I ATTENDED ON MONDAY what must surely have been one
of the strangest parties ever held within the precincts of the Houses of Parliament : given by one formerly certified lunatic for the press, in order that the press might meet seven other formerly certified lunatics, not to mention one woman who still is certified. The occasion of the party was the publication of el Doctor Returns by Dr. Donald McI. Johnson, the Conservative MP for Carlisle (an occasional contributor to the Spectator). One morning in 1950 Dr. Johnson woke up to find himself in the observation ward of a mental 'hospital; and though he was detained only for a few weeks, his first- hand experience of the country's lunacy laws made him deter- mined to reform them. This book (which will be reviewed in our book pages shortly) is his manifesto. I must say that, talking to his 'cases,' it was clear that the law as it stands 'S not only outmoded, but a positive incitement to ill- intentioned persons to put their enemies out of the way. All that is required is a doctor's signature (the signature of a )P is usually a formality) and you or I can be incarcerated, ,Without benefit of habeas corpus, until such time as the hospital authorities agree that we are- sane. Still, I feel that the more important aspect of Dr. Johnson's work is his cam- Paign against the stigma of lunacy. Why people should boast about going into a hospital to have their insides carved up, ,out should regard it as shameful to go for mental treatment. I, cannot understand—particularly as getting on for half the hospital beds in this country are occupied by the mentally Ick. Experience at advanced hospitals like Warlingham Park M Surrey has shown that the old concept of lunatic asylums, walled, barred and bolted, can safely be abandoned : even the ward keys can be thrown away. I wish Dr. Johnson the best of luck in his enterprise.
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