Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

144 ANCIENT AND
charges of mal-treatment being publicly made. An inves
tigation took place, several of the gravest charges were
made good, and the upshot of the whole was, the dis
missal of every servant entrusted with the care of patients,
the revision of the rules, and the complete re-organization
of the establishment by the superintendent and matron of
the Retreat.* In the year 1815, Godfrey Higgins, Esq.,
a magistrate of the west-riding, who took an active part
in the investigation at the York Asylum, was examined
before a committee of the House of Commons, and the
facts then brought to light, have done much in favour of
better and more humane principles of treatment.
Che i£Ut«at.
This celebrated institution for the cure and care of the
insane members of the Society of Friends, stands on the
road from the city to the village of Heslington, and com
mands, from its elevation, a delightful prospect over the
vale of York. It was established through the indefati
gable exertions of our late venerable fellow citizen William
Tuke. It was opened for the reception of patients, in the
year 1706. Much of the success of this institution must,
however, be attributed to the conscientious zeal and talents
of G. Jepson, the first superintendent, who, for about
thirty years, carried out the wishes of its founders, in the
improved management of the insane, beyond their most
sanguine expectations. Here was first practically demon
strated in England, the extent to which kindness united
with firmness, could be applied to the most effectual con
trol of the irregular and violent tendencies of the insane.
The results of these efforts have attracted universal at
tention, and have had a very powerful influence in the
improvement which has taken place in the treatment of
deranged persons.
* While the investigation to which we refer was proceeding, a fire occured
In the Asylum, and four patients, who had been chained to the walls, perished
in the flames.