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patients appeared quiet and cleanly; many were working in the gardens and at various occupations; whilst I remarked, with much satisfaction, that the dormitories seemed more lofty and better adapted as sleeping-rooms, than many similar apartments met with in various other establishments of this description. Amongst the female pauper patients, 118 were employed out of the 143 then resident; 6 were sick or indisposed, and one was in seclusion. Of the 153 pauper male lunatics, 101 were occupied in some kind of manual employment; only one was confined by sickness; and not a single individual appeared in any way restrained. These facts consequently speak most satisfactorily, not only respecting the physical health of every inmate, but they likewise bear ample testimony in favour of the judicious management exercised throughout this establishment.

Of

During the past year, 240 new patients were admitted, of whom 123 were male and 117 female lunatics, thereby giving a greater relative proportion of the former over the latter sex ; but which preponderance is not accidental, the same circumstance having been very generally observed, in the past history of this institution, ever since its first opening, fourteen years ago. those admitted, 107 were affected with mania, 83 exhibited monomania, including melancholia, and 50 laboured under dementia: which form of mental disease is by no means rare among the poor of Glasgow, and seems evidently induced by the privations and miseries, to which many of that class are exposed. The number of patients dismissed cured, during the same period, were 60 males and 56 females, making a total of 116 cases, or about 48 per cent., compared with the admissions: whilst the deaths amounted to 62, comprising 32 male and 30 female patients, or 24 per cent. for both, the sexes being nearly equal in mortality. Amongst the assigned causes producing insanity in the patients admitted, the intemperate use of alcoholic liquors stands forward pre-eminent; 45, or about a fifth of the entire admissions, being attributed to this cause, 27 of whom were male and 18 female victims.

Upon this too frequent cause of mental derangement and other evils, throughout Scotland, the following judicious observations made by Dr. Mackintosh, the able physician-superintendent of the Glasgow Asylum, merit record and mature consideration. They are extracted from his last "Annual Report," which, like previous similar documents, deserve being read by all who take an interest in the management of institutions for the insane. The writer observes on this sad but important subject:

"It is a mistake, however, to suppose that intemperance is, in every instance where it exists, the cause of the attack; for there are cases in which it is clearly evident that the pernicious habit is the result of, or is consequent upon, the mental derangement. In a considerable

number of instances, it was ascertained that one or other of the parents of the patients (I speak of patients generally) had been addicted to intemperance. It was not, however, clearly ascertained in any instance that their habits had been such previous to the birth of their offspring; so that although it appears that this vice is indulged in by no means rarely by the parents of those who become insane, it is not proved by our investigations this year that the intemperance of the parents produced a predisposition in the children; it is nevertheless very likely, but this is a subject we cannot pursue farther here. Our inquiries, however, show that the children of parents having a proclivity to intemperance, and, at one period or other of their lives, actually of intemperate habits, are apt to become insane; that where the mental or physical organization of the parent is favourable to the development of intemperate habits, the offspring have a predisposition to insanity. That the children of drunken parents are apt to become intemperate is well known, and may be explained possibly by reference to the influence of example alone. But it is not of this I speak now, but of intemperance in the parent as a cause of insanity in the offspring."

Respecting general paralysis, which now so deservedly attracts the special notice of all psychological physicians, it appears 15 cases-general or partial-existed, of whom 10 occurred in male and 5 in female inmates. In reference to this intractable malady, the same experienced authority observes, with much truth, upon the cases under treatment :

"One boasts of his amazing prowess, and that he can perform the most herculean feats; another fancies that he is possessed of enormous riches, and property of untold value; that he is the Supreme Being, a king, and the like. Voracity of appetite, and a restless activity, are not unfrequently found among patients of this class. The number of males here affected with paralysis is just double that of females. One case had been preceded by an attack of chorea; and in another case, a brother of the patient suffered from the same affection. In one, the attack was consequent upon, and was supposed to be caused by, the sudden healing up of old ulcers upon the legs. In another case, general blood-letting had been twice employed previous to the admission of the patient, and, according to the statement of the relatives, with a decidedly injurious effect. One fancies he is a king, and attaches 'Rex' to his signature; another is a Russian diplomatic agent; one says that she is the true Messiah, and denounces the greater part of the Old and New Testaments as a fabrication and imposture; another is a great Evangelist; a third has been dead and has come alive again, and believes that the millennium has begun, and that she has been inspired and commissioned to convert the world; some accuse themselves of having committed enormous crimes; others, by far the greater number, are the victims of plots and conspiracies; some profess to be the special favourites of Heaven, and to have divine revelations, while others are possessed of devils; one fancies that part of her body is made of glass, and dreads being touched; another that she is the

Evil One, and that her skin has become black; some are tormented in one way or other by means of gas; others are under mesmeric or electrical influences."

During the past year, 116 patients were discharged cured; many of whom, however, appeared so hopeless of benefit on admission, that it was scarcely expected they would ever have become convalescent. If the proportion of cases be calculated according to the total number admitted, the per centage hence amounts to 483: and as 62 died, the deaths upon the same ratio reached 22:14 per cent. Amongst the cases ending fatally, 32 were males and 30 females; but although the mortality in each sex was recently nearly equal: still, past experience of this Asylum proves the proportion of deaths ranged considerably higher in male, than female lunatics. Of the chief causes of death, it may be stated, as showing the physical diseases under which the patients succumbed, that 13 died from paralysis, 11 through exhaustion, 9 by diarrhoea, 9 were phthisis, 3 originated in cardiac affections, 3 by apoplexy or cerebral disease, and 3 followed pneumonia or peripneumonia.

Dr. Mackintosh being so well known as an experienced practitioner in mental maladies, it seems almost superfluous to allude to the treatment, whether medical, physical, or moral, pursued in this Asylum. Nevertheless, the subjoined paragraph from the recent official Report of that accomplished physician seems worthy of being quoted on the present occasion, since it conveys to readers a correct notion of the general views entertained. He says:

"The use of warm baths has been cautiously extended, and longcontinued immersion practised, in some instances with a marked beneficial sedative effect, in cases in which there was much excitement. Although general blood-letting has now been almost if not entirely discarded in the treatment of the insane, recourse is still occasionally had to the local abstraction of blood, either by means of leeches applied to the head or cupping-glasses to the nape of the neck. The great mass of the patients, however, cannot bear depletion in any form, but the reverse; and therefore, from the time of admission, stimulating nourishment, with alcoholic agents, as they are clearly indicated, are freely given, and with beneficial results. When in Forfarshire, I found, in my practice there, that the insane could bear any sort of reduction, whether by means of blood-letting or medicine, very much better than they can do here. The patients in this quarter are more exhausted, more reduced every way on admission."

Amusements and occupations of various kinds are assiduously pursued at the Gart-navel institution. Four subscriptions to the libraries of Glasgow are paid, so that the patients may possess the newest books and periodicals for their recreation, if not

NO. I.-NEW SERIES.

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instruction. There is a printing-press in the Asylum, which continues to be used by inmates. They compose the articles, put them in type, and then act as pressmen in throwing off the printed copies: whilst a great many schedules, and similar sheets have been thus printed, as also part of Shakspeare, with original introductory notes by a resident lunatic. To one patient -a profound melancholic-marble, and the necessary implements were procured, whereby he was induced to commence work; and before leaving the institution convalescent, this party had executed several sculptures in a very superior manner; thus showing the utility of occupying maniacs in a way their natural genius often indicates.

The medical staff of this Royal Asylum consists of Dr. Mackintosh, physician-superintendent, with Drs. Robertson and Ferguson as assistants; besides Dr. Fleming, of Glasgow, who is surgeon to the institution, but non-resident. There being thus three resident medical officers; it hence follows that, for every 127 patients one special medical attendant has been provided, which constitutes a much higher proportion than prevails in many other similar establishments; consequently such an arrangement deserves particular notice, as also high commendation.

(To be continued.)

Art. V.—AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE INSA NE.

[The writer of the following narrative was for some period an inmate of Bethlehem Hospital, under the kind and skilful care of Dr. Hood, the physician of that establishment. Dr. Hood requested the writer, after his recovery, to describe his state of mind and sensations during his attack of insanity. The details he has given will be read with deep interest by all engaged in psychological investigations, and in the treatment of the insane.-Editor.]

AGREEABLY to your wishes, I will undertake to make you acquainted with, 1st, the causes from which, in my opinion, originated the disease that has brought me into this establishment; 2nd, my various sensations and thoughts whilst I was labouring under it.

Previous to this year, 1851, I never for one moment suffered from mental derangement, although, I must confess, that I commenced to take strong drinks with excess, at a period so far back as the latter end of 1849; until that time the only complaint I was subject to was accidental constipation, accompanied by fever and loss of appetite.

As my disease first made its appearance in Londonderry, I

shall take the liberty of giving you an account of my way of living there, from the time of my arrival to the day when illness, despair, and want of pecuniary resources, compelled me to leave it.

In August, 1848, on my return from France, whither I had gone to spend my vacation, I was, on the most pressing recommendation of the Manager of the Bank at Larne, who knew me, appointed French master at Foyle College, Londonderry. The Reverend Mr. Henderson, who was and still is the head-master, after the trial of a few days to put my qualifications to the test, agreed with me that I should receive my board and lodging in the establishment, in return for French tuition imparted to a limited number of pupils: my lessons were to be given four times a week, and to last two hours every time.

For three months I lived in the college, attending my classes there according to the agreement, and also other young gentlemen and ladies in town; but finding that I could not meet every one's wishes without interfering with the meal-hours at college, I resolved on taking up my residence in the city. The principal, to whom I communicated my determination, gave me his full approval, and desired me to continue my attendance in his establishment for the salary of one pound per quarter for each pupil.

I therefore removed on the 1st of December and got lodgings in a most respectable family, consisting of four sisters. They were elderly ladies, and nearly related to a gentleman whose daughters I attended.

There I spent, until June, the most happy months I ever enjoyed. My health was excellent, I had as many scholars as I could wish; the ladies of the house were more like sisters than strangers to me, and the steadiness of my conduct as a teacher caused the best families in and about Derry to honour me with their esteem. In a word, I saw before me most encouraging prospects, but there was in me, steady, sober as I was, the seed of many sins, a profound disrespect for religion.

Like many of my countrymen, and though brought up by a most pious mother, I was a Christian only by name. The college life in Paris had almost rooted out from me all notion of God. Thus, whilst in the sight of men my conduct was irreproachable, I shamefully forgot that the discharge of our duties towards our Creator is alone calculated to render our conduct irreproachable. Never did I once go either to church or to chapel during upwards of two years.

I returned to France, as usual, in June 1849, and came back in August next, after a stay of a few weeks with my family and

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