Chapters in the History of the Insane in the British IslesTuke, Daniel Hack
History
Chapters in the History of the Insane in the British Isles
Tuke, Daniel Hack
Mental health laws -- Great Britain; Mental illness -- Great Britain; Mentally ill -- Care; Psychiatric hospitals -- Great Britain
The following snarl is also noticeable:--"He informs us that he has
studied with considerable attention the writings of Locke, Harris,
Condillac, Smith, and Stewart; but the quotation of great names is not
always the surest proof of an accurate acquaintance with their works,
and we are inclined to think that there is some ground for doubt in the
present instance."
The Reviewer is severe on Pinel's classification, which in the main has
stood the test of all subsequent criticism to a remarkable degree. "It
may," he says, "be entitled to the praise of ingenuity, but we doubt
whether it is remarkable for its clearness and accuracy. Many of the
distinctions seem absurd, and others not well founded. The several kinds
of insanity are not distinct; they are only varieties of the same
affection. All the symptoms mentioned under these five heads occur in
the same patient. At different times he passes through all the
gradations from furious phrenzy to complete fatuity." This criticism
has, of course, great force as opposed to all symptomological
classifications whatever, but not specially or mainly to Pinel's.
On the point whether madness can in certain cases be cured, Pinel's
utterances are dismissed with downright contempt: "Instead of any new
light being thrown upon this important question, or any new rules of
conduct pointed out, our author gives a minute detail of two cases,
where any ancient female of ordinary capacity could have decided as well
as himself, and relates with laboured minuteness the contrary opinions
of some eminent physicians on a late memorable occasion in this
country." Pinel an old woman! It will probably be new to most, if not
all, of our readers that this illustrious man was regarded in this light
by the leading Review of our country, when his writings first became
known amongst us. The review ends, after crediting Pinel with some
merit, and commending his work as containing some profitable
instruction, with the exceedingly kind and patronizing observation that
"we are therefore inclined to make _an indulgent allowance_ (!) for the
imperfect execution of many parts of Dr. Pinel's essay, and to entertain
hopes of further information from his diligence and discernment" (!!).
Insular conceit could surely scarcely go further. However, the Edinburgh
Reviewer is forgotten and his name unknown; Pinel's name covered with
glory, although not a popular hero; for when I made a pilgrimage to his
grave in the great Paris cemetery, _Père la Chaise_, in 1878, I was a
solitary visitor, while crowds flocked to others, including that of
Thiers, which is in close proximity to it. I am glad to see it announced
that the _Société Médico-psychologique_ of Paris is about to erect--not
too soon--a statue to his memory.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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