The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-19 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1864.

There is nothing that requites more care and de-
mands the exercise of greater caution than the treat-
ment of the insane. Every motive seems to induce
us to adopt this course, and to further this desirable
end, whether it is the due regard for the safety of
the community, the desire to benefit the unhappy
beings entrusted to our care, or the influence of
those humane feelings which should animate our
minds when the most afflicting malady to which
flesh is heir comes under our notice. The difficulties
of treating these easel of lunacy are so great, how-
ever, that it is not surprising that many mistakes
have been made in the performance of the task. At
all events at the present day we are happily spared
the pain of perusing the details or hearing the state-
ments which harrowed the feelings of our earlier
generation, touching the treatment of madness. The
good sense of the nation has been employed in set-
ting this wrong to rights, and the steps taken to
prevent the recurrence of the sad events that too
often took in asylums have been generally success-
ful. It is a matter for great rejoicing that such
should be the case, and great praise is due to those
public men who have done so much to attain this
desired end. The chief flaws that are now met
with in the system seem to proceed from careless-
ness, and not adopting the due line of demarca-
tion that should exist in certain cases. The re•
cent tragedy at Colney Hatch again calls public
attention to this distressing theme, and suggests
several ideas to the thoughtful on this important
topic. It is too much the custom when these
sad events occur, no matter in what class of life,
or what are their distinctive features, to summon
up a sudden attention to the facts, to make an
exhaustive examination of all the details, and
then very probably to fix upon some person or
persons to bear the blame, and thus afford a vent
for the expression of the excitement which has
been galled up by the occasion. After a nine
days' wonder the subject drops into the shade
where so many things good, bad, and indifferent,
are cast when they have served their turn of con-
tributing to the excitement, or entertainment of the
hour. This is not at all the right way of treating
an important subject, and the prevalence of such
an injudicious practice is the cause that so
little is gained by experience in these untoward
events. It is a solemn duty to society not to
neglect to improve the opportunities that are
afforded by the disastrous and fatal occurrences
which from time to time cast a shade over the sun.
shine of existence, and turn the thoughts to the
contemplation of suffering and misfortune. The
apathy or indifference that is so universally exhi-
bited when the first excitement is past, is the reason
why improvements are always so slow in arriving
and so seldom witnessed in all establishments and
institutions. When an amelioration dces take place
it is generally because some thoughtful members of
society take up the subject in a theoretical form,
rather thin the agents who perform the work
effecting any change by the instrumentality of
Practical illustration. This is to be regretted,
because though the former lb of great service, the
latter influence is greatly wanted as a remedial
power. Nothing can compensate for the want of
thinking minds among the labourers in any voca-
tion, and if one more than another calls for atten-
tion and claims regard it is the care of the insane.
It must appear to all who study the subject care-
fully that in the recent tragic occurrence at
Colney Hatch there was a want of due precaution
and an absence of watchfulness that may with ad-
vantage be rectified on future occasions. The no-
tion of placing the two men together when the one
was a violent lunatic and the other a harmless
imbecile, was a very strange one, and the occur-
rence of the tragic event proved that it was a
dangerous one. It is impossible to exercise too
much skill in the right discernment of these difficult
and complicated cases; but wherever there is a doubt
it is well to err on the side of over-caution. There
could have been no occasion for placing these men
together, and it would be well if, not only at this
establishment, but at other similar ones, the direc-
tors and managers would profit by the warning
thus conveyed, and institute more careful inquiries
before they take things so much for granted, and
put temptation in the way of those so little able to
resist it. Another„ circumstance which requires
notice is, that there seems to have been some un-
necessary delay in sending for the medical man
when the accident occurred. Doubtless at first the
symptoms exhibited were not serious, and the same
course is often followed without any serious
results occurring, but the practice is not a safe
one, and the jury very properly animad-
verted upon it. They gave it as their opinion
that the visiting justices should issue directions to
the attendants to seek the assistance of the " medi-
cal superintendent," whenever an accident occurs to
the patients. They also appended the notice that
the gas pipes should be covered in such a manner as
to render the recurrence of such an accident as this
impossible. It is almost beyond calculation to
divine how and in whatanner the unfortunate
themselves manner
fr°
aran dt he
ai se
hdoi
beings whowm ainreinrson
ts
ht reers. s nlgt
calamity
is well, however, to profit by every means that can
be attainable to remedy defects in a system, and to
substitute different modes of treatment when any
particular plan has failed or not been altogether
successful successful in its adoption. The wonder is, not
such untoward events sometimes occur, but that
they do not much oftener take place, and are not
more serious than they are. Considering the num-
ber of establishments that exist for the reception of
the insane, both public and private, it is surprising
how little we hear of anything faultless in manage,
went, or serious in occurrence. A great part of
this fortunate state of things is owing to the super-
vision that is so judiciously exercised, but at the
same time there is credit due to those who have
wisely profited by the directions and hints con-
veyed to them.

Amid the varying vicissitudes of political life,
the changes and difficulties that beset the most
honoured and prosperous career, it is pleasant to
turn to a connection between a constituency and
its representative which has stood the most start•
ling political changes and outlasted successive
Parliaments. The contemplation of such an union
is rendered more gratifying when we see it com-
pleting its Utmost possible duration without any
diminution of respect on either side, and dissolving
by force of circumstances and expressions of mutual
esteem and good will. Such has been the career of
the first Barou HOUGHTON, better known as
RICHARD MONCRION MILNES, and the close of his