Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 28.djvu/76

68 with his hostess, whom he accused of the most abominable outrages, among them of pouring melted lead into his head; while the woman listened to his vagaries with a smiling and motherly calmness. The poor man had become deranged after losing his wife, about ten years before.

The houses in which these patients were domiciled were all, even the most humble ones, of comfortable capacity, light, airy, cheerful, and well kept. Our general impression was that in some cases larger or better-ventilated rooms might be desired for the indigent patients, but that there was a general tendency toward improvement; and that this. will come in time, by the force of circumstances, without its being necessary to make special new regulations. The clothing of the patients appeared sufficient and suitable; and their food was evidently nothing else than the food of the family. It would be exaggeration to say that perfection has been reached at Gheel, or that the medical organization and surveillance are all that they should be. Criticism is not out of place there, and there is room for reform. That very great improvements have been made during the last thirty years may be attested by reviewing the debates that have taken place in the Belgian Chambers, since 1850, concerning the condition of the colony. In one of the later discussions, M. Vleminckx said—and his remarks apply to the present condition: "Can any one mention an establishment that combines all the advantages to be found at Gheel? There is none such, and there can not be, for it is not enough to say, we will go somewhere and get so many acres and establish a new colony. No, no, more is needed than that. To make a colony like that of Gheel, we must have inhabitants like those of that place, who will not object to living a family life with lunatics, and who have accustomed themselves to such a life from generation to generation for hundreds of years."

Dr. Peeters, who is thoroughly acquainted with the colony and its needs, declare that no fundamental modifications are required. The system has worked for several centuries without trouble; and only minute improvements are wanted here and there in the machine as a whole. The most important matter is to increase the number of guards, who would now be wholly insufficient in case of any emergency. The medical service also should be assured a sufficient compensation to justify the doctors in giving up everything else, to devote themselves wholly to their duties here.

The principle that rules at Gheel is certainly more humane than any that prevails in close asylums, but it is applicable only to particular forms of mental alienation. Provided the patients to be sent there are judiciously selected, the possible inconveniences and abuses of the family régime are a small matter compared with the advantages which the lunatics may derive from it. Possibly some of the existing little abuses will never wholly disappear; but do not and will not such