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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



one of the courts out of doors, several dis- 

 tressing scenes of mental alienation. These 

 were going forward on one side, while some 

 poor creatures were, on the other side, 

 amusing themselves with a " rocking-horse!" 

 They never seem to interfere with each 

 other. One man, we observed, fighting with 

 an invisible spirit. He evidently '" saw" 

 something ; for he aimed at it with the air of 

 desperation, as if it mocked him, and as if 

 he wanted to be revenged on it. But we 

 need not dwell any longer in detail upon 

 these distressing matters. Our object has 

 been accomplished. 



This " humane system " of treatment in 

 the case of lunatics, will never be mentioned 

 unless in connection with the name of 

 Dr. Conolly. What that worthy man has 

 effected here, no tongue can speak ; no pen 

 can describe. But the effects are visible ; the 

 blessings continue. No longer does the 

 whip crack through the vaulted halls ; no 

 longer do the piercing shrieks of suffering 

 victims rend the air. The humanity of 

 Messrs. Pownall and Armstrong, too— the 

 visiting magistrates, needs no mention by 

 us. It is in everybody's mouth. Hanwell 

 is the " Lunatics' Paradise." 



By the way — before taking our leave, we 

 must just direct attention to that veiy 

 eccentric character, Mr. Chiswick. He 

 has been an inmate here for many years. 

 He has an apartment entirely to himself, and 

 he has decorated it in a style which is per- 

 fectly sid generis. We know not hoio many 

 curious hieroglyphics there are painted ; 

 aye, beautifully painted on the walls of his 

 room ; on his door, and on his window-sill. 

 They are artistically interwoven with other 

 subjects ; and the whole require to be well 

 looked-into to be properly appreciated. Mr. 

 Chiswick was brought here, on a charge of 

 having thrown his hat at the Clergyman who 

 officiated in Chiswick church. Hence his 

 assumed name. He refuses to give his real 

 name ; and it is not known to this day. 

 Neither is it known who are his friends, nor 

 where they reside. He is quite a gentleman; 

 discourses affably, and sensibly ; and is at 

 home on all general topics of discourse. 

 On one point only, he is " loose." 



Mr. Chiswick has free run of the esta- 

 blishment; lives in his own room; and does 

 as he pleases. More than this. He gets 

 " out," on " a fortnight's leave of absence, 

 signed by the magistrates." He departs by 

 omnibus to London — occupies himself during 

 the fourteen days as he thinks best — and 

 always returns to his quarters within the 

 time specified. He had been away about a 

 week, when we were looking over his room ; 

 so that we have just lost a treat in not meet- 

 ing with him. When he reads this — as he 

 will do — our disappointment aud regret 



stand recorded. Nor will his regret be less- 

 felt than was our disappointment ; for we 

 had a very amiable lady with us, who wa& 

 most anziioiis for an introduction to him. 

 She " lives in hope " of seeing him shortly. 

 Her promise is given — it will be redeemed. 

 Mr. Chiswick will recognise us again, the 

 moment he sees us. 



During the past year, as appears from the 

 Report of the Visiting Justices of Hanwell, 

 190 patients have been received : — viz., 

 88 males and 102 females. The causes of 

 lunacy in the males were moral — in 31 cases, 

 and physical in 31 others, the rest being 

 unascertained. In the females the moral 1 

 causes were 5, the physical 19. The moral 

 causes in the males are thus enumerated : — 

 Poverty, 3; domestic unhappiness, 2; dis- 

 appointed affection, 3 ; grief, 3 ; dissipated 

 habits, 1 ; over study of religious subjects, 

 3; anxiety, 2; political excitement, 1; re- 

 morse, 1 ; disappointed expectations, 1. On 

 the female side — disappointed affection, 1 ; 

 fright, 1; poverty, 2; grief, 1. They were 

 mainly divided as to religious principles as 

 follow : — Church of England, males, 48 — 

 females, 68 ; Roman Catholic, males, 4 — 

 females, 4; not ascertained, males, 32 — fe- 

 males, 23. As regards education, the fol- 

 lowing results- were obtained: — Well-edu- 

 cated male, 1 ; females, 18 ; plainly edu- 

 cated, males, 15 ; read and write, males, 33 — 

 females, 33; read, males, 2 — females, 11 ; not 

 ascertained, males, 32 — females, 43. At the 

 present time, there are 414 male, and 556 

 female patients in the Asylum. 



We purpose, at an early day, to pay a 

 visit to the Colney-Hatch Lunatic Asylum. 

 Here we shall find an awful amount of 

 human suffering indeed ! The numbers are 

 alarmingly great — the causes of lunacy many. 

 Among them the love of drink, and in- 

 temperance, are of course prominent. 



We have headed this Paper — " The 

 £ Value 1 of Reason." Let any reflecting 

 person do as we have done — pay a visit to 

 a Lunatic Asylum; and he will be then able to 

 estimate its " value." People in health, who 

 never, as they say, " knew what it was to 

 have a day's sickness," cannot feel for inva- 

 lids. It is impossible. Neither can they 

 who have plenty of this world's goods, and 

 have need of nothing, feel for the unfortunate. 



It would be contrary to our nature ! How 

 much less can they who drink and fritter away 

 their lives — never once allowing themselves 

 time for sober reflection, feel for those who 

 become insane from pursuing the very same 

 courses ! The human brain is a wonderful 

 structure. Its organisation is marvellously 

 perfect. Yet do we all try to injure it daily. 

 With what effect, is too plainly visible. 



We entered the walls of Hanwell Asylum 

 with a sigh. Our heart ached all the while 



