Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 28.djvu/65

Rh The origin of this unique institution is derived, according to the legend, from the daughter of an Irish king, named Dymphne, who, about the end of the sixth or the beginning of the seventh century, took refuge at Gheel, with her confessor, to escape the incestuous solicitations of her father. The king pursued his daughter and found her, by keeping track of the coins the fugitives had paid out. The confessor was assassinated by the soldiers, and Dymphne was decapitated by her father himself. Dymphne in time became a saint, but how her chastity made her the patron of lunatics is not explained. Her memory has been preserved at Gheel through all the centuries that have elapsed. The well is shown where she went to draw water, and the house whose mistress gave the king the clews by which he found his daughter; a chapel was erected in honor of this virgin, and as a memorial of the circumstances under which she perished; and a large church consecrated to St. Dymphne was built some centuries ago. These circumstances have made Gheel a center of pilgrimages, and the resort of the insane from a period very far back. The unfortunates were lodged on their arrival in a building appertaining to the church, called the invalid-chamber, which still exists. They stayed there nine days, attending the religious services and prayers for their cure through the intercession of the murdered virgin. Sometimes they stayed another nine days. It was hard to send them away uncured; but other unfortunates would be there waiting for their turn, and there was not room for all. Rather than dismiss them summarily, they were put in the care of some family who would undertake to bring them to the special services every day. At first the patients were kept in the immediate neighborhood of the church, or within its parish jurisdiction; but they became in time too many for that, and were scattered over the neighboring villages. A service of public administration was gradually organized, the history of which, and of the modifications it has undergone, would be interesting if we had room to give it.

The earliest recorded regulation is of 1676, and directs that the proper officers shall order all persons having charge of the insane to bind them hand and foot, so that they can not harm any one, and that they shall prevent their going into the parish church of St. Armand, under penalty of a fine of six florins. In 1747 ordinances were passed that no insane person in fetters should go into the church of St. Armand or St. Dymphne unless accompanied by his nourricier; that no lunatic should be bound without the previous knowledge and permission of the reverend collegiate dean or of the bailiff; and that Catholic nourriciers should invite the clergy to examine into the mental condition of their patients, to ascertain whether they were fit to receive the sacraments. In 1754 a new ordinance, declaring that the lunatics had too much liberty and could not be distinguished from rational persons, directed the nourriciers to keep them secure, by fetters, or by shutting