ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE WITH THE DEAF AND DUMB, AT EXHIBITIONS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM.

757

stairs, and requesting me the eifects of a powerful galvanic battery on the youth during the magnetic sleep. But I told the operator plainly,that if he had any value for his character, he would never again operate anywhere on the youth,-or, I might have

which I can readily behad ever worked harder for two hours. " But, said he, " I will give you tickets of admission for to-morrow, and then operate on any deaf and dumb patients, A subsequent close or on any one else." examination of the cheque-taker in an adjoining room, convinced me that he was, and had been, voluntarily acting a partin

quite exhausted,

lowing

lieve, as

to

no man

me

down

stay and

added,

see

else, as a magnetiser, at place. He wholly refused at this meeting, also, to attempt to convince the scene. On the next day, Friday, at the appointed me by operating on the gentleman who acE. S. B. hour, I went to the Hanover-square rooms, companied me. with two friends, who were very anxious to August 18, 1841. see me magnetised, and willing to become converts if he produced any effects on me. But on my arrival, I was astonished and indignant ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE at a printed notice, that there would be no WITH THE operations to-day, because the patient was too ill from yesterday’s exhibition. Seve- DEAF AND DUMB, AT EXHIBITIONS ral gentlemen offered to be operated upon, OF but M. Lafontaine persisted in the excuse " that the boy was too ill !" Disgusted at ANIMAL MAGNETISM. this conduct, the audience, in justice to the public, held a meeting to express their feelTo the Editor of THE LANCET. ings, by resolutions, on the subject; and SIR:—From the sequel to the following after the Rev. Dr. Jenkins had declined to the public can form its own estimate take the chair, on account of his cloth, seve- letter, of the professions of the professors of aniral voices called for a medical gentleman to mal magnetism :preside, when I was recognised, with a " To DTonsieur Lafontain e. request that I would do so, to which I con" and the were resolutions which sented ; Sir,-Having read a letter addressed by passed are to be found in the last page of the you to the editor of the Times, in which you Courier de l’Europe. state that, through the aid of animal magOn that evening, one of the fellows from netism, you had successfully removed the Cambridge, whom I recognised as having aflliction of deafness from several indivibeen operated upon on the previous day, duals in Paris who had been born deaf and waited on me, to request me to form one of dumb, and that )oU had also offered to test on

any time

committee of medical and scientific gentlemen to give Lafontaine " one more chance," saying that he had not had fair play on Thursday, and that the non-attendance to-day (Friday) was " quite a mistake," for which M. Lafontaine was very sorry, and hoped that nothing would be published. I replied, that I bad no pique against him, but had attended with a determination to believe all that I saw, if credible, and that if, for instance, by producing unconsciousness, patients could easily undergo painful operations, something would be

any one

or

the truth of your art or science at the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in this city, but had not been successful in procuring a person for the operation, I beg most respectfully to state, that I have a fine healthy boy, turned of eight years of age (born deaf and dumb), whom I am willing to submit to your treatment, either before the public, during your exhibition, or privately, if more agreeable to

a

yourself. "

gained. I consented to attend, and arrived at No. 10, Pall Mall East, to meet the said committee, soon after one o’clock. Judge of my surprise at finding there only the operator, his interpreter, the cheque-taker, the fellow of Cambridge, and two strangers. I M. Lafontaine then at once addressed me on

I

In the event of a cure being effected, every means will be taken to give it publicity through the medium of the metropolitan and provincial press. " As this will give you an opportunity of vindicating the usefulness of your labours in the cause of humanity, against the aspersions which have been so freely cast upon them, especinlly by the medical faculty, any communication, addressed as above, will be immediately attended to, by, Sir, your most obedient servant,

the subject of my incredulity. I repeated " what I had said on Thursday, that if he S. DONALDSON. would produce any effect on me, or my Saunders-street, No. 1, Union-street, friend, I would cease to be incredulous. Lambeth Walk." He then requested me to sign a paper, a The following reply (the original in sort of certificate, which I refused to sign, was received to the above :French) or even read. the ordered he Whereupon " Sir,—Ihave received your letter, which cheque-taker to bo seated ; seeing which I immediately left the room, the parties fol- informs me of your wish to have your deaf

758 He Is eight such a document? He shrugged up his son magnetised. and a half old. That is a favourabte shoulders, extended his arms, and brought age. If you will bring him to me to-mor- them slowly in aline with his body, with aa row, Wednesday, at two o’clock, I will see air of mystery in his countenance, which if he can be magnetised. I have the honour his interpreter translated into " he could not tell:’ I now thought it was time to to be, &c. 91 LA make my bow, which I did, with the deter. FONTAINE. mination of giving the professor no farther " 10, Pall Mall East, August 10, 1841." trouble. But it seems that he was not de. Accordingly I waited upon him with my sirous of parting company thus unceremoniboy at the time mentioned. Monsieur was ously, for I was waited upon by him and expected in every minute. In his sitting- his interpreter, at between one and two room I found a lady and gentleman waiting o’clock on the following day, at the print. bis return. Shortly afterwards he entered, ing-office, he begging that I would not dis. with a profusion of bows, rung for his inter- appoint him, as he had adrertised the appearpreter, disposed of the business of the pre- ance of the boy on that very day! vious visitors, and then turned to me and Although I felt considerable reluctance my son (the lady and gentleman still re- in making a show of my poor child, Icon. maining), inquiring whether my child had sidered that I had pledged myself in my been born deaf and dumb, or whether I letter, and felt bound in honour to acquiesce; could ascribe his afliiction to any accident. although I had great reason to regret it On receiving satisfactory answers, he afterwards,—some of the company insinuat. wished to know if I had a medical certifi-I ing that I had brought him forward from cate, stating the nature of the child’s depri- I mercenary motives, and others that I was in vation. I answered in the negative, but ’, collusion with the foreign charlatan. Intold him I could soon obtain one, or give deed, I believe that one-half of the company him a reference to medical or other gentle- went away with the impression that the men for that purpose,-or that I could refer child was neither deaf nor dumb (although him to my employer, who has the most ex- ’, inspected and certified to be both by several tensive printing establishment in the world;’ medical gentlemen who were before them), and the gentleman before mentioned, who from his suddenly starting when a portion stated himself to be a graduate of the Uni- of a percussion-cap struck him on the neck. versity of Dublin, and a minister of the It would be superfluous for me to do more Church of England, offered to give him one than allude to the mortifying failure of the on the spot; but then Monsieur suddenly and said that he his must impostor in this instance, and in that of the changed ground, and would, as a sine qiiti non, have a docu- three gentlemen who voluntarily submitted ment to that effect from a Dr. Binns (show- to his mummery for half an hour each ; but ing me the doctor’s card), or from the editor it is a duty which I owe to the public to of the Times, or from Mr. Walter. I told him I was an utter stranger to those gentle- contradict the abominable falsehood which men, and could not obtrude myself upon was alleged as the reason for M. Lafontaine’s their notice ; but he was inflexibie. I must not appearing at his exhibition on the next get it from some one connected with the day, Thursday, namely, " because (as his Times. At this time his interpreter sud- notice intimated) the boy was unwell."* I left he was for leaving, saying denly apologised on Wednesday, in disgust, before the room " going to dress for dinner." All conversathe exhibition terminated, determined that tion being thus at an end, the lady and gentleman rose to withdraw, and I was follow- he should not have an opportunity of again ing their example, when M. Lafontaine attempting to impose upon the public motioned to me to remain. Now left by through the medium of my boy as " a ourselves, he went to the boy and com- draw." The next deception is announced menced passing his hands about and around for and if the performer is then Wednesday, the head and neck. At that time I was not aware that this was his only mode of operat- forthcoming, he has more assurance than I ing, but it had no effect whatever on the at present give him credit for. J am, Sir, boy, who only smiled in the operator’s face yours respectfully, at the absurdity of the motions. He then SAMUEL DONALDSON. again rang for his interpreter, to tell me from more that I a certificate once must get 1, Saunders-street, Lambeth, some gentleman connected with the Tintes, August 15, 1841. and call on him again on the same evening at eight, or at nine o’clock on the following * The fellow-impostor, who had before morning, Thursday, the day of public exhibition, at the Hanover-square rooms. Feel- been exhibited, and not the son of Mr. Doing quite hopeless, I inquired if he could naldson, was referred to, doubtless, in this cure the child, supposing that I did obtain notice.-ED. L. and dumb

years

’

759

tonly trifle with the pangs and miseries of Facts Connected with the Treatment of In- their fellow-men, that they themselves may in St. Luke’s Hospitul, &c.

sunity

By

wallow in luxurious comfort; we would be careful in the selection of kind especially AT a moment when the public attention, and and conscientious keepers and nurses ;we more particularly that of the members of the would punish each dereliction of duty by medical profession, is directed towards the loss of office; we would instil into the minds consideration of so important a subject as of all who cros&ed the threshold of lunatic the proper treatment of the insane, any facts, that asylums, insanity is a disease, a deplobearing evidence to the practical working of rable disease, since it desecrates the mind the plan of treatment of lunatic asylums, of its victim ; that it is a disease demanding must be received with interest ; and this will all our commiseration and sympathy; that be especially the case with regard to the it is curable if judiciously treated; that, pamphlet before us, in which the experience moreover, it is a disease which we ourselves, of a cured patient is recorded, and her suf. our dearest relations and warmest friends, ferings, together with the mismanagement of may be subject to at any moment of our or those under whose authority she was immetheir lives. Ah! is this true ? We hear diately placed, are feelingly detailed. It i those exclaim who have hitherto considered will be replied by the committee of St. insanity as a crime, that needed personal Luke’s Hospital, and by those who are dispunishment and degradation, chains, legposed to regard with a listless and careless locks, and starvation. Is this true? they eye the sufferings of their fellow-creatures, ask. Alas ! for the wickedness of the past, that the of the medical authorities canA LADY.

Eilingham

Wilson.

eye

not be

the

everywhere,

cannot be directed at

patient in the esand tablishment, that, consequently, a certain power must be vested in the keepers and nurses. We will admit this assertion for the sake of argument; but we would remedy such a state of things by increasing the medical staff ; by having several instead same

hour upon every

it is all true. But for the future let each man exert himself strongly, that that which he would have done unto him shall be done to the unhappy victims of this dreadful scourge. Then we should no longer have such distressing portraitures of the horrors of lunatic (asylums?) gaols as that with which we are furnished here, and for the truth of which we may, from our knowledge of the writer, most unhesitatingly vouch. " Most of the rooms, or rather cells, appropriated for the patients, have a hole near the top, in the shape of a half-circle, called a window; immediately under this, on the floor, is a crib filled with straw, on which is placed a flock bed. At the foot of this crib an iron ring is attached, with a chain to it, for the purpose of confining the patient’s leg. Of a winter’s morning the shutter has been let down, and the cold wind, rain, and snow, have fallen upon me, while I had scarcely sufficient covering to keep me warm. Wish. ing to be employed, I was allowed by the keeperess to assist her in her menial services, which I and others have done most cheerfully ; as also to wash and comb the patients. One young woman, who was almost constantly confined to her crib, with only straw to lie on and a bit of blanket to cover her, had her head so swarming with vermin, that it was eaten into holes by them : the corruption and filth that have been on the comb after I have combed her head, has caused me repeatedly to heave. For such services we have had broken victuals given to us, which were then and at all times very gratefully received by us. I, as well as others, have frequently been so much in

of one resident medical officer. Where would be the objection to appointing a medical superintendent to every two wards ; for every patient in which he should be personally responsible, et-ery black eye, every bruise, every scratch, should find a place in a well-kept case book, open at all times to the inspection of the committee of the medical public, and of the friends of the patient? There would then be emulation on the part of the medical officers in the effecting and reporting of cures, for, according to such a system, promotion should depend, not upon private interest and nepotism, but upon welldischarged duties. Would not this be infinitely superior to the present jog-trot system ; a single medical resident officer and two physicians, one of whom makes his daily visit of an hour, is always best pleased when the house-surgeon reports " nothing particular," and then betakes himself to his snug carriage to visit his prirate patients. It is degrading to human nature to reflect that such things be; that men of education, for filthy lucre, should so completely prostrate their moral respectability; should so wan- want of

food, that

we

"have selected scraps

760 when I have done that, that no fault could justly be found, she has abused mewasfur not right, doing it inthe way she thought expressing at the same time her astonishment of the little use ladies were of." The following paragraph is a wholesome We feel quite confident that the expendicriticism upon the selection of proper atteuture of St. Luke’s is liberal ; that the alfor dants the insane :lowances as issue from the

to eat that have been sent for the cat from

table. After being confined rather more than four months, I was discharged by the physician as cured ; but what I was cured of I could not imagine, unless it was of purity of thought and desire." the

keeperess’s

they

clean my

and in such a out; room

manner

committee,

" I was also allowed to accompany Betty both in quantity and quality, are excellent. the tray to the bread-room, and was with But the duty of the committee should not to follow her into the kitchen, and permitted end here ; it should extend to seeing that other rooms adjacent, where her fellow ser. those allowances actually reach the poor, de- vants, the keepers and keeperesses, wolild fenceless creatures for whom they are in- sometimes be assembled. Though I scarcely tended. We are fully satisfied that every ever expressed a word, nothing escaped my member of the committee of St. Luke’s will notice; and exceedingly disgusted have I been with their behaviour and trifling confeel a thrill of horror when he reads the folversation, frequently bordering on indecency lowing passage; that that man does not and lewdness. I contrasted their unfeeling exist who could, with callous indifference,dispositions and conduct with the sufferings reflect upon the sufferings here detailed asof the patients-parents torn from their inflicted by himself; if he could pass over. children, children from their parents, lovers and friends from each other, and all the sothem here, then we assure him that they cial feelings, so valuable ill domestic life, will form a part of the Heating scenery of literally massacred by the unfortunate poshis death-bed, and welcome him to his well- sessors being allowed to moan for society merited retribution. We know what a set in lonesome cells, or confined in chains and of poor, unthinking, and pitiable creatures strait-waistcoats amongst raving maniacs. Can I forget, among numberless other inwill retort to this statement, but for such consistencies, the circumstance of my being we write not; they will say, we never bechained, with an iron ring to my leg, in a lieve what is said by an insane patient. small room where the worst of the patients And why not? We stop not to argue that were confined, for only exercising sympathy to one of my fellow-sufferers? No! what question here ; but we have no hesitation in has been learnt from melancholy and paindeclaring that every insane patient is per- ful is not

very easily forgotten. experience, fectly reasonable upon every matter not im- When I was discharged from the hospital as mediately connected with the immediate sub- cured, I might have made complaints before ject of his hallucination; and that, conse- the committee ; but I was too prudent to that opportunity. I then thought, quently, upon matters of personal comfort choose when I am completely out of the power of and diet he is for the most part deserving those interested in the management of this of every attention. But hear a voice from place, a. more suitable time may be chosenone of those dens of misery :that time has now arrived, and I certainly "I have oft-times been distressed to hear will not let the subject rest. Do you supthe patients ask for food and work, while pose I can reflect without regret on the great neither could be obtained for them. Daring loss of time connected with my profession, and the demoro-alising influence I was under

the last three months of my twelvemonth’s incarceration in the hospital, I was confined to my bed every night with a chain rattling to my leg, and also every Sabbath : so that from Saturday night to Monday morning I was a prisoner in my cell, with my leg confined to an iron ring and chain. I, with several other women, have been pulled out of our beds earlier than usual to walk down three or four flights of stone stairs, without shoes or stockings on, or any garment whatever, with only a small blanket round each of us, to be thrown into the bath, and if any woman had previously offended the keeperesses, they would punish her by holding her head under the water. The keeperess, in a consequential and peremptory manner, has ordered me to get a pail of water and

interesting period of my life, whilst an inmate in the hospital ? Instead of my mental energies being directed aright, they were crushed, and my animal spirits broken." The following is a visit to the wards by the gentlemen of the committee, in which honourable mention is made of those offi. cials :At the most

" It was said, the committee was going to walk through the galleries ; four or five, I scarcely know how to say gentlemen, entered the room where I and other patients were sitting. The first that entered said laughingly, ’ Here’s a show.’ Another, with as j much indifference, replied A show of

761 cattle.’

I looked towards them with silent

was

too reasonable and discreet to commence

contempt, and such reflections passed in my or carry on a dispute with the keeper, I was calledquiet and harmmind as were natural on heariug those re- therefore " marks. One of the party evidently appeared, less.’ from his countenance, to feel for us, and if Our author’s suggestion to the Society still alive, may possibly recollect the cir- for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is Is it reasonable to suppose cnmstance. of every attention, and with that we there can be any material alterations for the worthy the conclude notice of Miss Newell’s pammoral the treatment of patients, better, in the since that time, while the same individuals phlet, which has called forth the preceding have continued in office; and a similar de- observations. We warmly entreat the memscription of men, it is natural to conclude, bers of the committees of every lunatic instifrom circumstances, form the committee ?" tution in the kingdom to take a more active from

the obvious truth interest in the management of the poor creastated by the tures placed under their charge, and to take example by the enormities which Miss 11 There is nearly as much insanity exhiNewell’s pamphlet shows to exist in one of bited in society out of a mad-house as within the first and most highly-considered of the one; yet it is not considered necessary for house to be furnished with every chains, London establishments. In addressing the leg-locks, hand-cuffs, strait-waistcoats, &c., Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to to be made use of when any one exhibits, in Animals, the author observes,their behaviour, proofs of that malady ; 91 Should your funds be greatly increased, which is more often the case than those can i Who

can

of this fact author?

dissent so

energetically

which is probable, and, consequently, your imagine who have not studied the effects of of benevolence of exinsanity. The would-be.thought wise and sphere allow me to capable that being will you suggest the crafty, generally connect mystery with tended, all their proceedings; therefore, the above- bestow a little of your time and attentiun named articles are requisite for their pur- towards a class of animals called the insane, who have been considered on a level with poses, and the poor ignorant keepers, being allowed the free use of them, confine the pa- brutes, and wantonly treated as such, their tient just when they please, whether con- restoration having been thus materially imwith as little compunction on the part finement be required or not. Is it consistent peded, of their oppressors as was exercised towards with rationality that an individual, either the brute animals before your admirable soman or woman, possessing oely acqairenzents existed." and knowledge obtained through very in- ciety ferior faculties, should have the whole and sole management of thirty or forty of his BETHLEM HOSPITAL. fellow-creatures, whose misfortunes are fre° GRAVE IMPUTATIONS OF A " LOOKER-ON"" quently owing to their moral and mental suUPON THE RECENT periority not being appreciated or underREPORTS OF THE PHYSICIANS. stood ! Nevertheless, those ignorant, narrow-minded beings are allowed to exercise uncontrolled authority over such persons, and being themselves total strangers to any excitement of generous feeling, know not how to value qualities of that description in others. Instead of patients being encouraged and rewarded for what may be excellent, they are more frequently confined in chains and

strait-waistcoats, and prevented perform-

that which would be worthy of imitation. Charity would suggest that it must be insanity in any one or more, to permit such an injurious state of things to exist."

ing

Of the nature of the scenes of violence which so frequently occur in the wards of a lunatic asylum, a fair estimate may be borrowed from the following short paragraph :"Ihave frequently witnessed quarrels between the keeper and the patient; the former has been the aggressor, but there was no redress whatever for the latter; if they made a complaint to the physician or doctor, no attention whatever was paid to them. I

To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR:—I now redeem my pledge to examine more closely the reports of the two physicians of Bethlem Hospital. I wish I could escape with credit from the unwelcome duty; for it is most painful to be compelled to throw doubts upon the correctness of explanations verified by the signature of the party explaining : but the documents to which I have obtained access since the publication of my reply to Dr. Monro’s letter, lead me to fear that I have in that reply done Dr. Morison much injustice ; and I certainly have done so, if the report to which his signature is attached be a faithful one. It is, I admit, impossible, in the absence of the tables themselves, to ascertain this fact decisively. It may be that Dr. Morison has claimed a portion of Dr. Monro’s cures, or mistaken the number of patients under his own care, or he may have made some error in his castings, &c. ; but unless some mistake of this nature has