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907

Remarks on County Asylums.

experience. The great error of medical practice in mental affections arises, no doubt, from considering them as local and inflammatory diseases, requiring topical applications and severe depletion, under the term brain fever; when, under the term nervous fever, the practice might have been quite correct, with reference only to the want of tone in the digestive and secretive functions.

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under better; but had the parochial autho-
rities been well admonished, and the care
of the insane and the cure of the fresh
cases been left to the parish apothecaries
respectively, I have no doubt that the
number
of pauper lunatics pronounced
incurable, and the number of deaths, within
the last ten years, would have been less
by at least 150 of each, than what it is;
I am, therefore, persuaded that a great
part of the money expended has been
worse than thrown away, it having greatly
tended to increase the evil it was intended
to diminish.

As a matter of political economy, the treatment of pauper lunatics is of considerable importance. From the multiplicity of fresh cases in those districts where the numbers have been noted, it may be In the treatment of mental diseases, there concluded, that in the whole united king- is but one positive and certain good; the dom they annually amount to at least three rest is chance and matter of opinion, as I thousand, of those that require parochial have said before. The hand of charity in relief under the disease. Under a judi- this particular, if misdirected, may do great cious treatment, the aggregate of the ex- injury; for keeping lunatics on charity, if pense for the best chance of cure would the best means of cure are not afforded, not exceed, say £60,000, while the keep- may prove a great curse, when a blessing ing in an incurable state, the same number was intended; but to make use of a public of these unfortunate beings, through the purse, for purposes relating to the insane, average term of human life, would cost which do not furnish the very best means more than £600,000; and not only this, of cure, is in my opinion highly culpable; but by the best treatment, a great part of and what I have to urge against county the odious notoriety which has made insa- and other public asylums is, that they nity a national opprobrium, might be avoid-monopolize the attempt to cure, and yet ed; but as we go on building county asy- do not afford the best means. This too lums, we shall want parish asylums, till may be urged, I fear, against some keepers England may be called the land of lunatic of private asylums, and they are highly asylums. culpable; but not more so than the promoters and managers of public asylums, that merit the same imputation.

In what I said of the Wakefield asylum in the July Magazine, I was not actuated by any invidious feelings, or any improper wish to expose the defects of that institution; but many years ago it was spoken of as an example for other counties, and it has lately been represented to me, as the best appointed county asylum in the kingdom. If, therefore, it be improper as an example, it is right that this should be known, for it is "recorded as a precedent, and many an error by the same example will rush into the state." Many county asylums are now establishing, no doubt, after the example of the Wakefield asylum.

I have some knowledge of one of the gentlemen who act as magistrates for the West Riding of Yorkshire, and I believe him to be active, intelligent, and humane, and therefore it may be presumed that his colleagues are the same. I have no doubt they were actuated by the purest and most benevolent views, in establishing the Wakefield asylum. But from all the information I have obtained, a scheme of diminishing the evils of insanity within their district, has proved a complete failure. Some individuals have, no doubt, been rescued from bad treatment, and placed

I have been told I have fallen into mistakes in what I have asserted about county asylums generally, and truly I should not be sorry that I have; for I am not a little tenacious of the honour of those engaged in the care of the insane; but there are some particulars which rest upon the printed reports, that may, I suppose, be depended upon, viz. the number of deaths, the number of incurables, and the numbers who relapse of those previously discharged as cured. It cannot be supposed that lunatic asylums should be exempted from the visitations of death. Many are admitted in a sinking state that cannot be restored, and in numerous instances the violence of the disease leads to the grave in spite of all the care that can be taken; but a large proportion of deaths is an argument against the treatment, for it may be considered as an important maxim, that the best treatment for the insane, as it regards their chance of cure, is the best as regards their comforts and bodily health; they mutually assist each other. Improvement in the mental disease has a tendency to improve the comforts and physical health of the

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Fatal Effects of Slender Waists.

patient, and an improvement in their physical health and comforts has, no question, a good effect upon the mental affection.

In the first ten years of my keeping an asylum, the deaths were in proportion of one death to fourteen of all the cases admitted; in the last ten years they have been in the proportion of one death to fifteen of all the cases. At the county asylum at Stafford, the deaths in ten years have been as one to seven of the cases; but then, I do not think the situation at all healthy; and well I know that the physician there has had much trouble with diseases evidently arising from this cause. At the "Retreat" the situation is very good, and the moral treatment most excellent; but the medical treatment is certainly defective; for the first ten years the deaths were as one to six of all the cases in that time. At the Wakefield asylum, a most healthy situation, the deaths have been as one to three and a half of the cases, or double what they have been at the Stafford asylum. At the Lancaster asylum, the deaths for the first ten years were in the same proportion as at Wakefield, or nearly so. in twelve years, or up to June, 1828, they have been as one to three and a quarter, or say 366 deaths out of 1169 cases. aggregate of deaths at the Lancaster and Wakefield asylums may justify a very serious imputation on the practice of those institutions; and the number acknowledged as incurable, and the great numbers who are known to have relapsed of those discharged as cured, might lead to a doubt whether any have been permanently recovered at those two asylums.

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| if obstinately persevered in, must inevitably prove its ruin, terminating, perhaps, in an early death, preceded by many concomitant evils, all of which might be avoided by common prudence, good sense, and sober discretion. The following quotation will place this subject in a proper light.

"A newspaper, called the Scotchman, has devoted several columns to 'The Compression of the Waist in Females by the use of Corsets,' in which there are facts enough brought to alarm any young female, who does not prefer tight stays, and consumption, to no stays, and good health; or a curvature of the spine, and a slender waist, to a back without deformity, and a waist of the kind intended by nature. The effect of tight corsets, the author observes, is, that those who have been long so closely laced, become at last unable to hold themselves erect, or move with ease, without them, but fall together, in consequence of the natural form and position of the ribs being altered. Tight lacing produces head-ache-dyspeptic complaints But-dropsy-premature death! Its effects on the thorax are, shortness of breath, palpitation of the heart, consumption, and water on the chest. On the abdomen, it occasions depraved digestion, diarrhoea, induration of the liver, dropsy, and hernia. It is also followed by hysteric, and many diseases peculiar to the female constitution."

The

THOS. BAKEWell. Spring Vale, near Stone, August, 1829.

FATAL EFFECTS OF SLENDER WAISTS.

WHEN Woman was first formed "the softened image" of man, by the fiat of an Almighty being, she came a finished model from the hands of her Creator, in beauteous and perfect symmetry. This, no doubt, was continued for a series of years, till the follies, customs, and absurd fashions of existing ages, perverted her angelic form.

Liability to the above maladies must be inevitably the lot of all those females who will continue the present use of whalebone and steel.

Our daily and weekly papers abound with instances of the fatal effects of tight lacing, from which we extract the following

"A girl, 16 years of age, applied recently at the Hotel Dieu, in Paris, for advice respecting a tumour in her neck. On examination, it clearly appeared to have been caused by wearing tight stays."

An American paper states, that a female lately died at Baltimore, by the rupture of a blood-vessel near the heart, caused by tight lacing. On an examination of the body, the liver was found forced from its natural, seat.

Amongst all the absurdities of fashion, perhaps there has not been one more la- Another instance of the folly, and fatal mentable, or that has had a greater tendency effects of following, for the sake of apto cause an improper bias or derangement pearances only, the fashions of the day, of the beauteous figure of a female, than has occurred in the practice of Mr. Prowse, the unnatural and ridiculous custom of of the city of Bath. The subject of this tight lacing. When I see a well-formed notice, an interesting female of about twenty child of this class, I think it is the des- years of age, was in the constant habit of tined victim of an odious folly, which,lacing so tightly, that she could not even

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Definition and Character of Wit.

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stoop in the ordinary way; and was gene- | sation, than with one in print; and that rally so much distressed, as to be obliged to loosen her stays whenever she returned home from a visit. This unfortunate habit brought on cough, violent palpitation, and other diseases of the heart, which terminated in premature death. The facts in this case were fully substantiated by a post mortem examination. 1829. J. B.

DEFINITION AND CHARACTER OF WIT.

"WIT," according to Mr. Locke, “is a faculty of the mind, consisting in the assembling and putting together of those ideas with quickness and variety, wherein can be found any resemblance or congruity; by which to make up pleasant pictures, and agreeable visions, in the fancy."

"This faculty," the same great author observes, "is just the contrary of judgment, which consists in the separating carefully from one another, of such ideas wherein can be found the least difference, thereby to avoid being misled by similitude, and, by affinity, to take one thing for another:" and hence, he accounts for the reason of that common observation, that men who have much wit and prompt memories, have not always the clearest judgment, or deepest reason.

"It is the metaphor and allusion wherein, for the most part, consist the entertainment and pleasantry of wit; which strikes in so lively a manner on the fancy, and is therefore so acceptable to all people, because its beauty appears at first sight, and there is required no labour of thought, to examine what truth or reason there is in it. The mind, without looking any farther, rests satisfied with the agreeableness of the picture, and the gaiety of the imagination; and it is a kind of affront to go about to examine it by the severe rules of truth or reason. Whence it should seem that wit consists in something that is not perfectly conformable to them."-Essay on Human Understanding, b. ii. c. xi. s. 2.

Professor Dugald Stewart (Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind, p. 302,) adds to Locke's definition of wit, that "it implies a power of calling up at pleasure the ideas which it combines;" and he inclines to believe, that "the entertainment which it gives to the hearer is founded, in a considerable degree, on his surprise, at the command which the man of wit has acquired over a part of the constitution, which is so little subject to the will. Hence it is, that we are more pleased with a bon mot which occurs in conver

we never fail to receive disgust from wit, when we suspect it to be premeditated. The pleasure, too, which we receive from wit, is heightened, when the original idea is started by one person, and the related idea by another. Accordingly, Dr. Campbell has remarked, that a witty repartee is far more pleasing than a witty attack; and that an allusion will appear excellent when thrown out extempore in conversation, which would be deemed execrable in print."

To the same purpose another ingenious writer has observed upon Mr. Locke's description of wit, that every resemblance of ideas is not that which we call wit, unless it be such an one that gives delight and surprise. These two properties, he says, seem essential to wit, more particularly the latter of them. In order, therefore, that the resemblance in the ideas be wit, it is necessary they should not lie too near one another in the nature of things; for where the likeness is obvious, it gives no surprise.-Spectator, vol. i. No. 62.

From this account of the nature of wit, it is easy to perceive what good reason Cicero had for saying, (De Orat. lib. iii. cap. 54.) Wit is a thing not to be learned: it is the offspring of nature, and proper effect of a bright and lively fancy. Cicero reduces wit to two kinds, viz. cavillatio, which, in our language, may be called continued wit, or humour, and dicacitas, which may be termed concise wit, or jesting.

The ingenious professor, above cited, suggests the following difference between invention in the arts and sciences, and wit. "The former depends, in most instances, on a combination of those ideas which are connected by the less obvious principles of association; and it may be called forth in almost any mind by the pressure of external circumstances. The ideas which must be combined, in order to produce the latter, are chiefly such as are associated by those slighter connexions which take place when the mind is careless and disengaged." "If you have real wit," says lord Chesterfield, "it will flow spontaneously, and you need not aim at it; for in that case, the rule of the gospel is reversed; and it will prove, seek and you shall not find." Accordingly, wit is promoted by a certain degree of intoxication, which prevents the exercise of that attention which is necessary for invention in matters of science.

Wit is also an appellation given to persons possessed of the faculty called wit, esprit. A French author, who, in 1695,

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The Advantages of Historical Knowledge.

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published a "Treatise of wit, du Bel Eprit," | wit in a promiscuous society; or if they lays down four characters of it.

1. A man, who, with an open air and easy motions, affects those he converses with agreeably; and on any subject that presents itself, advances new thoughts, and adorns them with a sprightly turn, is, all the world over, a wit.

2. Another, who, less solicitous about the choice and delicacy of his sentiments, knows how to make himself valued by, I know not what, elevation of discourse; who draws much attention, and throws great vivacity in his speaking, and readiness in his answers; is likewise acknow. ledged a wit.

3. A third, who takes less care about thinking than about speaking well; who affects fine words, though perhaps low and poor in matter; who pleases by an easy pronunciation, and a certain tone of voice, is placed in the same rank.

4. Another, whose chief aim is not to make himself esteemed, so much as to raise mirth and laughter; who jokes pertinently, rallies pleasantly, and finds something to amuse himself with in every petty subject; is likewise allowed a wit.

Yet, it may be observed, that in all these cases, there is nothing of real wit, as above defined; but the whole is imagination, or memory at most: nay, the whole is no more than what temperament may give.

A true wit must have a just faculty of discernment; must have, at the same time, both great energy, and peculiar delicacy, in his sentiments; his imagination must be noble, and at the same time happy and agreeable; his expressions polite and well turned, without any thing of parade or vanity in his discourse, or his carriage. It is not at all essential to wit, to be ever hunting after the brilliant; still studying fine thoughts, and affecting to say nothing but what may strike and surprise. This is

a fault very frequent in dramatic persons; the duke of Buckingham rallies it very justly.

"What is that thing which we sheer wit do call? "Tis when the wit of some great writer shall, So overflow, that is, be none at all, That ev'n his fools speak sense."

From the account given in the former part of this article, of the difference between invention and wit, it appears, that those who have the reputation of wits are commonly more confident in their own powers, who allow the train of their ideas to follow, in a great measure, its natural course, and hazard in company every thing, good or bad, which occurs to them. Men of modesty and taste seldom attempt

130.-VOL. XI.

are forced to make such an exertion, they are seldom successful. Such men, however, in the circle of their friends, to whom they can unbosom themselves without reserve, are frequently the most amusing and the most interesting of companions; as the vivacity of their wit is tempered by a correct judgment and refined manners; and as its effect is heightened by that sensibility and delicacy, with which we find it so rarely accompanied in the common intercourse of life. When a man of wit makes an exertion to distinguish himself, his sallies are too far-fetched to please. He brings his mind into a state approaching that of the inventor, and becomes rather ingenious than witty.

Genuine wit, says lord Chesterfield, never made any man laugh since the creation of the world: upon which professor Stewart remarks, that this observation is just, if by genuine wit we mean wit wholly divested of every mixture of humour; and if by laughter we mean that convulsive and noisy agitation which is excited by the ludicrous. But there is unquestionably a smile appropriated to the flashes of wit, a smile of surprise and wonder, not altogether unlike the effect produced on the mind and countenance by a feat of legerdemain when executed with uncommon

success.

THE ADVANTAGES OF HISTORICAL

KNOWLEDGE.

(The Introduction to Bossuet's Discourse on Universal History, to Monsieur the Dauphin, translated from the French, by Thomas Rose.)

If history were useless to other men, its There is no better means of discovering to perusal would still be necessary to princes. them the great importance of passions and interests, of times and seasons, of good and evil counsels. Histories are, for the most part, composed of the actions of princes, and their successors may derive benefit from a review of them. If experience is necessary to rulers for acquiring that prudence which will enable them to govern well, nothing can more conduce to their instruction, than to add to daily experience the examples of past ages. By so doing, they will ordinarily discover the best means of securing the welfare of their subjects, and their own proper glory, and be provided with resources in cases of emergency; for by the assistance of history, they can form their judgment, without any hazard, on passing events. When they

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The Advantages of Historical Knowledge.

the most secret vices of princes, notwith- | standing the false praises which their subjects lavished on them during life, exposed to the eyes of all men, they are ashamed of the vain joy with which they have listened to flatterers, and perceive that true glory attaches to nothing short of innate worth.

Ignorance of mankind, and of the memorable changes which the course of time has effected in the world, would be disgraceful, I do not say to a king only, but to every man of liberal education. History enables men to mark the character of different times it represents mankind under the law of nature, under the written law, and under the gospel; it speaks of the Persians vanquished by Alexander, and of the same people victorious under Cyrus; it bears witness to the freedom of Greece, in the times of Philip, Themistocles, and Miltiades; it tells of the Romans under their various forms of government; it exhibits the tranquillity of religion under Dioclesian and Constantine; and narrates the agitation of France during the civil wars of Charles the Ninth and Henry the Third, and its power under Louis the Fourteenth; when, reunited under so great a monarch, it became the first nation of Europe.

It is, Monsieur, to escape the inconveniences of ignorance, that you have read so much of ancient and modern history. Before all things, make yourself acquainted, from the scripture history of the people of God, with the basis of religion. It would not become you to be ignorant of Grecian and Roman history, on any account; but, principally, because, with attention, it will teach you the history of that country you will be called upon to render happy, a point of no mean importance to you. But lest these histories, and those you have yet to learn, should create confusion in your mind, it is very necessary that I should distinctly yet briefly represent to you the orderly succession of ages.

Universal history bears the same relation to the particular histories of all countries and people, as a general map does to the particular maps included in it. In a particular map, you see the whole detail of a kingdom, or of a province, in itself; in the general map you discover the situation of these parts with respect to the whole; you perceive that Paris, or the Isle of France, is in the kingdom, that the kingdom is in Europe, and that Europe forms a large portion of the globe.

Particular histories represent the succession of events connected with a people, in all their details; but in order perfectly to

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understand them, it is necessary to know what relation these histories bear to others: that is, what is their several importance in the scale of empires, what situation they hold with respect to the whole, and what place they occupy on the roll of time.

This abridgment,* Monsieur, offers to you a grand spectacle. You will see all the preceding ages develop themselves, so to speak, in a few hours before you; you will perceive how empires succeeded each other; and how true religion, under the different dispensations, has sustained a decisive character from the commencement of the world to our own times.

It is the progress of these two things, I would say, of religion and of empires, which you ought particularly to impress on your memory. If you will give this abridgment your attentive regard, it will show you, that religion and politic government are the two points upon which human things revolve, and you will discover there their whole order and progress; you will also gain a clue, so to speak, to all the affairs of the universe, whilst contemplating this sketch of all that is worthy of remark in the history of mankind.

Just as, in surveying a map of the world, you travel over the country in which you were born, and that in which you are residing, traverse the whole habitable globe, and take in at one glance the farthest extremities of sea and land; so, in studying this abridgment of history, you will pass from the narrow limits of your own observation, and extend your view to the remotest ages of the world.

Geographers lay down in their maps some of the principal towns, to assist them in determining the situation of the rest, which are then inserted in the chart at their proper relative distances; just so in the succession of time, it is necessary to select certain periods distinguished by remarkable events, to which intermediate occurrences may be referred.

The principal divisions or points of time are called epochs, from a Greek word which signifies to arrest; because they here arrest for consideration, as in a place of repose, all that has gone before or that follows after them, thus serving to prevent anachronisms, or confusion of times.

It is desirable to fix upon a small number of epochs, whose distinguishing events are universally known; and those most worthy of remark in ancient history are the

The Discourse on Universal History, to which

this is an Introduction.

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