Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-16
HUMoR INSANE wHIMs.
How Belgian Town Takes Care of
 Its Strange Population.

Its Strange Population.
 The care and treatment of the in- sane can be studied under very novel conditions at the little Belgian | town of Geel of Gheel, twenty-six miles east southeast of Antwerp. Gheel is really town of the insane | One meets them everywhere; they roam about the street; they take their refreshments in the cafes, and | they go through their daily labors often with more sense than does many an ordinary citizen who is be- lieved to be sound in mind and body. There are about 1,500 out pa tients, and they are taken as board CTS by the townspeople. Of course these are harmless cases, and the dangerous insane are looked after either in the local asylum or in re- mote villages. The inhabitants charge G12 to G120 a year, accord ing to the way in which the patient wishes to 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 to have a splendid faculty for being able to treat the insane successfully, and many amrvelous cases of recov- cry 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 arm chair is al lotted to him, he has the best place at table, and he receives the most attention. Thus he learns gradually the value of the respect which is his due, and therefore he strives to mas ter his affliction so that he shall not lose his privileges. The little chil dren 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 filled with ''emperors,' 'queens," kings" "millionaires, 'popes,'' "archbish- ops" and other magnificent people; yet all such people are treated most kindly and respectfully by the in habitants of Gheel. There is one case of king" who tells all new corners that he has two left legs and, therefore, he is obliged to have two left boots and two left legs to his trousers. Another old gentleman thinks he is the pope and that he he could fly to heaven; only for the moment he is too fat; his landlord seems to wish to help him to make start in flying from the window of the second-story; but he reminds him that he might fall and break his neck; thereupon the Pope" decides to put off his flight until after tea"
 Then there is a young man who is always looking for a hatchet; he thinks he has suddenly become so strong that he must hew away the doorway in order that he, may be able to go in and out Another case is that of a man who, with tears in his eyes, begs the stranger to protect him from a huge butterfly, which wishes to attack him and eat his brains. Another man thinks he is seed of corn, and he will ask a stranger to put him in his pocket. so that the wind may not blow him away.
 Recently one of the patients was terribly frightened by the idea that he was mustard seed, and that the birds might eat him. His host quiet ed him by saying: Have I not told you that you are quite safe, for the birds eat only hemp seed?" Then there's Queen of Holland" who holds her court with all the pomp imaginable; with great state she pretends to receive her visitors and regrets that her soldiers have not been able to receive them, and then she sings in shrill voice airs from the best known operas. When her visitor leaves her presence she goes to the window, gives orders for an imaginary chamberlain, and points to the phantom regiments, which, to her fancy, are filing past her win dow. She is the daughter of a lead ing Dutch statesman.
 The landlords of the inns of Gheel are very courteous and respectful to the insane; they humor all their widest whims. Altogether it is a wonderful sight, and the entire ab. sence of any restraint would aston ish the most modern student who has specialized on the treatment of the insane.-London Globe.
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