ead the disease
enormously, until we hear of convents, villages, and even large
districts, ravaged by epidemics of diabolical possession!(358)

(358) I shall discuss these epidemics of possession, which form a
somewhat distinct class of phenomena, in the next chapter.

And this terror naturally bred not only active cruelty toward those
supposed to be possessed, but indifference to the sufferings of those
acknowledged to be lunatics. As we have already seen, while ample and
beautiful provision was made for every other form of human suffering,
for this there was comparatively little; and, indeed, even this little
was generally worse than none. Of this indifference and cruelty we
have a striking monument in a single English word--a word originally
significant of gentleness and mercy, but which became significant of
wild riot, brutality, and confusion--Bethlehem Hospital became "Bedlam."

Modern art has also dwelt upon this theme, and perhaps the most
touching of all its exhibitions is the picture by a great French master,
representing a tender woman bound to a column and exposed to the jeers,
insults, and missiles of street ruffians.(359)

(359) The typical picture representing a priest's struggle with the
devil is in the city gallery of Rouen. The modern picture is Robert
Fleury's painting in the Luxembourg Gallery at Paris.

Here and there, even in the worst of times, men arose who attempted to
promote a more humane view, but with little effect. One expositor of St.
Matthew, having ventured to recall the fact that some of the insane were
spoken of in the New Testament as lunatics and to suggest that their
madness might be caused by the moon, was answered that their madness
was not caused by the moon, but by the devil, who avails himself of the
moonlight for his work.(360)

(360) See Geraldus Cambrensis, cited by Tuke, as above, pp. 8, 9.

One result of this idea was a mode of cure which especially aggravated
and spread mental disease: the promotion of great religious processions.
Troops of men and women, crying, howling, imploring saints, and beating
themselves with whips, visited various sacred shrines, images, and
places in the hope of driving off the powers of evil. The only result
was an increase in the numbers of the diseased.

For hundreds of years this idea of diabolic possession was steadily
developed. It was believed that devils entered into animals, and animals
were accordingl