Practical observations and suggestions on the treatment of mental affections / [Joseph Seaton].

  • Seaton, Joseph
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical observations and suggestions on the treatment of mental affections / [Joseph Seaton]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    panion;—his only fetters,—the influence of kindness and agreeable society. How did this state of things contrast with his former position 1—A prisoner in his own house; his mind amused by the music of the massive street-door key grinding in its wards, upon the ingress or egress of all who came to, or left, the house; and under the strict surveillance of a strong, active young man, called a “ keeper,’’ armed with handcuffs and strait-waistcoat! The naivete of this gentleman’s reply was excessively rich: “ Oh! he does not know he is under restraint now!” I thanked him for his testimony, telling him that, to have controlled and restrained the patient, without his knowing he was under restraint or control, was to me a satisfactory achievement. Although I have endeavoured to point out the importance of carefully considering the circumstances of each particular case, and of exercising the greatest prudence and delicacy in determining the species and degree of restraint (if any) which may be requisite, I would not for a moment encourage any attempt to treat the malady at the home of the patient, if there is a possibility for his removal. There is, perhaps, no point upon which the best writers upon the subject of Insanity are so perfectly agreed, as the almost universal necessity for the separation of insane persons from their homes, their families, and their friends, whether confinement be requisite or not:—Esquirol, Pinel, Georget, Willis, and Dr. Prichard have all insisted upon it. M. Esquirol, after giving a graphic description of a lunatic who fancies himself a sovereign, adds, “ The affliction of his family, the chagrin of his friends, the anxiety of all,— their deference to his will and caprices,—and the repugnance that each evinces to oppose him, from the fear of exas¬ perating his fury, contribute to confirm, him in his imaginary possession of power and dominion. Withdraw him from his pretensions; transport him from his subjects ; sur¬ rounded by new scenes, he will collect his ideas, direct his
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