The Shadow of Great Britain-Chapter 529 - 276: The Source of the Plague_2

Masden wanted to go on persuading him, but Arthur gently shook his head, indicating that he should not insist, "Mr. Masden, your conscience is enough when it comes to pitying the poor. An inspector from Scotland Yard should never become the object of your pity. By donating a little charity now, I’m just looking for a way out for myself. Should I ever fall on hard times, please don’t turn me away for lack of medicine."

Masden laughed heartily at these words, "Come now, Arthur. God will not stand idly by and see you reduced to such a state, and my hospital will never turn away the poor. The two conditions you’ve set are simply impossible."

Yet, after accepting Arthur’s money, Masden still felt somewhat uneasy. Being a man of action, he pointed to Arthur’s arm and said, "Let me have a look at that. Truth be told, although I consider myself a general practitioner, surgery is my strongest suit. I assure you, I worked for a time in the infirmary for the wounded of the Royal Navy, and nobody is better than me at treating external injuries."

Of course, Arthur could not agree to let Masden examine him; his minor sham injury would never escape the old doctor’s discerning eye.

"The injury is not serious; just take good care of the friend I brought today. If possible, it would be best if you could issue him a medical certificate. Someone notified Bethlem Royal Hospital today, and if your place can’t issue a health certificate for him, I’m afraid he will indeed be taken there."

"Bethlem Royal Hospital..."

Upon hearing about this hospital, Masden immediately understood why Arthur had come to him.

Bethlem Royal Hospital, established in 1247, was the world’s earliest institution specializing in the care of the mentally ill, but in its early days, it was not a hospital, but a monastery.

At that time, Britain had no concept of mental illness; people generally referred to the mentally ill as being possessed by demons.

From the name alone, one can infer what means Bethlem used to deal with its patients: restraint, whipping, and beating were their common methods of ’exorcism’.

Some of the female patients were even subjected to severe torture; and once they confessed to being witches, they faced the stake.

The abhorrent treatments at Bethlem almost continued until the early 19th century until Mr. Cruikshank, the social satirist cartoonist whom Arthur admired, depicted the tragic plight of the patients within Bethlem, which finally brought the issue to the attention of all sectors of British society.

However, although the infamous Bethlem Royal Hospital had undergone several major reforms and the use of physical punishment had gradually improved, due to the slow progress in psychiatric medicine, they were still using many therapeutic methods that essentially abused patients.

After their ’meticulous’ treatment, the mad might not necessarily return to normalcy, but the sane would mostly become mad.

This was why Arthur rushed to Masden to get a mental health certificate for Wheatstone upon learning he might be taken to Bethlem Hospital.

It truly was not worth putting Wheatstone through the wringer when a single pistol could cure his social phobia.

Masden had always been critical of Bethlem’s harsh treatments, and upon Arthur’s request, he readily agreed.

"Forgive my bluntness, but sending the mentally ill there does nothing to aid them. I have visited the place; they strap patients to a chair suspended from the ceiling, then they rotate it at 100 revolutions per minute, dubbing it ’rotational therapy.’ However, aside from watching patients vomit incessantly after coming down from the chair, I saw no therapeutic effect whatsoever.

"Their only aim is to keep the patients quiet, to make their own lives easier. Not to mention, there is a precedent of them turning patients into a freak show for circuses. First off, your friend is very healthy at the moment, and secondly, even if he does have some mental disorder, he should not be sent to Bethlem for treatment."

Without hesitation, Masden immediately took out paper and pen to write the certificate: "I took the opportunity to have a look at your friend; while he may exhibit some symptoms of melancholy, they are not severe. A rural retreat might help improve his mental state. If his condition does not improve later on, you can send him back to me, and I will see if there is any way I can help him."

Arthur took the medical certificate from Masden’s hands and glanced at Wheatstone, who was being examined in the next room, and heaved a sigh of relief, "I am truly grateful for your help; he has escaped a misfortune."

Having dealt with the urgent matter, Arthur finally had the chance to chat leisurely with Masden: "Now that Lord Brougham has become the High Chancellor, the responsibility for health care also lies in his hands. Next week I happen to be going to the Lord Chancellor’s office for a meeting, and I’ll have the opportunity to meet him in person. Is there anything here you’d like me to convey for you? I recall you once complaining about the frequent outbreaks of typhus and yellow fever."

Masden shook his head at this, "Arthur, typhoid and yellow fever can’t be eradicated by simply increasing funding. As for these epidemics, I’ve always been conducting research on them. Not long ago, I also discussed this matter with Mr. Chadwick; you know him, don’t you? Mr. Bentham’s secretary, now helping Lord Brougham at the Lord Chancellor’s office—a young man."