The Sun. — 1841-10-18 (London, England)

TREATMENT OF THE INSANE. :-i-•: , tatwhit nvehfut attention, When ereaat nil: etnpeistao tnwh:eaahnieutner faculties ineiei netst nhra le.pfsoospftuceoonar ndtir nhsd:ivtdiaaoel msuuhi air cenbaaadbi i en cannot; desirable it occupations atue:epal sacil filt:ti,"i _unt ii:stie triLi a4Fikiv -..... ./,..., undertakemtoodanidivert ere ma pp ldo someykeedeuseful o alive lthis hir ies theemployment,pur aotts :arie nithyi s variousk? kindness, td:npneosPrs:.ss sral; i'n::ial games; and those which call into play botti'attention of mind and activity of body appear most usefril-;,-such as the games of tennis le-grace, battledore, &c.: chess, backgainmon, bagatelle, cards, &c., are provided, and to many are sources of much pleasure and athusemant. The exhibition of a magic-lanthorn in the winter months was very successful in affording much general enjoyment, Although these means of keeping up attenLion are more necessary and more useful in particular eases, yet in all there is reason to believe they have a beneficial influence. Music and dancing, ao fat Gore causing over excitement or restlessness, seen to be followed by increaAd quiet and more natural repose. Most festival days are made occasions for a merit assemblage of the inmates in their respective departments, who dance with ranch spirit to the music of one of the patients, who, dressed in gala e-s-tome, plays the violin with great perseveranoe, ccci is evidently a chief participator in the enjoy metal,. These things, though in themselves trifles, yet are at all times important agents in the treatment of insanity, and they become of still more importance and value in as institution where the 'patients are undergoing a change from a system of coercion to one of comparative freedom. Mn: 211 of the excitement liable to arise in patients who have been subjected to restraint, there is ream to conclude, has been averted by these means. . A liberal supply of books has been provided klr the use of the patients ; the library crazies of 2k volumes. They are read with apparent pleasure and interest, and a few of the patients have been encouraged to read aloud to the rest ; this evidently promotes a good feeling,—is an agreeable mode of occupying time and conduces to the restoration of the faculties.  One daily and several weekly newspapers are regularly supplied, as well as Chambers's Journal, and the Penny and Saturday Magazines. The object of this institution being the restoration of the mental faculties, it would seem supeiflous to attempt more than thin ; nevertheless, in a few cases, endeavours have been made to communicate instruction in reading and writing, and happily not without some degree of success. No cases cause more anxiety to the medical ewers of a lunatic asylum than those in which there is a disposition to commit suicide. A large proportion *1 patients admitted have evinced this propensity ; aud, although the attempts to effect their purpose have bo,,n both numerous and ingenious, yet we are happy to report that in no instance have they been successful, notwithstanding such patients are not subject to any spucies of mechanical restraint,—Report of Lancaster Lunatic Asylum, 1841.