460 Pauper Lunatics. [Nov. 



We have before seen the extent of the surgeon's labours at the least a 

 thousand patients ; but a glimpse at his own testimony will be more satis- 

 factory. On his examination, he professes to consider himself responsible 

 for the mental and bodily cure of all. When asked to describe the process, 

 he fears, by speaking professionally, he shall not make himself intelligible; 

 but, being farther urged, he states generally, if the case be one of excite- 

 ment, he reduces; if of depression, he gives them a fillip ; and, if depen- 

 dant on bodily disease, he cures the disease. Jn short, all who are bodily 

 ill, he attends to ; and of those who are mentally so, all who are susceptible 

 of being benefited by medicine. He does not hesitate to make this decla- 

 ration, though never more than one out of ten are actually under his care. 

 Of course, nine out often are considered by him as incurable, and no regard 

 is, in point of fact, paid to them. Being asked how he remembers the cases, 

 he says he keeps a paper, with the name and medicine prescribed, which 

 he renews as it fills up perhaps every week or ten days. " Does every 

 description of patients receive the same diet, exclusive of bodily ailments ?" 

 " Yes, but thinks the furious require better diet than the melancholy, 

 and has no doubt they have it." Like Mr. Warburton. the surgeon answers 

 generally : whatever is requisite is done; he gives orders, and is sure they 

 are executed : but, being farther questioned, knows nothing of course of 

 the actual execution of his orders. The superintendent is all in all. 



Then follows the Py lades of this Orestes, Mr. Cordell, who is as ready 

 as the best to make the largest declarations. He gives directions about diet 

 and every thing is done done so far as the orders go, he means. " If 

 I find a man sinking, I say let this man have wine; if accustomed to wine, 

 give him brandy. I am speaking of paupers. With respect to the higher 

 orders, of course, if wo recommend champaign and brandy, it is followed 

 immediately without restriction." " What sort of register does Mr. Dun- 

 ston keep of his patients ?" " A very correct one." " Is it a book ?" 

 " A large folio volume ; and, I believe, for neatness, as well as correctness 

 of detail, it is a pattern for every professional man to adopt." " Does that 

 book constitute the means you have of going on with the system of medical 

 treatment ?" " Precisely. For months back we have had occasion to refer, 

 and I have never found the reference fail," &c. Will the reader believe 

 that the whole of this detail is sheer moonshine that, in reality, no such 

 book exists ? and, of course, no such referencecould be made ? This gen- 

 tleman, on an after examination, when the Committee remind him of his 

 evidence, begs leave to correct his statements. He laboured under a 

 mistake ; some years ago there was some such book, and he supposed it 

 was continued ; his statement was made in the confidence he had in Mr. 

 Dunston's extraordinary punctuality and method. There can be no 

 difficulty in attaching its due value to this gentleman's testimony. 



Dr. Robert Hooper is also examined on the part of Mr. Warburton, and 

 at Mr. Warburton's desire ; not, the reader will think, with very good dis- 

 cretion. Speaking of Mr. W.'s bouse, he says, " The patients that are sent 

 there are many of them epileptic patients, whose minds are, after an epi- 

 leptic paroxysm, very much deranged, and who, during the attack, are very 

 unmanageable: they are generally incurable cases. Now, I conceive, that 

 such cases, if they are looked after to see that they do not hurt themselves, 

 that they are taken proper care of under the paroxysm, and that they have 

 comfort afforded them when the paroxysm goes by, are as well there as in 

 any other place, affording them similar attention. There are very many 



