1827.J Pauper Lunatics. 451 



for the present, confine our attention. The maxim of " ex uno disce 

 otnnes" is generally a safe one, where the circumstances scarcely vary, 

 and the motives by which men are commonly impelled necessarily the 

 same. The establishment in question, be it remembered, is not of a public 

 nature, but a private one. It is especially instituted for private gain ; there- 

 fore, the greatest profits, with the smallest trouble compatible with success, 

 must be the final and ruling object of the proprietor. Humanity can 

 scarcely enter into the system, and, at all events, cannot be calculated 

 upon. It is at variance with the interests of the institution ; for humanity 

 implies more personal attention than is found to be given, and less coer- 

 cion ; and these things can only be at the expense of time, and anxiety, 

 and labour, and, in the same proportion, to the sacrifice of profit. The 

 only restraint upon severity and neglect the only motive which is likely 

 to secure any of the effects of kindness is the apprehension that the too 

 eager pursuit of gain may defeat its own purposes. Individuals may perish 

 by harsh treatment, and the credit of the establishment suffer with them ; 

 therefore, there is a limit to neglect, some bounds to severity, some check 

 upon cruelty not in humanity, but happily in interest itself. Cruelty 

 and interest may, however, long go hand in hand before they must part 

 company ; as a bow will take a good deal of straining before it snaps. It is 

 an easy thing to throw an oblivious cloud around the insane, and, under 

 the cover of that cloud, to commit fearful atrocities : their condition occa- 

 sions their friends perplexity, and excites alarm among them ; they look 

 eagerly anywhere for relief, and welcome any promise of deliverance. The 

 disposition of people to confide in the doctor is almost without measure: 

 he himself affects to know more than he really does, and, on the claim. of 

 superior knowledge, demands greater confidence ; and, under the shelter of 

 this confidence, he may steadily and safely pursue his own interest, to the 

 abandonment of the patient's welfare. 



If there be one matter more than another, where it is essential to shut 

 out all the ordinary motives and means of gain, the care of lunatics is that 

 one. They cannot help themselves; they are thrown upon strangers 

 interested in oppressing them; and, comparatively, are resigned into their 

 hands, or deserted by their friends. The case of pauperism is not half so 

 imperative ; and yet it has been found necessary to withdraw the motives 

 for personal interest from their management : it has been necessary to stop 

 the practice of farming the poor, because the thirst of gain, which is in most 

 natures next to ungovernable, has prompted the contractor to starve the 

 miserable wretches who fell under his tender mercies. But what is this 

 system of thrusting the pauper lunatics into houses like Mr. Warburton's, 

 \>\\t farming them, under the most unfavourable circumstances too, where 

 the poor victim is supposed to be unable to distinguish complaint from con- 

 tent, and may of course be oppressed with impunity. M 



The statement we are coming to, be it understood, is no-attack of ours 

 on Mr. Warburton's establishment. He owes the notice his establishment 

 attracts to its greater extensiveness. The Committee do not suppose it to 

 be worse than others ; nay, the implication rather is, that it is one of the 

 best ; but, nevertheless, they find the system pursued liable, in their full 

 extent, to the old objections pointed out by the Committees of 1807 and 

 1815; and as neither any modification in the laws, nor palliation in the 

 practice, seem likely to remove them, the only effective expedient is public 

 institutions county asylums, superintended by the magistrates, and 



3 M 2 



