rs appeared in
other colonies.

But it was in France that mercy was to be put upon a scientific basis,
and was to lead to practical results which were to convert the world to
humanity. In this case, as in so many others, from France was spread
and popularized not only the scepticism which destroyed the theological
theory, but also the devotion which built up the new scientific theory
and endowed the world with a new treasure of civilization.

In 1756 some physicians of the great hospital at Paris known as the
Hotel-Dieu protested that the cruelties prevailing in the treatment of
the insane were aggravating the disease; and some protests followed from
other quarters. Little effect was produced at first; but just before the
French Revolution, Tenon, La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, and others took
up the subject, and in 1791 a commission was appointed to undertake a
reform.

By great good fortune, the man selected to lead in the movement was one
who had already thrown his heart into it--Jean Baptiste Pinel. In 1792
Pinel was made physician at Bicetre, one of the most extensive lunatic
asylums in France, and to the work there imposed upon him he gave all
his powers. Little was heard of him at first. The most terrible scenes
of the French Revolution were drawing nigh; but he laboured on, modestly
and devotedly--apparently without a thought of the great political storm
raging about him.

His first step was to discard utterly the whole theological doctrine of
"possession," and especially the idea that insanity is the result of any
subtle spiritual influence. He simply put in practice the theory that
lunacy is the result of bodily disease.

It is a curious matter for reflection, that but for this sway of the
destructive philosophy of the eighteenth century, and of the Terrorists
during the French Revolution, Pinel's blessed work would in all
probability have been thwarted, and he himself excommunicated for heresy
and driven from his position. Doubtless the same efforts would have been
put forth against him which the Church, a little earlier, had put forth
against inoculation as a remedy for smallpox; but just at that time
the great churchmen had other things to think of besides crushing this
particular heretic: they were too much occupied in keeping their own
heads from the guillotine to give attention to what was passing in the
head of Pinel. He was allowed to work in peace, and in a short time the
reign of diabolism at Bice