The figures show the per-centage upon the total number of patients, namely 3,284 (1,949 males, and 1,875 females).

The probability of recovery among the whole of these cases was as

The per-centage of patients paid for by their friends was, males 2·0, females 1.0, total 1.5.

The assigned causes of the mental disorder in the cases admitted into the district asylums during the five years 1852-56 may be divided into two classes, the physical and the moral. In the first class there may be enumerated, of those cases in which a cause is distinctly specified, 722 males and 707 females; in the second class may be summed up 262 males, and 461 females. The principal physical causes mentioned and the number of cases in which they are supposed to have been effective, are as follows:

Death of a member of the family, or of friends
Death and emigration of a relative or friend
Domestic trials.

The occupation of the lunatic prior to his insanity is mentioned in 3,794 instances, of which the accompanying list gives a brief summary:

Labourers

Servants.

Agricultural pursuits, farming, gardening, &c., (farmers, 372)

Handicraftsmen

1445

523

507

427

239

168

151

124

72

44

29

19

18

1

The data are not given by which the relative proportion of these figures to the average number of individuals living in each of the specified classes of occupation, could be ascertained for the period in question.

The value of the statistics furnished by the district asylums is in several respects much diminshed from the want of a comprehensive system of registration common to all the asylums. But this is a defect which is far from being peculiar to the Irish asylums.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE LAW OF LUNACY.* It was our intention to have discussed at a considerable length this important subject, but as the matter in all its details is at this moment under the consideration of a committee of the House of Commons, and witnesses are in the course of examination, we have thought it would be in better taste, and more consistent with the public good, to defer the publication of our remarks until the committee have completed their labours, and drawn up their report for the legislative consideration of Parliament. We cannot, however, refrain from directing the attention of our body to several valuable pamphlets that have appeared on this subject within the last few weeks. They should all be attentively read and diligently studied by every person interested in a right solution of the many difficult and important medical and social questions discussed in their pages. We would particularly refer our readers to the able essay of Dr. Seymour. Nothing can proceed from this accomplished physician's pen that is not entitled to the most

(1). "A Letter to the Earl of Shaftesbury on the Laws which regulate Private Lunatic Asylums," by Ed. J. Seymour, M.D., F.R.S., &c. pp. 59. Long

man: 1859.

(2). "Plea for the Insane Poor," by John Millar. H. Renshaw; 1859.

(3). "Suggestions for the Amendment of the Laws relating to Private Lunatic Asylums," by G. Ed. T. Conolly, Barrister-at-law. Shaw and Sons: 1859.

(4). "What shall we do with our Lunatics?" by Edward Eccles, F.R.C.S. J. Churchill: 1859.

(5). "On some Points in the Legal Provisions for the Poor," by J. T. Arlidge, M.B. and A.B. London: 1859.

careful and respectful attention. Dr. Seymour was for many years one of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy, and, therefore, he speaks as an authority on all subjects connected with the medical and domestic treatment of the insane. Many of his suggestions, as embodied in the pamphlet before us, are worthy of earnest attention. The pamphlet is written with great care, and embraces a full consideration of nearly all the points of interest connected with the subject of Lunacy Law. We beg our readers to procure the essay, and to read its interesting pages, and judge for themselves of their great merits. We again repeat that it would be ill-judged for us to quote passages from Dr. Seymour's Essay, or from any of the pamphlets alluded to, whilst the matter is still sub judice. We would, however, particularly call attention to the remarks of Mr. Conolly, who has evidently devoted much time and attention to the subject, as well as to the three remaining pamphlets referred to at the bottom of the page. The Committee appointed by the House of Commons has commenced its labours, and several witnesses have already been examined. The whole subject at the conclusion of the inquiry will be fully discussed in these pages.

MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON THE VISITING PHYSICIAN IN THE MARYBORO' LUNATIC ASYLUM.

"WE copy the following report of this very serious occurrence from the local paper (The Leinster Express); up to the moment we write it has not been followed by any alarming consequences. The nature and amount of the injury has not been overstated, but rather the contrary. Until a strict and searching inquiry be made as to the cause of this and other outrages in this Asylum, we must refrain from more particular comment :

"An occurrence which might have produced disastrous consequences took place in this institution on last Monday. A female patient, named Margaret Kelly, complaining of a headache, was permitted to remain in her sleepingroom, where she dressed herself, putting on a cloak over her clothes; on Dr. Jacob paying her a visit, accompanied by the nurse and matron (the latter remaining outside the door), he observed that the patient, who, on his entrance, had been reclining over the bedclothes, rose slowly to a standing position on the bed without making any manifestation of anger or violence. Dr. Jacob was about retiring from the room, suspecting the woman to have some evil intent, when she drew from under her cloak a stone nearly 8lbs. weight, wrapped in a cloth, which she swung around, and struck him in the head, breaking in his hat, and inflicting a wound of nearly two inches in length. Dr. Jacob then withdrew from the room when the patient struck the nurse, causing a wound in her head also; the doctor immediately returned to the nurse's assistance, when the patient was secured. Were it not that this tleman wore a very strong hat, the probability is that his life would have been sacrificed; happily the injury has not been so severe as to prevent him from attending his duty with caution. It has been directed by a board, at the suggestion of the inspectors, that Margaret Kelly will be brought to trial with a view to make her amenable to the criminal law; and eventually to place her in the Asylum for Criminal Lunatics at Dundrum, as she has expressed a fixed determination to take the life of Dr. Jacob and the nurse. An investigation

gen

is to take place before the next board, to ascertain how it was that the woman was allowed to be in possession of so deadly a weapon.'

At a meeting of three members of the Board of Governors since held to transact other business, it was resolved-" That in accordance with the suggestion of the inspectors, the Sessional Crown Solicitor be instructed to take legal proceedings in the case of Margaret Kelly, and that the manager do furnish him a copy of this resolution." It was also resolved-" That in consequence of the atrocious attempt made on the life of Dr. Jacob, the Board feel it to be their duty to express their determination to visit with the severest penalty in their power any neglect of an officer or nurse which might lead to the repetition of such an outrage.' So far the three Governors. The clerk of the Lunatic Asylum's office, in Dublin, writes to Dr. Jacob." That with regard to taking means to guard against a like occurrence in future, he has to state that increased vigilance on the part of the attendants, and a rigid adherence to the Privy Council's rules, seem to the Inspectors to be the most effectual way of preventing such acts, and they have accordingly caused a communication to be addressed to the Resident Physician with that object." The Resident Physician is "the Manager" referred to in the resolution of the Governors, and the following is the communication addressed to him by the Inspectors" They have to request that you will caution the attendants to be particular in the observance of the rules, and in examining the patients when they come in from the grounds, to ascertain if they have secreted stones or other dangerous weapons." And so the matter rests as far as the authorities are concerned; but is it so to rest? For several years the internal discipline and management of this Asylum has been the cause of complaint, and has been repeatedly brought under the consideration of the Governors, the Inspectors, the Chief and Under Secretaries at the Castle, and even of the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council, without any adequate inquiry or examination being instituted as to the charges preferred or the irregularities alleged. The Commissioners who lately presented a report on the Lunatic Asylums of Ireland were intimately acquainted with all the particulars of these complaints and charges, yet did they refuse to enter into any inquiry as to their truth, or as to the grounds upon which such serious allegations were publicly and officially made. There is now before Parliament a bill founded on that report, and referred to a select committee of the House of Commons, and it now remains to be seen whether or not the working of the present law, as illustrated by the proceedings in this case, is to be really brought to light. A searching investigation as to this really unintelligible matter would probably afford a clue to guide political investigators of Irish affairs as to the nature and source of a certain description of influence, which is often found operating in the production of results of this description; and might, perhaps, suggest speculations in political philosophy not hitherto entertained.-Dublin Med. Press.

It occurs to us that it would be farcical to institute legal proceedings in a case like this. If the culprit is a dangerous lunatic, let her be removed to a place of safety and security, to Dundrum Asylum if they please; but it would be a mockery of justice to place her at the bar of a criminal court with the view of ascertaining her responsibility for the grave and serious offence she has committed.-EDITOR.

Psychological Quarterly Retrospect.

To extract a stray philosophical or scientific truth from our sports is one thing; to transform philosophical or scientific truths into sports is another. By the former method we may break an occasional clod in the mind of a novice and incite him to learn; by the latter we are too likely to falsify the truths we may seek to teach, and to lead the learner into error. Philosophy in sport made Science in earnest" is, perhaps, an euphonious, but it is certainly a delusive and mischievous phrase, and a tyro who may have derived his first notions of philosophy from an indoctrination governed by the principle which the expression implies, will be apt to suffer the fate of the three unhappy individuals, two coming from the land of Vain-glory, and one from the country of Conceit, whom Christian met with in the " narrow way." "Why came you not in at the Gate, which standeth at the beginning of the way?" said he to the two former individuals, and they replied "That to go to the Gate for entrance was by all their countrymen counted too far about; and therefore their usual way was to make a short cut of it, and to climb over the wall, as they had done." The latter individual- -" his name was Ignorance"-being asked a similar question, answered," As for the Gate that you talk of, all the world knows that it is a great way off our country. I cannot think that any men in all our parts do so much as know the way to it, nor need they matter whether they do or no, since we have, as you see, a fine, pleasant green lane that comes down from our country the nearest way."

Now, as we all well know, neither the two inhabitants of the land of Vain-glory, (Formalist and Hypocrisy,) nor Ignorance, attained the object at which they aimed. They were fated to remain in outer darkness; and the manner in which this came about, teaches a lesson which is as true in philosophy as in religion. When Formalist and Hypocrisy came to the foot of the hill Difficulty "they saw that the hill was steep and high," and that the narrow way lay right up it; but there were two other paths, one leading to the right and the other to the left at the bottom of the hill, and the two pseudo-pilgrims supposing that these two ways might meet again on the other side of the hill" were resolved to go into those ways." "So the one took the way which is called Danger, which led him into a great wood; and the other took directly up the way to Destruction, which led him into a wide field full of dark mountains, where he stumbled and fell and rose no more." Ignorance, having entered the narrow way beyond the hill Difficulty, pursued his