332 INSANITY. 



neath that trap a cistern of water lay yawning ; and now the 

 tale is told the nature of a surprise-bath made evident. 



Once committed to the water, the unfortunate maniac 

 remained there for a period that might vary according to the 

 conscience, or the behests, of the medical attendant. 



Frequently the intent was, to keep the patient there until 

 the very moment when drowning might be considered immi- 

 nent ; and this known, who can doubt that drowning under 

 this presumed remedial torture has actually occurred 1 



Taken from the surprise-bath, the miserable patient would 

 undergo farther discipline variable according to the result 

 attained, the gravity of his symptoms, and certain other cir- 

 cumstances. Probably the patient would be depressed for a 

 time ; his bodily strength lowered; his shattered mental facul- 

 ties prostrated by terror. In that case the patient would pro- 

 bably be consigned to a gloomy cell, either chained to the 

 wall or bed, or else cramped by a strait-waistcoat. He might, 

 however, on regaining his shattered faculties work himself 

 into a condition of fury: a state which, according to the 

 notions then prevalent amongst mad doctors (as they were 

 called, and as they fully deserved to be called, though for a 

 reason not contemplated by them), needed the infliction of 

 some greater torture. 



This was ready to hand through more agencies than one, 

 but especially through the ' gyrator ' or roundabout. Most 

 of us have seen the roundabouts with which British children 

 amuse themselves at fairs : some of us have experienced the 

 quality of their circular locomotion. To adults the results 

 are a giddiness and a feeling of sickness most oppressive; 

 and even in the case of children a very little of this circu- 

 lar amusement goes a long way. The common roundabout 

 machines used at fairs are driven at very moderate speed; 

 yet even with them forced persistence in the motion, subse- 

 quent to the period when unpleasant symptoms begin, would 

 be intolerable. 



