42 THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF THE INSANE, 



presence of their brutal keepers almost as savage as the 

 beasts of the forests ? 



Such was the condition of the insane throughout the 

 civilized world until near the close of the last century. 

 In 1792 the asylums of Paris were in a shocking condi- 

 tion, the insane, the vicious and the criminal being hud- 

 dled together and treated alike. But in that year, 

 Pinel, whose name has become immortal, was appointed 

 physician to the Bicetre, one of the largest public 

 hospitals in France. When this large hearted philan- 

 thropist entered upon his duties, with him entered, says 

 his affectionate eulogist, "Pity, goodness and justice." 

 Slowly and cautiously he began to investigate the sub- 

 ject of the humane treatment of the insane, but those 

 with whom he talked recoiled with horror from his pro- 

 posal to remove all manacles and chains. At last, how- 

 ever, he could bear the sufferings of the poor insane no 

 longer and one morning, unaided and alone, he removed 

 with his own hands the cliains which had bound an 

 English captain for forty years. In a paroxysm of furor 

 this man had killed one of his keepers with a blow from 

 his manacles. He was more closely watched than any 

 of the others and was considered the most dangerous 

 man in the asylum. When Pinel entered his cell and 

 offered to release him from his chains if he would 

 promise to behave well, the poor man said, "Yes, I 

 promise you, but you are laughing at me, you are all 

 too much afraid of me." But the chains were removed 

 and his door was left open. He raised himself slowly 

 from the floor, but fell back again, as his long confine- 

 ment had produced temporary loss of power in the legs. 

 After a while he succeeded in maintaining his balance 

 and with tottering steps went to the outer door, looked 

 at the sky and exclaimed " flow beautiful." In the 

 evening he returned to his cell of his own accord, where 

 a better bed had been provided, and slept tranquilly. 



