Originally published in 1937, this sound and careful account of a most important chapter in American medicine makes its reappearance after having been out of print for some years. It is written by an indefatigible champion of the mentally ill. Few men are as familiar at first hand as the author with the vicissitudes which continue to be suffered by the victims of mental illness at the hands of forces in our society which throughout our history have valued narrow and shortsighted financial considerations above human welfare. It is ironical indeed to read that the same dreary shibboleths about economy, and individualism, and local rights