Of the present number (194) ninety-nine are sent to us and supported by the officials. Of these ninety-nine about one-half are sent up from Hongkong, having been at first committed to the Government Lunatic Asylum in that British colony. They are brought up to Canton in groups, as they collect, and delivered over to a Chinese official. This official hands them. over to us instead of doing as a few years ago-putting the bad cases into prisou and setting the apparently inoffensive ones free in the streets. The other half of the ninety-nine are picked up on the streets of Canton by the police and handed over to us. The police of Canton are admirably organized, and arrest all people that are found on the street who are a source of disturbance or who seem to be unable to care for themselves. Several cases have occurred where families have removed their insane from the hospitals, taken them over to Canton and set them free in the street, so that the police might arrest them, send them back to us and assume the burden of their support.

In their own homes, in order to keep them quiet or from going into the street, they are usually chained to a post or a great stone or confined in a small room. The author was called into the city to see a woman who had been thus chained in her house for twelve years. The family would not allow her to be taken to the hospital, and after three years more of confinement she died. The assistant Chinese physician was asked to help with a woman whom he found in a little closet of a room, quite dark and filthy. Food had been passed in to her through a hole in the wall; the family being afraid to enter. The physician was asked in to lead the woman to another room, so that the old one might be cleaned and repaired. But they are sometimes treated with less regard than this-some might say, in speaking of the hopelessly insane, "with more regard,”a problem in ethics; that is, probable that families do not members who become insane.

they are put to death. It is now put to death their own But if left a burden on others,

not relatives, it surely happens sometimes. A short while ago a little slave girl was brought to the hospital by her mistress and the child's mother. The mistress remarked right before the mother: "If she does not get well pretty soon, I shall have to take her out to the river and drown her." Happily the little girl did recover, as she had once before in the hospital, and was taken home. Sometimes, rather than to put them to death directly, they are left out of doors chained to a

great stone in the yard, fed but exposed to the sun and storm. until they perish from neglect and exposure. But more often they are simply allowed to wander about without care, to live or to die.

The exciting cause of insanity among these people seems to be quite varied. Among the women it is often found in family troubles. Where more than one wife, sometimes many, are present in the same house, one can well imagine the jealousies and ill-feelings which must occupy their minds. One woman was the first of ten wives or, more properly speaking, was the real wife of a man who had nine concubines besides. Among other exciting causes, one case of religious persecution has come to our knowledge. A girl of sixteen, from a heathen family, had gone to a mission school and had become a Christian. When the family learned of it, they tried to make her renounce her newly found faith. They took her out of school, kept her away from Christians and Christian influences; burnt her books, beat and bound her. It was of no use. The girl held tight hold of her Savior, despite the persecution. But she became insane. A brother had, before this, been in the hospital for insane, had recovered and gone home. But the family was opposed at first to the girl coming to a Christian hospital. And it was quite through the intervention of one of the foreign missionaries that she was brought, with the final consent, however, of the family, who began to think they had done wrong in so cruelly treating the girl. The girl made a very happy recovery, put on flesh and became bright and pretty. a delight to see her so changed. As the result of that experience the mother became a regular attendant at church. The girl was admitted into the church and the mother was perfectly willing. Indeed the mother has herself talked of becoming a Christian. The brother has changed from bitter hatred to intimate friendship of the Christians. The girl is in the school

and doing good work there.

It was

We have people from all walks of life. A man educated in England, a lawyer and a wealthy man, was brought to us some years ago. He had become insane through drink as the exciting cause. It was many months before he recovered, but his recovery was in time complete. He has since been converted, and is now giving his life, without money and without price, to the work of teaching in one of the mission schools, a valued helper. Another recovered patient is also a helper in

another mission. A number of others have received baptism since recovering from insanity in the hospital.

Patients come from every grade of society-from the wealthy and from the officials' households, as well as from among the off-scouring of the land. Many of the cases are very hard to manage. The filthy habits of the lowest classes are not improved when insanity intervenes. We have some of the most disgusting cases that one can imagine. But at the same time we always have those who are refined, whose instincts do not desert them even when they have become insane. The destructive tendency shown in the tearing of clothes and bed-clothing and in the breaking of dishes and furniture is very annoying and perplexing. Among the patients are many of the criminal class-licentious, thieving, and violent-both homicidal and suicidal.

Some amusing things happen as well.

One very insane

man objected to being photographed in company with the others of a group which had come from the police that day because "they were crazy." Some years ago one patient wrote to a friend that he should "come and see the menagerie." This man was himself a prize member of the collection.

It is difficult to get good attendants, especially men. They are in a position to help or to harm much. Ill, impatient treatment hinders recovery as well as leaving unpleasant memories in the mind of the patient after he recovers.

The hospital has been from the beginning independent of any board or society, but its trustees are, with the exception of one Chinese Christian gentleman, all members of the Presbyterian Mission. For its support it depends upon the income from the patients. The room-rent helps to pay for those patients who can pay nothing for themselves. daily expenses are just met by the income.

In this way the New buildings for with other

and any considerable repairs must be paid monies. The Master, in whose name and out of love and reverence for whom the hospital was opened, has always provided both men and means. When the work was needed the Lord had a man ready, in whose heart had long been the desire to open such a work. When Dr. Kerr died another man was already on the field, so that Dr. Kerr himself handed over the institution to him. When that man had to go home for furlough, a third man had just arrived a month before to take charge until the superintendent could return. When he had

returned, and the enlarging work became too much for one man alone, a brother missionary with good business training was just at hand and ready to step in and relieve until shortly before his own furlough came, when a second physician, with special training for the work, reached here. So it is that the Lord has led along and provided for every need at the time He saw what the need was.

Every morning of the week-days we meet in the chapel for a half-hour service of Bible reading and exposition, singing and prayer. Sundays we have Sabbath school and a preaching service. A primary Sabbath school is also held for the children of the neighborhoods, many of whom are from the boats. There are also three week-day meetings for instruction and prayer for the attendants and recovered patients.

Two days in the week we open a dispensary for the neighborhood and surrounding villages. And here also both the men and the women hear the Gospel. Several who have been listeners on these days have confessed faith in Christ and have been baptized.

We find work for a goodly number of patients. After the acute stage of the disease is passed, patients are better off if they have something to employ them. Many, however, cannot be persuaded to do any kind of work. The author asked two men what they could do. The answer came without any hesitation and soberly: "Eat rice."

A problem presents itself in the disposing of some of the patients after recovery. Many of those who come from Hongkong have come originally from long distances. After recovery they desire to get back to their homes, but have no money. In some few instances the magistrate provides the means, but usually not. Some have come back to us in a wretched condition after wandering about the streets. We can sometimes give work to them for a while until they can earn enough to get them home. Several recovered and discharged patients are at present engaged about the institution and under pay. But it is only because we do not know what to do with them otherwise. There is some likelihood of their becoming insane again sooner if they are sent out into the world. But, on the other hand, if they do become insane while in our employ, they will be on our hands for support, which is not a pleasant prospect.