charged with having attacked the governor of Prestwich workhouse, Mr. John Booth, late of Crown Street, Salford, and chairman of the Salford Operative Conservative Association. Mr. Booth stated, that Blomiley, who was a pauper in the workhouse, had several times expressed himself dissatisfied at the quality of the fare provided in the workhouse, and had repeatedly grumbled in his presence. He did not allege that he had not sufficient to eat, but that the food was coarse. On Wednesday evening last he began his usual course of conduct, blew out several of the candles in the rooms, and at length assaulted the governor. He told him that he would fix him as the other governor was fixed; and it was only by main force that he could be made to desist. The only course left was to send for Simeon Whitehead, deputy-constable of Prestwich, and to give him into custody. Mr. Booth further said, that such an effect had the conduct of Blomiley, and that of another pauper named Dunkerley, that a complete spirit of dissatisfaction was excited in the minds of the paupers; and, unless an example was made in some way or other, it would shortly be impossible to retain any control over them, leaving personal safety out of consideration. The pauper Dunkerley had, he (Mr. Booth) had been told, got a piece of iron laid by, with which he said he was going to finish off the governor.

Mr. Milne, the magistrates' clerk, said that he had known Blomiley for twenty years or more, during the greater part of which he had lived in the service of his (Mr. Milne's) father and of himself. About a year and a half ago he had been seized with a fit of apoplexy, which had disordered his intellect; but that was no reason why he should be allowed to remain in the workhouse to assault the governor, and create insubordination. The magistrate asked Blomiley what his reasons were for thus conducting himself. Blomiley, who appeared to be only half conscious of what was going on, said that he would not do wrong any more; but he had only been going on a bit. The magistrate said that if he ever did the like again, he would be committed for it. He promised not to be guilty of such conduct again, and was allowed to depart. The magistrate further said, after consulting with Mr. Milne, that if, from the disordered state of his mind, he could not be kept in subjection, the best method for the governor to pursue would be to send him to an asylum where he could be taken care of.”

We addressed a letter to Mr. G. C. Milne, son of the gentleman named in the report, soliciting further information, by the following questions, to which we have added the replies politely furnished to us by Mr. Milne.

1. Was the character of Blomiley marked by a tendency to

discontent, violence, or resistance to authority, before the attack of apoplexy? Not in the least.

2. Has such tendency been his character only recently, or from the date of the attack? Or has it been augmented since the attack, though existing to some degree previously? — Only since the attack, and not even now generally.

3. Can Mr. Milne mention any particular examples showing the mental derangement supervening upon the apoplexy? No; - but rather a total absence of mind, or, at any rate, inability to explain his meaning.

4. Has Blomiley been less intelligent since the attack, or merely more discontented or violent? - Less intelligent, but never very acute.

We should be much obliged if any Manchester phrenologist would send us some account of the development of Blomiley's head; endeavouring also to ascertain whether the mental evidences of cerebral disease shew it to be local or general. Should he happen to die in the workhouse, it would be highly desirable that a medical phrenologist should make a careful examination of the brain. In its general bearings the case resembles that of N., recorded in No. 50. of this Journal (page 352.), although the particular manifestations are greatly varied by the widely different rank of the respective persons. The apparent increased action of Combativeness (for to this organ the statements seem to bear reference), coincident with a diminished power of Language ("inability to explain his meaning "), or of the intellectual faculties generally, are analogous in both

cases.

There is an evident change of disposition and obscurity of judgment in Blomiley, proved by the testimony of a gentleman to whom he has been long known; and this change has followed an attack of illness, the seat of which must have been in the head. The best definition of insanity is probably that insisted upon by Dr. Andrew Combe, and it applies precisely to this case of Blomiley: "It is the prolonged departure, without an adequate external cause, from the state of feeling and modes of thinking usual to the individual while in health, that is the true feature of disorder in mind." (Observations on Mental Derangement, p. 219.) We quite agree with Mr. Milne, in referring the conduct of Blomiley to insanity, arising from disease of head; and surely he ought to have been placed in an asylum, instead of being sent to a workhouse, where his insanity was likely to become incurable, if originally not so. No dependence can be placed on his promises, because his power of acting up to a promise will be determined by the increase or amendment in the diseased state of his brain,

whichever happens. In short, he has ceased to be morally responsible. But let us suppose that he had been removed to a distant parish, where his previously inoffensive life had been unknown; and also, that instead of merely threatening the life of his governor, he had actually destroyed it in such case, he would in all likelihood have been hanged as a wilful murderer. We firmly believe that many lunatics have been so sent to the gallows, in the absence of proper evidence regarding their state of mind, with reference to its moral responsibility.

V. Case illustrating the Importance of engaging the Insane in regular mental and bodily Employment.

"THE effects are not confined to the barren establishment of a principle, or even to the temporary occupation and happiness of the deranged or enfeebled mind. In every case, a marked alteration of symptoms, and in many a complete restoration to sanity, have occurred during, and very evidently in consequence of, regular occupation. One very striking example may be adduced. A suicidal and desponding maniac was long regarded as incurable and obdurate. His friends, yielding to his entreaties, had, on one occasion, resolved to remove him to his home, in order to try the effect of former associations, and had proceeded on their way so far as the Bridge, when he made a sudden spring, with the intention of precipitating himself into the river, and was saved only by miscalculating his distance from the parapet, and thus falling in his leap. He spent about five years in the Asylum; the three first of which were characterised by his profound melancholy, his obstinate taciturnity, and his remaining constantly, during all seasons, times, and weather, in the water-closet. Why he selected this place to retreat to, it is difficult to determine; but in all probability he sought it as a refuge from the gaze of his fellow-patients, where he might hide his shame, or brood over his sorrows. He could not be induced to abandon this unhealthy and disagreeable spot, either by entreaties, or commands, or threats. He could be dislodged only by sheer force; and when compelled to come to his meals, he hurried them over as if loath to leave his place of concealment for a single moment. Latterly his health suffered, his countenance became pale and bloated, his legs swelled and ulcerated; and, in order to preserve his life, it was absolutely necessary to fix

him to a seat in the hall. This unpleasant expedient was discontinued: the danger and folly of his conduct were explained to him; and he was assured that, if he persisted, every offence would be followed by the infliction of the douche. His acts of disobedience were, however, too frequent to permit of the penalty being enforced. He was now occasionally seen to creep out of his retreat and walk in the yard, which, whether produced by the expectation of the discipline threatened or not, attracted notice, as shewing that, however strong the habit, it could be departed from, and therefore eradicated. Its strength may be estimated by the circumstance that, when the building was taken down, he continued to stand on the site. Gradually, by a long series of remonstrances and reproaches, he was seated at a loom; and from that day his improvement may be dated. At first, however, he manifested great reluctance to work; and whenever the door of the apartment was opened, he struggled to effect his escape. He was an excellent weaver, and, having an allotted task, he soon began to execute it diligently and regularly, though perhaps unwillingly. Then arrived a season of cheerfulness; and he was tempted to resume playing on the fiddle, which had been a favourite amusement, and which, strange to say, he, at a subsequent period, taught the keeper. Next, he seemed more disposed to enjoy the society of his companions, to join in their games and pleasures, and to feel an interest in what was going on around and in his own occupations. One by one his peculiarities disappeared, his intellect acquired strength, his feelings resumed their natural sway; he attended the lectures, and even a concert, in the Town-Hall; went regularly to church; and having, in various situations, displayed such a degree of self-control as to justify the expectation that he was competent, not only to reason, but to act correctly, he was discharged with scarcely a trace of that deplorable condition from which he had been rescued, or rather from which he had rescued himself; for he may literally be said to have worked out his own cure.

"The precipitancy of this person's relations in removing him on the first occasion suggests the observation that there are two evils over the correction of which we unfortunately possess no control, and which very manifestly limit the usefulness of an Asylum. The friends or guardians of patients, from a very mistaken kindness, delay too long to place them under treatment; and from the same motive, whenever a promise of amendment appears, they withdraw them too soon from its influence, and renew suddenly, and at a most critical time, that train of thought and those very impressions which cast a gloom over the recollections of their home and original occu

pation. This complaint is universal. It is urged by the conductors of all public Asylums. And it is urged with the hope that those most deeply interested may be brought to perceive that by postponing remedial measures, they trifle with the sanity and happiness of the objects of their solicitude; they permit the disease to become chronic, and thereby diminish the chances of recovery; and that, on the other hand, by a premature removal from an Asylum they hazard all that has been gained; they expose the mind, as yet weak and unconsolidated, to a most severe experiment; and, for the gratification of what is in reality a selfish wish, place the permanent restoration of the patient in imminent peril. Under all such and similar disadvantages, the number of cures in Insanity is very great; but, were relief sought for with the same avidity, and the instructions of the medical man followed as implicitly in this as in other diseases, the proportion would be nearly doubled."

This case is copied from a "Report of the Directors of the Montrose Lunatic Asylum, Infirmary and Dispensary," for the year ending June 1. 1837, as being an excellent example of the beneficial results obtained by giving regular employment to the insane, instead of leaving them to brood over and increase their morbid feelings in listless solitude. How forcibly do the arrangements of this Asylum (as shown in the report from which we have quoted) contrast with those of the Pauper Asylum in Vienna, mentioned by Mr. Combe in our last Number! This is only one mode out of a thousand, in which a correct knowledge of the human mind proves beneficial; and yet we still hear men, otherwise sensible, asking what good is to be derived from the studies of phrenologists! The readers of this Journal are already aware that the Montrose Asylum is under the superintendence of our friend Mr. W. Å. F. Browne; and we rejoice to see that his services are duly appreciated by the acting Managers of the Institution. It is not only as a compliment to Mr. Browne, that we copy the following just acknowledgment of his exertions, introduced into the report of the House Committee" to the Managers of the Asylum; it is valuable as shewing that phrenologists do not without good cause lay claim to the merit of a more enlightened and successful treatment of the insane, than their predecessors were able to apply:-"Your Committee, in delivering up to the Managers the important trust with which they have been invested, have much pleasure in recording their unqualified approbation of Mr. Browne's unremitting zeal in the performance of his duties as Medical Superintendent, and their respect and esteem for that gentleman. They have observed his uniformly-kind treatment of the Patients under his care, and the