62 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



The capacity to do profitable work varies among the different 

 classes of patients. Idiots, according to Dr. Peeters, make efficient 

 laborers, unless their disease is too far advanced. To prevent abuse, 

 it is stipulated that the noxirricier shall not decide on his own resj^onsi- 

 bility whether his patient shall work or not ; that is determined by 

 medical permission or prescription. The patients are apt to work too 

 much. They become interested in the occupations of the family and 

 follow them to the fields, unless they are prohibited by the physician, 

 and are in this way often tempted to do the full day's work of a strong 

 man — sometimes, possibly, to their harm. The compensation they re- 

 ceive depends, of course, upon the Avork they do. Sometimes they 

 receive a small sum at the end of the week ; sometimes they are paid 

 in tobacco, eggs, beer, or articles of clothing. But the administration 

 takes care that they get something, either in the form of a present 

 or as regular pay. 



The regulations of internal discipline imposed on the patients are 

 very simple. They can go out between eight o'clock in the morning 

 and four o'clock in the afternoon in the winter, and between six and 

 six in the summer, and at other hours by special permission. Only 

 quiet patients can resort to the inns, and it is forbidden to give spiritu- 

 ous liquors to any of them. If the patient does not desire to work, 

 he can indulge his taste for reading or art ; in pleasant weather he can 

 go to Gheel or walk in the country, alone or with a friend ; but he is 

 not allowed to travel on the railroad or to go away. 



The question is in order of the effect of this liberty upon the per- 

 sonal security and the health and morality of the population of Gheel. 



Suicides are very rare ; there has been only one since 1879 ; there 

 were three between 1875 and 1879, and others in 1850 and 1851. No 

 act of violence has been recorded since 1878. But such things have 

 occurred, as when, in 1844, the burgomaster, who was also a druggist, 

 was assassinated by an insane herbalist, who imagined him his rival 

 in trade. Dr. Peeters can recall only three cases of crime in a very 

 long time. The personal security of the lunatics is sometimes com- 

 promised by the dealers selling them liquors. The fact is always a 

 grave one, for it implies a deficiency in the surveillance. We have 

 already said that four guards of section are not enough. More are 

 needed, to watch those who have their senses, as Avell as those who 

 have lost them. In this way only can some of the objectionable feat- 

 ures inherent in the mode of life carried out at Gheel be eliminated. 

 Escapes are by no means rare. Sixty-six cases occurred in the six 

 years, 1876-1881, or an average of about nine a year. Whenever a 

 patient betrays an inclination to run away, instead of being subjected 

 to measures of coercion, he is usually sent to a close asylum. It is a 

 fact worthy of remark that, in nine cases out of ten, attempts at escape 

 take plaf'c on Sunday. This is usually because the ■nourriciers go off 

 and amuse themselves on that day, and leave their patient to take care 



