Since 1882 Gheel has been divided into two distinct and entirely independent sections of medical administration. At the head of each is a doctor-in-chief, assisted by an adjunct physician. The medical service comprises treatment of the patients for their mental affections and the incidental maladies attending them, correspondence with administrations or families, concerning their moral and physical condition, the direction and observation of the guards of section in all that concerns the medical service, surveillance of the nourriciers in points regarding the hygiene, food, and lodging of the patients intrusted to their care, and as to their own conduct and devotion to the welfare of their wards. The curable lunatic must be visited at least once a week by the doctor-in-chief or adjunct doctor of his section. The incurables are visited once a month. The doctors meet monthly and consider what reforms and improvements may be introduced into the service.
The infirmary was built in 1862. It is divided into two sections for the separation of the sexes. It is directed by an adjunct physician under the control of the doctors-in-chief, who have severally the control of half of each section. To it are admitted patients, the precise diagnosis of whose cases has not yet been made, who remain a few days for observation before being put under the care of a nourricier; patients already placed who show some disquieting symptom, and those who are suffering from some incidental affection. The sick are visited here twice a day. Besides the adjunct physician, two guards of section, a sister, and the necessary subordinates, are attached to the infirmary.
Gheel is situated twenty-six miles east of Antwerp, and is reached from it by railroad. It is the chief town of the Campine country, and, with the territory administratively dependent upon it and also receiving insane, gives about 11,000 inhabitants, occupying some 25,000 acres. It is easy to distribute 1,600 insane over such an extent of territory without their coming into frequent contact with one another. According to the act of 1882, insane persons may be received at Gheel of all classes except those upon whom means of restraint and coercion have to be employed continuously; those inclined to suicide, homicide, and incendiarism, and those who have made frequent escapes, or whose affections are of a character to endanger the public tranquillity or to offend public decency. After his arrival, the patient usually passes some time at the infirmary, where he is examined and studied by the physician. If his diagnosis has already been made, it is confirmed or modified; if not, he is kept till an exact idea is gained of the nature of his affection, and it is decided whether he belongs to the class of those who can be allowed to remain there. His words and movements are carefully noted, and his case soon becomes understood. If he is found to be inoffensive, the next business is to place him in some family.
The register, on which are inscribed the names of all the hôtes
