NEW CHAPTERS IN THE WARFARE OF SCIENCE. 587 



reports show it to be essentially what it had been in those pre- 

 vious centuries.* 



The first humane impulse of any considerable importance in 

 this field seems to have been aroused in America. In the year 

 1751 certain members of the " Society of Friends'' founded a small 

 hospital for the insane on better principles in Pennsylvania. To 

 use the language of its founders, it was intended " as a good work, 

 acceptable to God." Twenty years later Virginia established a 

 similar asylum, and gradually others appeared in other colonies. 



But it was in France that mercy was to be put upon a scientific 

 basis, and was to lead to practical results which were to convert 

 the world to humanity. In this case, as in so many others, from 

 France was spread and popularized not only the skepticism which 

 destroyed the theological theory, but also the devotion which 

 built up the new scientific theory and endowed the world with a 

 new treasure of civilization. 



In 1756 some physicians of the great hospital at Paris known 

 as the Hotel-Dieu protested that the cruelties prevailing in the 

 treatment of the insane were aggravating the disease ; and some 

 protests followed from other quarters. Little efi'ect was produced 

 at first ; but, just before the French Revolution, Tenon, La Roche- 

 foucauld-Liancourt, and others took up the subject, and in 1791 a 

 commission was appointed to undertake a reform. 



By great good fortune, the man selected to lead in the move- 

 ment was one who had already thrown his heart into it — Jean 

 Baptiste Pinel. In 1792 Pinel was made physician at Bicetre, one 

 of the most extensive lunatic asylums in France ; and to the work 

 there imposed upon him he gave all his powers. Little was heard 

 of him at first. The most terrible scenes of the French Revolution 



* On Sir Thomas More and the condition of Bedlam, see Tuke, "History of the Insane 

 in the British Isles," pp. 63-73. One of the passages of Shakespeare is in "As you Like 

 It," Act iii, scene 2. As to the survival of indifference to the sufferings of the insane so 

 long after the belief which caused it had generally disappeared, see some excellent remarks 

 in Maudsley's "Responsibility in Mental Disease," London, 1885, pp. 10-12. 



The older English practice is thus quaintly described by Richai'd Carew (in his " Survey 

 of Cornwall," London, 1602, 1769): "In our forefathers' daies, when devotion as much 

 exceeded knowledge, as knowledge now commeth short of devotion, there were many bows- 

 sening places, for curing of mad men, and amongst the rest, one at Altcrnunne in this Hun- 

 dred, called S. Nunnespoole, which Saints Altar (it may be) . . . gave name to the church. 

 . . . The watter running from S. Nunnes well, fell into a square and close walled plot, 

 which might bee filled at what depth they listed. Vpon this wall was the frantickc person 

 set to stand, his backe towards the poolo, and from thence with a sudden blow in the brest, 

 tumbled headlong into the pond ; where a strong fellowe, provided for the nonce, tooke 

 him, and tossed him vp and downe, alongst and athwart the water, vntill the patient, by 

 forgoing his strength, had somewhat forgot his fury. Then was hee conveyed to the 

 Church, and certain Masses sung over him ; vpon which handling, if his right wits returned, 

 S. Nunne had the thanks ; but if there appeared small amendment, he was bowssened 

 againe, and againe, while there remayncd in him any hope of life, for recouery." 



