Massachusetts General — Teaching Hospital

THE avowed purposes of the founders of the Massachusetts General Hospital were both enlightened and far-reaching. The "circular letter" dated August 20, 1810,1 which James Jackson and John C. Warren addressed to several of "the wealthiest and most influential citizens" of Boston, began with this sentence: "It has appeared very desirable to a number of respectable gentlemen, that a hospital for the reception of lunatics and other sick persons should be established in this town." Two things stand out here, the use of "hospital" instead of "asylum" in relation to the care of the insane, and the fact that "lunatics" . . .