Curwen.] ^^^ [Jan. 16, 



as every reflecting man must admit, that some means of diverting the 

 mind from morbid ideas to more healthy thoughts, was as important as 

 medicine to a disordered bodily system, and that the two must be carefully 

 adjusted to the condition of the individual at the time. He was never sat- 

 isfied with what he had done, but was always reaching out for something 

 newer and better in addition to those already in use. This idea runs 

 through all his reports, like a golden thread, to brighten and strengthen 

 them. In reference to occupation, a wise caution is given, which should 

 be carefully pondered, if they could do such a thing, by those whose ill- 

 digested opinions indicate a much greater amount of zeal than knowledge. 



"Moderate, wisely regulated labor is really serviceable to many of the 

 insane, but hard work, so carried on as to be profitable to any institution, 

 is very rarely of benefit to the patients, while often it is injurious to an un- 

 suspected extent, to a class whom the excitement of disease stimulates to 

 extraordinary exertion. Besides these, there are others, who uncom- 

 plainingly labor at the tasks assigned them, only because they are urged 

 to do so, when their natural instincts would lead them to enjoy the rest, 

 for which they have a persistent craving, and which comes from an actual 

 want of strength dependent on the existence of disease. It is never to be 

 forgotten by those having charge of the insane, that much as the malady 

 differs in form and degree, all of these cases are as truly the subjects of a 

 serious disorder in a delicate organ as are those who have any other sickness, 

 in which the suflferers may be so much better able to describe their true 

 condition, and to secure proper attention to their wishes. In providing day 

 occvipation for the insane, much of it must be very different from the hard 

 work from which alone any material profit can be anticipated. For much 

 the larger portion of the patients, walking or riding through the grounds, 

 or in their vicinity, with all the attractions that can be connected with 

 them, will be much more valuable as remedies and nearly as profitable 

 pecuniarily, as labor usually is. Every one of the many forms of diversion 

 that should always be liberally provided, and all the games, outdoors and 

 in-doors, especially those that give active exercise in the open air, have a 

 positive value, and really contribute more or less to the great objects for 

 which these hospitals are established. The labor problem in regard to the 

 insane is probably best settled by the conclusion, that it is hardly possible 

 to exaggerate the importance of occupation of some kind for every class, 

 but also, that harm, quite as easily as good, may follow employment, in 

 unwise forms, and that a practical knowledge of the whole subject in re- 

 gard to kind, amount, and the physical and mental conditions of those on 

 whom its eflFects are tried, is indispensable to secure the best results from 

 its use. 



"The necessity for entertaining and amusing the patients of a hospital 

 for the insane, and giving them suitable varieties of occupation — no matter 

 what is the character of the institution — is now generally conceded. For 

 the day-time reasonably good arrangements are commonly made for effect- 

 ing these objects, but there is a long period in the evening — often amouut- 



