounds.

This was, Monsieur le Docteur, the third night I had visions since my admission into the infirmary; it was also the last one. From that time the visions completely vanished. It is true that I was still very far from being restored to health. My sight was greatly impaired for some more days. My appetite did not return all at once, but by degrees, and accompanied by a good sound sleep. I here must acknowledge that nothing was spared by the medical gentlemen which was likely to accelerate my complete guérison. They told me I had been very ill; and indeed I think they entertained very little hope of my recovery. I left the infirmary, when I asked for my dismissal towards the 20th of February.

On my return to town, I felt much more inclined to live as a Christian. I could not help believing that all the events, either real or imaginary, had taken place through God's will for my conversion. My first care was to consult the priest, and to take his advice about marrying the girl, notwithstanding my gloomy recollections concerning herself and her family. The reverend gentleman owned. that the connection was altogether unsuitable, that it was a great pity, &c. But I had a great sin to expiate. Marriage had become a necessity.

We were therefore married, although I had forgotten nothing. I first wanted to quiet my conscience, and was very much like a man who clings to any plank of safety, however rotten, to avoid drowning. In consequence of my new connection, now openly known, I lowered my usual charge, thus hoping that many pupils would avail themselves of it to learn French. My business was resumed without any loss of time. I abstained from any strong drink, and should have most likely been enabled to maintain my little family, had not my wife been badly advised by her