PSYCHIATRY. 41 



of the minds of men throughout the civilized and enlightened nations 

 of the world to a realization of the man's duty to his fellow man. The 

 dissemination of knowledge among the people was gradually killing 

 out the grosser forms of superstition, holding such a hypnotic influence 

 over the ignorant. The spirit of liberty, fraternity and equality was 

 abroad. With this zeal for the acquirement of knowledge, the spirit 

 of investigation and the kindling of enthusiasm for scientific research, 

 philanthropic ideas began to develop in men's minds, pity for the suf- 

 fering and the unfortunate and a desire to better the condition of all. 

 Prison reform was agitated, hospitals were organized for the sick in 

 body. The treatment of the insane was made a matter for legislative 

 investigation and although little or nothing was done toward the im- 

 mediate relief of their condition, yet public sentiment was being slowly 

 aroused in their behalf. Gradually the light of a brighter day was 

 dawning. The propriety of abusive treatment, of cruelty, of chains, 

 of stripes, formerly regarded as essential for the control of the maniac, 

 or looked upon with indifference, was now brought into question. 

 Much was written relative to insanity during this period but no 

 decided step was taken for the betterment of conditions until near the 

 close of the century when the noble-hearted Tuke, in England, and 

 the brave Pinel, in France, started the grand reform, broke the fetters 

 and brought the great restorative, hope, to stimulate the weakened 

 mind. 



The York Asylum, founded by general subscription in 1777, for 

 'the decent maintenance and relief of such insane persons as were in 

 low circumstances' was, about 1791, the worst among the bad institu- 

 tions in England. In this year a young woman, a member of the 

 Society of Friends was committed to the York Asylum. Her friends 

 were denied the privilege of seeing her and in a few weeks she died. 

 Her death arousing suspicion of improper treatment among the 

 Friends, one of their number, Mr. William Tuke, "resolved (1792) to 

 establish an institution in which there would be no secrecy and where 

 the patients would have humane and judicious care." Thus was the 

 Retreat at York established and, in 1796, launched upon its memorable 

 career, continuing from the first a leader in psychiatric progress. 



The year 1792 also is made memorable by the appointment of 

 Philip Pinel as physician to the insane at the Bicetre. Coming to this 

 position a trained alienist, he was deeply stirred by the condition of 

 the men confined there, fifty of them in chains, many for a long period 

 of years. His repeated and persistent appeals to the Commune for 

 authority to release them from their bonds were finally given a reluctant 

 affirmative answer, and in the end he was able to remove the chains 

 from all the patients and to continue the good work at the Salpetriere, 

 an institution exclusively for women. 



