A FREE COLONY OF LUNATICS. 59 



Since 18S2 Gheel has been divided into two distinct and entirely- 

 independent sections of medical administration. At the head of each 

 is a doctor-in-chief, assisted by an adjunct physician. The medical 

 service comprises treatment of the patients for their mental affections 

 and the incidental maladies attending them, correspondence with ad- 

 ministrations or families, concei*ning their moral and physical condition, 

 the direction and observation of the guards of section in all that con- 

 cerns the medical service, surveillance of the nourriciers in points 

 regarding the hygiene, food, and lodging of the patients intrusted to 

 their care, and as to their own conduct and devotion to the welfare of 

 their wards. The curable lunatic must be visited at least once a week 

 by the doctor-in-chief or adjunct doctor of his section. The incurables 

 are visited once a month. The doctors meet monthly and consider 

 what reforms and improvements may be introduced into the service. 



The infirmary was built in 1862. It is divided into two sections 

 for the separation of the sexes. It is directed by an adjunct physician 

 under the control of the doctors-in-chief, who have severally the con- 

 trol of half of each section. To it are admitted patients, the precise 

 diagnosis of whose cases has not yet been made, who remain a few 

 days for observation before being put under the care of a nourricier ; 

 patients already placed who show some disquieting symptom, and 

 those who are suffering from some incidental affection. The sick are 

 visited here twice a day. Besides the adjunct physician, two guards 

 of section, a sister, and the necessary subordinates, are attached to the 

 infirmary. 



Gheel is situated twenty-six miles east of Antwerp, and is reached 

 from it by railroad. It is the chief town of the Campine country, 

 and, with the territory administratively dependent upon it and also 

 receiving insane, gives about 11,000 inhabitants, occupying some 25,000 

 acres. It is easy to distribute 1,600 insane over such an extent of ter- 

 ritory without their coming into frequent contact with one another. 

 According to the act of 1882, insane persons may be received at Gheel 

 of all classes except those upon whom means of restraint and coercion 

 have to be employed continuously ; those inclined to suicide, homicide, 

 and incendiarism, and those who have made frequent escapes, or whose 

 affections are of a character to endanger the public tranquillity or to 

 offend public decency. After his arrival, the patient usually passes 

 some time at the infirmary, where he is examined and studied by the 

 physician. If his diagnosis has already been made, it is confirmed or 

 modified ; if not, he is kept till an exact idea is gained of the nature 

 of his affection, and it is decided whether he belongs to the class of 

 those who can be allowed to remain there. His words and movements 

 are carefully noted, and his case soon becomes understood. If he is 

 found to be inoffensive, the next business is .to place him in some 

 family. 



The register, on which are inscribed the names of all the hotes 



