In this groundbreaking work, psychiatrist W. A. F. Browne offers a critical examination of the history of mental health care and the role of asylums in treating those with mental illnesses. He argues for a more humane and compassionate approach to treatment, one that views those with mental illnesses as deserving of respect and care. A must-read for anyone interested in the history of psychiatry and mental health care. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.