suasion, to take a small quantity of nutri- | sition, and permitted the stone to drop to tious liquid; and it is equally true in these, the ground. He then submitted to be as in general cases, that every breach of quietly led to his apartment." resolution weakens the power and disposition to resistance. "Sometimes, however, persuasion seems to strengthen the unhappy determination. In one of these cases, the attendants were completely wearied with their endeavours; and, on removing the food, one of them took a piece of the meat, which had been repeatedly offered to the patient, and threw it under the fire-grate; at the same time exclaiming that she should not have it. The poor creature, who seemed governed by the rule of contraries, immediately rushed from her seat, seized the meat from the ashes, and devoured it. For a short time she was induced to eat, by the attendants availing themselves of this contrary disposition; but it was soon rendered unnecessary by the removal of this unhappy feature of the disorder."-(pp. 166, 167, 168, 169.) "Some years ago, a man, about thirtyfour years of age, of almost herculean size and figure, was brought to the house. He had been afflicted several times before; and so constantly, during the present attack, had he been kept chained, that his clothes were contrived to be taken off and put on by means of strings, without removing his manacles. They were, however, taken off when he entered the Retreat, and he was ushered into the apartment where the He was superintendents were supping. calm: his attention appeared to be arrested by his new situation. He was desired to join in the repast, during which he behaved with tolerable, propriety. After it was concluded, the superintendent conducted him to his apartment, and told him the circumstances on which his treatment would depend; that it was his anxious wish to make every inhabitant in the house as comfortable as possible; and When it is deemed necessary to apply that he sincerely hoped the patient's conany mode of coercion, such an over- duct would render it unnecessary for him powering force is employed as precludes to have recourse to coercion. The maniae all possibility of successful resistance; was sensible of the kindness of his treatand most commonly, therefore, extin-ment. He promised to restrain himself; guishes every idea of making any at and he so completely succeeded, that, all. An attendant upon a madhouse during his stay, no coercive means were ever employed towards him. This case af exposes himself to some risk—and to fords a striking example of the efficacy of some he ought to expose himself, or he mild treatment. The patient was freis totally unfit for his situation. If quently very vociferous, and threatened the security of the attendants were the his attendants, who, in their defence, were only object, the situation of the patients very desirous of restraining him by the would soon become truly desperate. jacket. The superintendent on these ocThe business is, not to risk nothing, the first sight of him seemed rather to incasions went to his apartment; and though but not to risk too much. The gene-crease the patient's irritation, yet, after rosity of the Quakers, and their courage sitting some time quietly beside him, the in managing mad people, are placed, violent excitement subsided, and he would by this institution, in a very striking listen with attention to the persuasions point of view. This cannot be better and arguments of his friendly visitor. illustrated than by the two following After such conversations the patient was generally better for some days or a week: and in about four months he was dis cases: case, "The superintendent was one day walk-charged perfectly recovered. ing in a field adjacent to the house in company with a patient who was apt to be vindictive on very slight occasions. An exciting circumstance occurred. The maniac retired a few paces, and seized a large stone, which he immediately held up, as in the act of throwing at his companion. The superintendent, in no degree ruffled, fixed his eye upon the patient, and in a resolute tone of voice, at the same time advancing, commanded him to lay down the stone. As he approached, the hand of the lunatic gradually sunk from its threatening po "Can it be doubted that, in this the disease had been greatly exasperated by the mode of management? or that the subsequent kind treatment had a great tendency to promote his recovery ?"-(pp. 146, 147. 172, 178.) And yet, in spite of this apparent contempt of danger, for eighteen years not a single accident has happened to the keepers. In the day-room the sashes are made of cast-iron, and give to the building the security of bars, without their un- the conversation of judicious indifferent pleasant appearance. With the same persons greatly increases the comfort, and landable attention to the feelings of is considered almost essential to the rethese poor people, the straps of their covery, of many patients. On this account, the convalescents of every class are frestrait waistcoats are made of some quently introduced into the society of the showy colour, and are not infrequently rational parts of the family. They are also considered by them as ornaments. No permitted to sit up till the usual time for advantage whatever has been found to the family to retire to rest, and are allowed arise from reasoning with patients on as much liberty as their state of mind will their particular delusions: it is found admit."—(pp. 178, 179.) rather to exasperate than convince them. Indeed, that state of mind would hardly deserve the name of insanity where argument was sufficient for the refutation of error. To the effects of kindness in the Retreat are superadded those of constant employment. The female patients are employed as much as possible in sewing, knitting, and domestic affairs; The classification of patients accord- and several of the convalescents assist ing to their degree of convalescence is the attendants. For the men are severy properly attended to at the Re-lected those species of bodily employtreat, and every assistance given to ments most agreeable to the patient, returning reason by the force of exam- and most opposite to the illusions of ple. We were particularly pleased his disease. Though the effect of fear with the following specimens of Quaker is not excluded from the institution, sense and humanity:yet the love of esteem is considered as a still more powerful principle. "The female superintendent, who pos sesses an uncommon share of benevolent activity, and who has the chief management of the female patients, as well as of the domestic department, occasionally gives a general invitation to the patients to a tea-party. All who attend dress in their best clothes, and vie with each other in politeness and propriety. The best fare is provided, and the visitors are treated with all the attention of strangers. The evening generally passes in the greatest harmony and enjoyment. It rarely happens that say unpleasant circumstance occurs. The patients control, in a wonderful degree, their different propensities; and the scene is at once curious and affectingly gratifying. "Some of the patients occasionally pay visits to their friends in the city; and female visitors are appointed every month, by the committee, to pay visits to those of their own sex, to converse with them, and to propose to the superintendents, or the Committee, any improvements which may occur to them. The visitors sometimes take tea with the patients, who are much gratified with the attention of their friends, and mostly behave with propriety. "That fear is not the only motive which operates in producing self-restraint in the minds of maniacs is evident from its being often exercised in the presence of strangers who are merely passing through the house; and which, I presume, can only be accounted for from that desire of esteem which has been stated to be a powerful motive to conduct. "It is probably, from encouraging the action of this principle, that so much advantage has been found in this institution, from treating the patient as much in the manner of a rational being as the state of his mind will possibly allow. The superintendent is particularly attentive to this point in his conversation with the patients. He introduces such topics as he knows will most interest them; and which, at the same time, allows them to display their knowledge to the greatest advantage. If the patient is an agriculturist, he asks him questions relative to his art; and frequently consults him upon any occasion in which his knowledge may be useful. I have heard one of the worst patients in the house, who, previously to his indisposition, had been a considerable grazier, give very sensible directions for the treatment of a "It will be necessary here to mention, that the visits of former intimate friends have frequently been attended with disad-diseased cow. vantage to the patients, except when convalescence had so far advanced as to afford a prospect of a speedy return to the bosom of society. It is, however, very certain that, as soon as reason begins to return, "These considerations are undoubtedly very material as they regard the comfort of insane persons; but they are of far greater importance as they relate to the cure of the disorder. The patient, feeling himself of some consequence, is induced to | tendent reads to them several chapters in support it by the exertion of his reason, the Bible. A profound silence generally and by restraining those dispositions which, if indulged, would lessen the respectful treatment he receives, or lower his character in the eyes of his companions and attendants. "They who are unacquainted with the character of insane persons are very apt to converse with them in a childish, or, which is worse, in a domineering manner; and hence it has been frequently remarked by the patients at the Retreat, that a stranger who has visited them seemed to imagine they were children. "The natural tendency of such treatment is to degrade the mind of the patient, and to make him indifferent to those moral feelings which, under judicious direction and encouragement, are found capable, in no small degree, to strengthen the power of self-restraint, and which render the resort to coercion in many cases unnecessary Even when it is absolutely requisite to em. ploy coercion, if the patient promises to control himself on its removal, great confidence is generally placed upon his word. I have known patients, such is their sense of honour and moral obligation under this kind of engagement, hold, for a long time, a successful struggle with the violent propensities of their disorder; and such at tempts ought to be sedulously encouraged by the attendant. "Hitherto, we have chiefly considered those modes of inducing the patient to control his disordered propensities which arise from an application to the general powers of the mind; but considerable advantage may certainly be derived, in this part of moral management, from an acquaintance with the previous habits, manners, and prejudices of the individual. Nor must we forget to call to our aid, in endeavouring to promote self-restraint, the mild but powerful influence of the precepts of our holy religion, Where these have been strongly imbued in early life, they become little less than principles of our nature: and their restraining power is frequently felt, even under the delirious excitement of insanity. To encourage the influence of religious principles over the mind of the insane is considered of great consequence as a means of cure. For this purpose, as well as for others still more important, it is certainly right to promote in the patient an attention to his accustomed modes of paying homage to his Maker. "Many patients attend the religions meetings of the Society held in the city; and most of them are assembled on a first day afternoon, at which time the superin ensues; during which, as well as at the time of reading, it is very gratifying to observe their orderly conduct, and the degree in which those who are much disposed to action restrain their different propensi ties.”—(pp. 158-161.) Very little dependence is to be placed on medicine alone for the cure of insanity. The experience, at least, of this well-governed institution is very unfavourable to its efficacy. Where an insane person happens to be diseased in body as well as mind, medicine is not only of as great importance to him as to any other person, but much greater; for the diseases of the body are commonly found to aggravate those of the mind; but against mere insanity, unaccompanied by bodily derangement, it appears to be almost powerless. There is one remedy, however, which is very frequently employed at the Retreat, and which appears to have been attended with the happiest effect, and that is the warm bath,-the least recommended, and the most important, of all remedies in melancholy madness. Under this mode of treatment, the number of recoveries, in cases of meluncholia, has been very unusual; though no advantage has been found from it in the case of mania. At the end of the work is given a table of all the cases which have occurred in the institution from its first commencement. It appears that, from its opening in the year 1796 to the end of 1811, 149 patients have been admitted. Of this number 61 have been recent cases: 31 of these patients have been maniacal; of whom 2 have died, 6 remain, 21 have been discharged perfectly recovered, 2 so much improved as not to require further confinement. The remainder, 30 recent cases, have been those of melancholy madness; of whom 5 have died, 4 remain, 19 have been discharged cured, and 2 so much improved as not to require further con finement. The old cases, or, as they are commonly termed, incurable cases, are divided into 61 cases of mania, 21 of melancholia, and 6 of dementia; affording the following tables: *11 died. "Mania. 31 remain in the house. 5 have been removed by their friends improved. 10 have been discharged perfectly recovered. 4 so much improved as not to require further confinement." € died. 6 remain. "Melancholia. 1 removed somewhat improved. 6 perfectly cured. 2 so much improved as not to require further confinement." 2 died. 2 remain. "Dementia. 2 discharged as unsuitable objects." The following statement shows the ages of patients at present in the house: "15 to 20 inclusive 2 2 from epilepsy. 49 from constitutional causes. 8 from failure in business. the face of her medical attendant the son Upon the whole, we have little doubt that this is the best managed asylum for the insane that has ever yet been established; and a part of the explanation no doubt is, that the Quakers take more pains than other people with their madmen. A mad Quaker belongs to a small and rich sect; and is, therefore, of greater importance than any other mad person of the same degree in life. After every allowance, however, I which can be made for the feelings of sectaries, exercised towards their own disciples, the Quakers, it must be allowed, are a very charitable and humane people. They are always ready with their money, and, what is of far more importance, with their time and attenaffection, for every variety of human misfor tune. They seem to set themselves down systematically before the difficulty, with 4 from hereditary disposition to mad- the wise conviction that it is to be ness. 2 from injury of the skull. 1 from mercury. 1 from parturition." The following case is extremely curious; and we wish it had been authenticated by name, place, and signa tare. "A young woman who was employed as a domestic servant by the father of the relater, when he was a boy, became insane, and at length sunk into a state of perfect idiotcy. In this condition she remained for many years, when she was attacked by a typhus fever: and my friend, having then practised some time, attended her. He was surprised to observe, as the fever advanced, a development of the mental powers. During that period of the fever, when others were delirious, this patient was entirely rational. She recognised in lessened or subdued only by great labour and thought; and that it is always increased by indolence and neglect. In this instance, they have set an example of courage, patience, and kindness, which cannot be too highly commended, or too widely diffused; and which, we are convinced, will gradually bring into repute a milder and better method of treating the insane. For the aversion to inspect places of this sort is so great, and the temptation to neglect and oppress the insane so strong, both from the love of power, and the improbability of detection, that we have no doubt of the existence of great abuses in the interior of many madhouses. A great deal has been done for prisons; but the order of benevolence has been broken through by this preference; for the voice of misery may sooner come up from a dungeon, than the oppression of a madman be healed by the hand of justice.* MADAME D'EPINAY. (E. REVIEW, 1818.) no rival till the day of her death. The account of the life she led, both with her husband and her lovers, brings upon the scene a great variety of French characters, and lays open very completely the interior of French life and manners. But there are some letters and passages which ought not to have been published; which a sense of common decency and morality ought to have suppressed; and which, we feel assured, would never have seen the light in this country. Mémoires et Correspondance de Madame D'Epinay. 3 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1818. THERE used to be in Paris, under the ancient régime, a few women of brilliant talents, who violated all the com- A French woman seems almost almon duties of life, and gave very ways to have wanted the flavour of pleasant little suppers. Among these prohibition, as a necessary condiment supped and sinned Madame d'Epinay to human life. The provided husband -the friend and companion of Rous- was rejected, and the forbidden husseau, Diderot, Grimm, Holbach, and band introduced in ambiguous light, many other literary persons of distinc- through posterns and secret partitions. tion of that period. Her principal It was not the union to one man that lover was Grimm; with whom was was objected to for they dedicated deposited, written in feigned names, themselves with a constancy which the the history of her life. Grimm died-most household and parturient woman his secretary sold the history- the in England could not exceed ; - but feigned names have been exchanged the thing wanted was the wrong man, for the real ones and her works the gentleman without the ring-the now appear abridged in three volumes master unsworn to at the altar-the person unconsecrated by priests"Oh! let me taste thee unexcis'd by kings.” octavo. The following strikes us as a very lively picture of the ruin and extravagance of a fashionable house in a great metropolis. "M. d'Epinay a complété son domes. Madame d'Epinay, though far from an immaculate character, has something to say in palliation of her irregularities. Her husband behaved abominably; and alienated, by a series of the most brutal injuries, an attachment which seems to have been very ardent and sincere, and which, with tique. Il a trois laquais, et moi deux; je better treatment, would probably have n'en ai pas voulu davantage. Il a un been lasting. For, in all her aberra-valet de chambre; et il vouloit aussi que je tions, Madame d'Epinay seems to have had a tendency to be constant. Though extremely young when separated from her husband, she indulged herself with but two lovers for the rest of her life; -to the first of whom she seems to have been perfectly faithful, till he left her at the end of ten or twelve years; -and to Grimm, by whom he was succeeded, she appears to have given prisse une seconde femme; mais, comme je n'en ai que faire, j'ai tenu bon. Enfin les officiers, les femmes, les valets se montent au nombre de seize. Quoique la vie que je mène soit assez uniforme, j'espère n'être pas obligée d'en changer. Celle de M. d'Epinay est différente. Lorsqu'il est levé, son valet de chambre se met en devoir de l'accommoder. Deux laquais sont debout à attendre les ordres. Le premier secrétaire vient avec l'intention de lui rendre compte des lettres qu'il a reçues de son départeThe Society of Friends have been ex-ment, et qu'il est chargé d'ouvrir; il doit tremely fortunate in the choice of their lire les réponses et les faire signer; mais il male and female superintendents at the est interrompu deux cents fois dans cette asylum, Mr. and Mrs. Jephson. It is not easy to find a greater combination of good sense and good feeling than these two persons possess:- but then the merit of selecting them rests with their employers. occupation par toutes sortes d'espèces imaginables. C'est un maquignon qui a des chevaux uniques à vendre, mais qui sont retenus par un seigneur; ainsi il est venu |