According to the Parliamentary Returns in May, 1819, the total number
of lunatics comprised in the circle of London and different private
asylums, amounted to 2,005, which Dr. Burrows calculates as proving an
increase of only five on an average in twenty years, notwithstanding the
increase of our population. The late Dr. Heberden and Dr. Willan both
concurred in this statement. The large district of Mary-la-bonne, which
some years ago comprehended the greatest proportion of inhabitants in
the metropolis, not less than 80,000,--from 1814 to the year 1819
received only 180 female lunatics, and 118 males.
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