2 MARCH 1996, Page 32

A case for treatment

Sir: Dr Dalrymple's weekly revelation (If symptoms persist . . . ' ) of the cultural chasm that exists between himself and the criminals he chooses (presumably) to attend is becoming tiresome.

Yes, the underclass are a psychotic, wife- beating, illiterate bunch of idle addicts and that, presumably, is why they remain an underclass and fall so short of the good Doctor's middle-class aspirations for them. Short of lobotomising/castrating his patients, it would appear from his accounts that there is very little he can do — except get on and treat them of course.

Miles Bentley

142 Queenstown Road, London SW8