338 INSANITY. 



1 Quisnam igitur sanus ? qui non stultus. Quid avarus ? 

 Stultus et insanus. Quid ? si quis non sit avarus ; 

 Continue sanus ? Minime ' 



Following Dr. Conolly's description of what happens to 

 a raving maniac conveyed to an asylum on a stretcher as 

 just described, the first thing done is to loosen the bonds, 

 of whatever kind, and set the patient free. He is watched, 

 of course : quick eyes are upon him ; strong hands are ready 

 to seize him, should he abuse the liberty thus suddenly 

 given. 



The immediate effect is often marked. Frequently the 

 patient, after gazing about, after seeing that only kind-look- 

 ing countenances regard him, vindicates the aphorism that 

 we are all insane, by acting pretty much as one of us would 

 do. The patient frequently grows tranquil on the instant. 

 It may be otherwise, however. It may be that the paroxysm 

 of fury has not yet expended itself; in which case recourse 

 is had to the seclusion of the padded room. Fancy a cham- 

 ber, every aspect of which, the ceiling excepted, is an ex- 

 panse of soft mattress, and the mind has presented to it the 

 exact resemblance of an asylum padded strong-room. 



Into a place of this sort the refractory patient is gently 

 conveyed, and the lock turned upon him. High up, far 

 beyond his reach, a small window gives entrance to a gentle 

 light. The door, seemingly as any other door, has an in- 

 genious contrivance provided ; a sort of elaborate peep-hole, 

 through which every part of the chamber and its occupant 

 may be inspected from the external corridor, without the 

 patient's cognisance of the inspection made. Within this 

 chamber the maniac then is left to expend his fury. 



Does he rush violently against the walls? No matter; 

 they are soft and yielding. Does he cast himself upon the 

 floor? Again, no matter. In a paroxysm of suicidal rage 

 the maniac perhaps essays to rend the cushions, to tear- out 

 strips wherewith to strangle himself. In vain ; that has been 



