the surplus only. Lord Justice KNIGHT BRUCE remarked, "I may say for myself, that from my judicial recollection of the facts of this case, from the condition of Mrs. Cumming, her acts, and her association with some persons; I am most clearly of opinion that there never was a lady who more needed protection, and that the proceedings in lunacy were proper. That the lady required some protection is clear. I do not say that it was right, that she should be taken as she was to a lunatic asylum, or that more than a very limited restricted and guarded interference should have been made, but being of opinion that some proceedings were proper, I cannot but say that these expenses among women. Of Dr. Bird's six cases, not one was in a woman. The tendency to it is greater in men; in whom, indeed, the mental disorder, with its associated depraved bodily condition, is much more frequent than in women. Paralytic-dementia, in which there is a particular proneness to corruption of the blood, is represented by all writers as much more prevalent among men. Of such patients at Illenau, 10 to 15 per cent. are male, and but 3 per cent. female. The swelling of the ear, according to Thore, is more frequent between the thirtieth and fortieth year. It is not a peculiarity of old cases: Dr. Fischer has noticed it in a boy of eighteen, and in a woman of sixty-four. Rupp states that he has met with this condition of were incurred for the benefit of the lunatic, and that the external ear in soldiers and other persons not there is both reason and authority for declaring, as I mentally disordered. This is a most interesting point now do, that they were so." Lord Justice TURNER for further enquiry. A case, reported by Dr. Jessen, concurred. occurred in the hospital practice of Langenbeck. It was that of a girl between ten and twelve years of age, belonging to the lowest class, and very ignorant and wild. The swelling occupied the left ear, quite obstructed the meatus, and, according to the doubtful statement of the patient, entirely deprived her of hearing on that side. A blow on the ear was assigned as the cause. Langenbeck made a long incision, which he kept open for two weeks by means of lint, lightly bandaging the ear for support. The wound healed favourably, and the shape of the ear was restored with its faculty perfect. On making the incision coagulated blood escaped; the walls of the cavity appeared smooth, and a new cartilage had formed. There was no mental disorder in this girl. Scientific Works Published by Mr. S. Highley, 32, Fleet Street, London. THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL REVIEW, being a Combination of "The MedicoChirurgical Review,' formerly edited by DR. JAMES JOHNSON; and The British and Foreign Medical Review,' formerly edited by DR. FORBES. Published Quarterly, price 6s. QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE, including the Transactions of the Microscopical Society of London; edited by E. LANKESTER, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c., and G. BUSK, F.R.C.S.E., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. Illustrated with Lithographs and Woodcuts, 8vo. price 4s. No. VI., "Professor Quekett on the Torbane hill Minerals," THE CHEMIST: A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF Appointments. Mr. W. Chas. Hills to be Assistant Medical Officer to the Kent County Asylum, vice Henry Parfitt, M.B. resigned. Mr. Henry Jacobs, M.R.C.S., to be Apothecary to the Female Department at the Middlesex Asylum, Colney Hatch. Mr. Alfred M. Jeaffreson, to be Steward of Finances to Bethlem Hospital, vice Mr. E. R. Adams, resigned. Obituary. the Rev. Thomas Evans, D.D., for upwards of twenty New Members of the Association of Medical Officers Shapter, Dr. Thomas, Physician to the St. Thomas's Kirkman. Mr. William P., Assistant Medical Officer PHYSIOGNOMY OF INSANITY. A SERIES of Photographic Portraits from the Life, by DR. HUGH W. DIAMOND, F.S.A. With Brief Medical Notes. To be published in occasional parts, small quarto. THE MICROSCOPE IN ITS SPECIAL APPLI- BOTANICAL LETTERS. BY DR. F. UNGER. All communications for the forthcoming Number should be addressed to the Editor, DR. BUCKNILL, Devon County Lunatic Asylum, near Exeter, before the 15th day of March next. PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL HIGHLEY, 32, FLEET W. & H. POLLARD, Printers, North Street, Exéter. "CANDIDUS IMPERTI, SI NON, HIS UTERE Mecum.” THE ASYLUM JOURNAL, No. 4. Published by Authority of The Association of Medical Officers of Asylums and LEADING ARTICLES. The Chaplaincy Question at the Belfast Asylum On Lycantropy, or Wolf-Madness, a Variety of Insania Zoan- An Abstract of Observations, shewing the frequency of Oc- 54 TO CORRESPONDENTS 49 MISCELLANEOUS. - Statistics of the Insane in Paris, 63. Destruction of the Bergen Asylum, 53. Vacancy, &c. &c.. 64 64 The Chaplaincy Question at the Belfast Asylum. After a prolonged discussion on this question, the Irish Executive and the local Authorities of the Counties of Antrim, Down, and Carrickfergus, have at length come to a dead lock, which appears irremoveable except by new legislative enactment. The Lord Lieutenant has appointed three chaplains for the Anglican, the Presbyterian, and the Roman Catholic patients respectively. The Board of Governors “having referred to the Acts of Parliament regulating their powers," &c., firmly and finally decided against the appointment; and when the three clerical gentlemen presented themselves at the institution in their official capacity, "they were informed of the resolution adopted by the Board, which prevented the authorities of the institution from recognizing or receiving them in any official capacity." ligent portion of the community in Belfast and its neighbourhood.” It is not necessary to follow the dispute through all its phases, nor if we did so should we perhaps agree with every argument of the governors. In such prolonged discussions, even the party most in the right, is not likely to confine itself to the strictest logic and the most uncontrovertible facts. The Lord Lieutenant has acted on the opinions of the Inspectors of Asylums, and these opinions we are bound to say, appear to us erroneous and untenable. The opposition therefore of the local authorities, to acts founded upon such opinions, has our concurrence and cordial approbation. It is evident from the whole tenor of their letter to the Lord Lieutenant, dated December 31st, 1851, that the government inspectors, regard the services The grand juries of the three counties have sever- of chaplains in asylums as an active agency in ally approved the conduct of the governors. The the treatment of the insane. In the postcript they resolution of the County Down grand jury was, “That state as much explicitly. They append a letter from we highly approve and cordially concur in the views the medical officer of the Londonderry asylum, “who, which have induced the governors to resist the ap- (they say) it is worthy of remark, was forced, after pointment of chaplains, which, from the statements fourteen months experience, to admit the efficacy of and opinions adduced, would in our opinion be se- religious services in the treatment of the insane." The riously prejudicial to the recovery of the patients." letter, bye the bye, admits no such thing, and that of The resolutions of the other grand juries were to the Mr. Cluff, the manager of the Londonderry asylum, same effect. The board of governors state, that their states, that the comfort to the inmates has arisen from opinions respecting the inexpediency of appointing "the performance of divine service, and the occasional chaplains, "have been confirmed by the all but unani-conversation of the clergymen with the inmates. And mous concurrence of the gentry, and the most intel- that Divine service passes the Sabbath most comfort small, trifling, unimportant, which bears on the sub-relation to this custom were termed Auxious. Lycaon, ject of the management and treatment of the insane? perhaps, was the founder of propitiatory sacrifice, or The foundation of our improved method of treatment the disease may have been hereditary in some parrests on this very attention to what, at first sight, might be esteemed unimportant details. However with those whom we address it would be vain to enter on a formal demonstration of this fact. To resume, therefore, we are of opinion that a useful method of conducting the communications considered, would be to adopt the form of notes and queries. If one writer would state a difficulty he has encountered, and put the question to others, if they have met with the like, and how they have overcome it; the latter would recount briefly what expedient had been resorted to, to meet this or that particular sort of case. Only let the ice be once broken after this fashion, and then surely we shall have one and another volunteering his ideas on the points mooted; and thus will be gathered the results of accumulated experience, and the comparative merits of the various plans and expedients brought forward will be appreciated. ticular family, and as those afflicted with it were called Auxάoves, its origin may have been referred to some old king who was hence called Lycaon. The disease is first noticed by Marcellus, who lived in the time of Galen. His description is copied by Etius, by Paulus Ægineta, and by Oribasius of Pergamus. The last named author, who wrote in the fourth century, says, "Lycantropy is a species of melancholy. The persons affected go out at night time, wander among the tombs till morning, in every thing imitating wolves; their looks are pale; their eyes hollow and dry; their tongue exceedingly parched, their thirst excessive, and their legs ulcerated." The description given by Etius is very similar: he writes, "Such go out at night in the month of February, and haunt the tombs until morning, in all things imitating wolves or dogs. You may know those affected by these signs:-they are pale, have weak sight and dry eyes, and do not shed tears; their eyes Although an abundance of matter will be found to are hollow; they have a dry tongue and do not secrete fill the pages of this journal, yet we deem the depart-any saliva; they are always thirsty, and have invetement proposed so important, that the plea of want of rate ulcers on the legs from the bites of dogs and the room will never be urged against its admission. various accidents to which they are liable."-Tetrabiblion 2, cap. ii. J. T. ARLIDGE. The account of Paulus Ægineta differs but slightly from the preceding, being likewise taken from older authors.-Lib. 3, cap. xvi. On Lycantropy or Wolf-madness, a Variety of Insania Zoanthropica, by N. PARKER, M. D. Londin., L.R.C.F. The disorder is also noticed by Avicenna, who lived Assistant Physician to the London Hospital. at the commencement of the eleventh century, under The peculiar psychical epidemics which were en- the name of "cucubuth." But it was during the middle gendered and fostered by the ignorance and supersti- ages, when superstitions of every kind were especially tion of the classical and mediaval epochs, present to prevalent, that lycantropy acquired so great an extenthe observation of the psychopathist phenomena not sion; and it was about this period that it first became less remarkable than instructive. Among the wide-associated with the belief in demonaical influence, and spread epidemical delusions of bygone times, the doc- thus oftentimes formed a symptom, or part, of a more trine of Zoomorphism-the belief of men being trans-general psychical disorder-demonomania. formed into animals—is one of the most curious and deeply rooted. Having originated among the primitive hunters and shepherds of Chaldea, this delusion spread to Egypt, India, and Greece, whence it extended to the rest of Europe, affecting besides the Romaic, both the Teutonic and Sclavonian races. The condition termed lycantropy, or wolf-madness, "in which," says an old author, "men run howling about graves and fields, and will not be persuaded but they are wolves, or some such beasts," is one of the most singular among the many forms of zoomorphism." Though the accounts transmitted to us by the Greek and Roman writers are mixed with much that is fabulous, and much that is referable to mere superstition, there can be but little doubt that lycantropy, as a disease, existed in Greece long before the commencement of our era. Böttiger (Beitr zur Spreugel Geschichte der Medizin, b. ii. pp. 3-45,) looks upon the classical myths relating to Lycaon as evidence of the existence of an endemic form of delusion among the ancient inhabitants of Arcadia. As it was believed that this disease, like most others, was inflicted by the anger of the gods, relief was sought by sacrifice, and a guiltless boy was offered up to Zeus and Pan, the old deities of pastoral Arcadia, who in In this new combination it was soon extensively diffused over France, Germany, and Italy. Traces of an allied disease have moreover been discovered in the east among the Abyssinians, (vide Pearce's Adventures in Abyssinia, vol. i. p. 287,) and in the far west among the aborigines of Brazil. No one, however superstitious, believed in a complete change of man into an animal. It was held that the metamorphosis could not affect the immortal soul, but was confined to the body. Some, as Bodin and Fernelius, maintained the bodily change to be real, others apparent only, "for God," said they, "is only able actually to change the body, and it is sinful to ascribe such power to the devil or any such being." Those who entertained this opinion that the change of the body was only apparent, described two varieties of the malady, one objective, in which those affected appear to others to be animals; the other subjective, when only they themselves imagine that they have undergone the transformation. The former variety was usually ascribed to the power of the devil, the latter to corporeal disease. Rhanæus (Supplement 3 Cur und Nutz Anmerk von Natur und Kunstgeschicten, 1728), who has written a treatise upon lycantropy in Courland, states that Satan holds lycantropes in his net in a threefold man ner: first, he leads them to believe that they are wolves, so that, blinded by fancy, in their own proper human form they actually attack and wound men and cattle; second, while really in deep sleep, they dream that they are wandering about and injuring men and cattle, their master the devil meanwhile doing that which their disordered fancy pictures to them; third, Satan impels real wolves to do some mischief, and at the same time so affects the imagination of lycantropes, as to cause them to believe that they are the guilty parties. Knights not unfrequently condemned lycantropes to the stake. Chiefly through the exertions of Wierus of Brabant, physician to the Duke of Cleves, the true nature of lycantropy and other similar diseases was at length recognized, and the unfortunate victims of the delusion became objects of pity rather than of punishment. Considering the period at which he lived, the exhortations of Wierus are particularly strong, and his statements remarkably explicit. In his work, "De Præstigiis Dæmonum, et Incantationibus, et Veneficiis," Wierus appeals to the emperor and the state, and implores them to spare the guiltless dæmoniacs who melancholics, or poor hysterical women. Majolus (Dier Canalic, t. 2, colloq. iii.) relates that a prisoner was brought by some peasants to a Duke of Prussia, accused of wounding cattle. He was de-are, he asserts, for the most part maniacal persons, or formed, and had wounds in his face, caused by the bites of dogs. He confessed that, twice a year, about Christmas and at the feast of St. John the Baptist, he was in the habit of assuming the form of a wolf, and that it caused him much trouble and discomfort when the hairs made their appearance, and he underwent the metamorphosis. He was kept in prison for a considerable time, but, although carefully watched, no transformation was observed. William of Brabant states that a reasonable man was so deceived by the art of the devil, that many times in the year he thought himself to be a raving wolf: without sense, he wandered about in the woods, and especially followed little boys. At last, by the grace of God, he recovered his reason. The doctrine of lycantropy probably arose from the belief in the existence of good and bad spirits, and from the intimate relation which existed between the primitive pastoral nations and their animal companions. Evil deeds, it was thought, were punished by change after death into one of the lower animals, and virtuous deeds rewarded by a progress in the scale of organization. Thus Lycaon's metamorphosis was referred to the anger of Jupiter at his crime of serving up human flesh at a banquet. It was and is still usual to represent bad spirits in the form of animals of prey, with claws; thus, in the Indian mythology we find them figured as dogs, cats, tigers, etc. The middle ages were deeply imbued with this notion; the devil was pictured as a goat, and magicians, sorcerers, and witches, were described as assuming the form of cats, In 1521, Peter Burgot and Michel Verdung, both lycantropes, were burned at Poligny.-(Wier de Præst Dæm, lib. 6, ch. xi.) According to Fincelius (De Mi-or of noxious or disgusting animals. rabil, lib. xi.) in 1541, a peasant of Pavia maintained Now the opinions and modes of thought of the age that the only difference between himself and a real usually give the form and colouring to the delusions wolf consisted in this, that in a wolf the hairs of the of the insane. The disordered mind, like a mirror, skin are external, but in himself turned inwards. In reproduces only what it has received. It may render order to test the truth of his story, the judges, before back its impressions more or less truthfully, more or whom he was brought, made incisions into his legs and less distorted, and in an almost endless variety of arms; at length, however, they declared him innocent, recombined forms, but it does not exert any creative and delivered him over to a surgeon, but he died a few power. In our day, delusions take their colouring days afterwards from the wounds. A person labour-chiefly from physical science; absurd notions respecting under this delusion was brought to Pomponatius. ing steam, electricity, magnetism, etc., have usurped The peasants wished to have his skin removed, to see the place of those derived from the poetical religious whether the hairs were turned inwards. Pomponatius, myths of the credulous middle ages. Some delusions, however, refused to comply with this demand, and by indeed, being founded upon passions which always suitable treatment soon cured the man of his delusion. exist in the human breast, are common to every people -(Schottus' Physica Curiosa.) in every age. But it is only during the middle ages that we observe numerous instances of the rapid spread of such epidemics as the St. John's and St. Vitus's dance,- -as the children's crusades,—as lycantropy,— and as the various delusions and irrational acts founded upon religious ideas, which abounded in cloister life, and are so ably recorded by Hecker, Calmeil, and others. In 1574, the parliament of Dôle, Franche Comté, sentenced Gilles Garnier, called the Hermit of the Bonnet, to be burned alive, because as a wolf he had killed several children. From 1598 to 1650, lycantropy prevailed as an epidemic malady among the inhabitants of the Jura mountains, and it has been computed that as many as six hundred persons were executed as lycantropes or demonomaniacs. Among these I may mention,-Pernette Gandillon, who believing herself to be a wolf was torn to pieces by an infuriated mob; her brother Pierre Gandillon, his son George, and his daughter Antoinette, who, labouring ́under a similar delusion, were all condemned to be strangled by the hangman and then burned. Another unfortunate, at Chalons, was condemned by the parliament of Paris to be burned.-(Vide Calmeil, tom. i., p. 279.) In Prussia also, the Teutonic must have perished in the flames.-Continental Paper. FATAL FIRE IN A LUNATIC ASYLUM IN NORWAY.A fire broke out in the night of the 5th of January, in the Public Lunatic Asylum of Bergen, Norway. The firemen were immediately on the spot, but the conflagration spread with such extraordinary rapidity, that all efforts to get the fire under proved unavailing. There was not even time to get all the 268 patients out. Out of that number 22 were not to be found, and small, trifling, unimportant, which bears on the sub-relation to this custom were termed Auxious. Lycaon, ject of the management and treatment of the insane? perhaps, was the founder of propitiatory sacrifice, or The foundation of our improved method of treatment the disease may have been hereditary in some parrests on this very attention to what, at first sight, ticular family, and as those afflicted with it were called might be esteemed unimportant details. However with Auxάoves, its origin may have been referred to some those whom we address it would be vain to enter on a old king who was hence called Lycaon. The disease formal demonstration of this fact. is first noticed by Marcellus, who lived in the time of Galen. His description is copied by Etius, by Paulus Ægineta, and by Oribasius of Pergamus. The last named author, who wrote in the fourth century, says, "Lycantropy is a species of melancholy. The persons affected go out at night time, wander among the tombs till morning, in every thing imitating wolves; their looks are pale; their eyes hollow and dry; their tongue exceedingly parched, their thirst excessive, and their legs ulcerated." To resume, therefore, we are of opinion that a useful method of conducting the communications considered, would be to adopt the form of notes and queries. If one writer would state a difficulty he has encountered, and put the question to others, if they have met with the like, and how they have overcome it; the latter would recount briefly what expedient had been resorted to, to meet this or that particular sort of case. Only let the ice be once broken after this fashion, and then surely we shall have one and another volunteering his ideas on the points mooted; and thus will be gathered the results of accumulated experience, and the comparative merits of the various plans and expedients brought forward will be appreciated. Although an abundance of matter will be found to fill the pages of this journal, yet we deem the department proposed so important, that the plea of want of room will never be urged against its admission. J. T. ARLIDGE. The description given by Etius is very similar: he writes, "Such go out at night in the month of February, and haunt the tombs until morning, in all things imitating wolves or dogs. You may know those affected by these signs:-they are pale, have weak sight and dry eyes, and do not shed tears; their eyes are hollow; they have a dry tongue and do not secrete any saliva; they are always thirsty, and have inveterate ulcers on the legs from the bites of dogs and the various accidents to which they are liable."-Tetrabiblion 2, cap. ii. The account of Paulus gineta differs but slightly from the preceding, being likewise taken from older authors.-Lib. 3, cap. xvi. The disorder is also noticed by Avicenna, who lived at the commencement of the eleventh century, under the name of "cucubuth." But it was during the middle ages, when superstitions of every kind were especially prevalent, that lycantropy acquired so great an extension; and it was about this period that it first became On Lycantropy or Wolf-madness, a Variety of Insania Zoanthropica, by N. PARKER, M. D. Londin., L.R.C.F. Assistant Physician to the London Hospital. The peculiar psychical epidemics which were engendered and fostered by the ignorance and superstition of the classical and mediæval epochs, present to the observation of the psychopathist phenomena not less remarkable than instructive. Among the wide-associated with the belief in demonaical influence, and spread epidemical delusions of bygone times, the doctrine of Zoomorphism—the belief of men being transformed into animals-is one of the most curious and deeply rooted. Having originated among the primitive hunters and shepherds of Chaldea, this delusion spread to Egypt, India, and Greece, whence it extended to the rest of Europe, affecting besides the Romaic, both the Teutonic and Sclavonian races. The condition termed lycantropy, or wolf-madness, "in which," says an old author, "men run howling about graves and fields, and will not be persuaded but they are wolves, or some such beasts," is one of the most singular among the many forms of zoomorphism." Though the accounts transmitted to us by the Greek and Roman writers are mixed with much that is fabulous, and much that is referable to mere superstition, there can be but little doubt that lycantropy, as a disease, existed in Greece long before the commencement of our era. Böttiger (Beitr zur Spreugel Geschichte der Medizin, b. ii. pp. 3-45,) looks upon the classical myths relating to Lycaon as evidence of the existence of an endemic form of delusion among the ancient inhabitants of Arcadia. As it was believed that this disease, like most others, was inflicted by the anger of the gods, relief was sought by sacrifice, and a guiltless boy was offered up to Zeus and Pan, the old deities of pastoral Arcadia, who in thus oftentimes formed a symptom, or part, of a more general psychical disorder-demonomania. In this new combination it was soon extensively diffused over France, Germany, and Italy. Traces of an allied disease have moreover been discovered in the east among the Abyssinians, (vide Pearce's Adventures in Abyssinia, vol. i. p. 287,) and in the far west among the aborigines of Brazil. No one, however superstitious, believed in a complete change of man into an animal. It was held that the metamorphosis could not affect the immortal soul, but was confined to the body. Some, as Bodin and Fernelius, maintained the bodily change to be real, others apparent only, "for God," said they, "is only able actually to change the body, and it is sinful to ascribe such power to the devil or any such being." Those who entertained this opinion that the change of the body was only apparent, described two varieties of the malady, one objective, in which those affected appear to others to be animals; the other subjective, when only they themselves imagine that they have undergone the transformation. The former variety was usually ascribed to the power of the devil, the latter to corporeal disease. Rhanæus (Supplement 3 Cur und Nutz Anmerk von Natur und Kunstgeschieten, 1728), who has written a treatise upon lycantropy in Courland, states that Satan holds lycantropes in his net in a threefold man |