On the State of Lunacy and the Legal Provision for the Insane With Observations on the Construction and Organization of Asylums

"On the State of Lunacy and the Legal Provision for the Insane" by J. T. Arlidge is a mid-19th century scientific work that examines the situation of the insane and the suitability of laws and places made to care for them, with the goal of uncovering problems in the current systems, like asylums, and the effects of ignoring these people. Early in the book, the author talks about the important issues related to how the insane are treated legally and socially, especially after a recent government investigation into lunacy laws. Additionally, the book discusses the large growth in the number of people called insane and criticizes the existing asylum care, which the author thinks often doesn't give enough support and treatment, and argues for reform in the legal oversight and care of the insane.