We know about Elizabeth Gaskell, but what about her brother-in-law Samuel? He
“published virtually nothing of any significance in the course of a professional
career that spanned four decades”. Yet through the indefatigable pursuit of fair
practice, as a lunacy commissioner in 19th-century Britain, he transformed
mental healthcare, in part by making clear the legal constraints within which
doctors could operate. In Masters of Bedlam: The Transformation of the
Mad-Doctoring Trade (Princeton University Press, £23/$35, ISBN 0
691 03411 7), Andrew Scull, Charlotte MacKenzie and Nicholas Hervey trace the
tortuous path from cruelty to compassion by exploring the lives of seven
“m-dzٴǰ”.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Test moderators use AI-generated writing to judge literacy standards
News
Mind
THC in cannabis may reduce nightmares in people with PTSD
News
Environment
Fishers detonate a bomb every hour on one Indonesian coral reef
News
Environment
How bad is the UK drought and how long will it continue?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles