Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-06-23

The care Of the treatment Of the Insane
can be studied under very novel conditions
al the little Belgian town Of Geel or Gheel.
twenty-six miles east southeast u Antwerp.
Gheel rs really a town OF the insane. one
meets them eyerywhar. they roam about
the streets; they tax, their refreshment In
the cafes ana they ~ through their daily
labors often with more sense than does
many IRA ordinary citizen who is believed
to De sound in mind and body. There are
about 1000 out patieuiF and they are taken
as boarders By the tovnspeople. OF course,
these are harmless eases. and the danger
aus insane are looked after either in the lo-
cal asylum. or In remote villages. The in
habitants charge from fi2 20 ft20 a year,
| according TO the way in which the patient
wishes 10 live, yet, no matter how little he
PAYS. he is always treated with wonderful
Kindness by the family with whom he is
boarding. The good people Of Gheel seem -
have a special facility for being able to treat
the insane successfully. and many marvel
Gus cases Of recovery are on record. This Is
the result Of heredity. for the experience
gained has been handed down from father
TO son for centuries
The patient is really the guest Of the
household, the armchair is allotted to him,
he has and he receives the most attention
Thus. he learns gradually the value Of the
respect which is his due. and therefore he
strives to master his af1iction so that he
shan not lose his privilege. The little child
rem Of Gheel have learned how to handle
these curious visitors; they play with them
fearlessly and walk and talk with them
Sometimes the patient may be seen tending |
the baby. Naturally enough Gheel is file ]
with "emperors." queens" 'miIionaires.
popes" 'archbishops and other magntR-
cent people. vet all such cases are treated
most kindly and respectfully by the inhabi.
tants Of Gheel.
Recently one Of the patients was terribly |
frightened by the idea that he was a mustard
seed and that the birds might eat him |
His host quieted him by saying. Have ii
not told you that You are quite safe. for the i
birds eat only hemp seed" Then there is a
Queen Of Holland" who holds her court |
with all the pomp imaginable with great
state she pretends 10 receive her visitors
and regrets that her soldiers have not been
able to receive them, ana then she sings in
a shrill voice airs from the best known OPP
eras. When her visitor leaves her presence /
goes TO the window. gives order to an
chamberlain and points to the
phantom regiments, which, TO her fancy, are {
hling past her window she is the Gaughtc.
af a leading Dutch statesman.
The landlords Of the inns at Gheel are
very courteous and respectful to the Insane
they humor ait their widest whims. Alto
sether it is 6 wonderful sight, and the en-
lire absence Of any restraint would astonisl
The most modern student who has special
zed on the treatment Of the insane. Mind
nerve specialists from all quarters If
he world find their way to Gheel and pa
dents from every continent are sent to be !
reated there. Every physician who has
listed Gheel speaks in glowing terms of tho
'fheacy OF the Treatments (which is based on
rtcndliness and tact All the patients seer
% he perfectly cortented; they get really TO
their hosts, ana they are loud in their
praises ot the little town. For dangerous
asses there is at Gheel an establishment un-
Ter The care Of physicians appointed by the
tate, ana at regular intervals they also visit
he patients living In the ~town.-Corre
London Globe.