InEnglandthesamewarfarewenton。JohnLockehadassertedthetruth，butthetheologicalviewcontinuedtocontrolpublicopinion。MostprominentamongthosewhoexercisedgreatpowerinitsbehalfwasJohnWesley，andthestrengthandbeautyofhischaractermadehisinfluenceinthisrespectallthemoreunfortunate。ThesameservitudetothemereletterofScripturewhichledhimtodeclarethat“togiveupwitchcraftistogiveuptheBible。”controlledhiminregardtoinsanity。Heinsisted，ontheauthorityoftheOldTestament，thatbodilydiseasesaresometimescausedbydevils，and，upontheauthorityoftheNewTestament，thatthegodsoftheheathenaredemons；hebelievedthatdreams，whileinsomecasescausedbybodilyconditionsandpassions，areshownbyScripturetobealsocausedbyoccultpowersofevil；hecitesaphysiciantoprovethat“mostlunaticsarereallydemoniacs。”InhisgreatsermononEvilAngels，hedwellsuponthispointespecially；resiststheideathat“possession“maybeepilepsy，eventhoughordinarysymptomsofepilepsybepresent；protestsagainst“givinguptoinfidelssuchproofsofaninvisibleworldasaretobefoundindiabolicpossession“；andevidentlybelievesthatsomewhohavebeenmadehystericalbyhisownpreachingare“possessedofSatan。”Onallthis，andmuchmoretothesameeffect，heinsistedwithallthepowergiventohimbyhisdeepreligiousnature，hiswonderfulfamiliaritywiththeScriptures，hisnaturalacumen，andhiseloquence。
Buthere，too，sciencecontinueditswork。Theoldbeliefwassteadilyundermined，anatmospherefavourabletothetruthwasmoreandmoredeveloped，andtheactofParliament，in1735，whichbanishedthecrimeofwitchcraftfromthestatutebook，wasthebeginningoftheend。
InGermanyweseethebeginningsofasimilartriumphforscience。InPrussia，thatsturdyoldmonarch，FrederickWilliamI，nullifiedtheeffortsofthemorezealousclergyandorthodoxjuriststokeepuptheolddoctrineinhisdominions；throughoutProtestantGermany，whereithadragedmostseverely，itwas，asarule，castoutoftheChurchformulas，catechisms，andhymns，andbecamemoreandmoreasubjectforjocoseallusion。Fromforceofhabit，andforthesakeofconsistency，someofthemoreconservativetheologianscontinuedtorepeattheoldarguments，andthereweremanywhoinsisteduponthebeliefasabsolutelynecessarytoordinaryorthodoxy；butitisevidentthatithadbecomeamereconventionality，thatmenonlybelievedthattheybelievedit，andnowareformseemedpossibleinthetreatmentoftheinsane。[377]
[377]ForJohnLocke，seeKing’sLifeofLocke，pp。326，327。
ForWesley，outofhisalmostinnumerablewritingsbearingonthesubject，ImayselectthesermononEvilAngels，andhisLettertoDr。Middleton；andinhiscollectedworks，therearemanystrikingstatementsandarguments，especiallyinvols。iii，vi，andix。SeealsoTyerman’sLifeofWesley，vol。ii，pp。260etseq。Luther’sgreathymn，Ein’festeBurg，remained，ofcourse，aprominentexceptiontotherule；butapopularproverbcametoexpressthegeneralfeeling：“AufTeufelreimtsichZweifel。”
SeeLangin，asabove，pp。545，546。
InAustria，thegovernmentsetDr。AntonioHaenatmakingcarefulresearchesintothecausesofdiabolicpossession。Hedidnotthinkitbest，inviewofthepoweroftheChurch，todisputethepossibilityorprobabilityofsuchcases，butsimplydecided，afterthoroughinvestigation，thatoutofthemanycaseswhichhadbeenbroughttohim，notonesupportedthebeliefindemoniacalinfluence。Anattemptwasmadetofollowupthisexamination，andmuchwasdonebymenlikeFranckeandVanSwieten，andespeciallybythereformingemperor，JosephII，torescuemenandwomenwhowouldotherwisehavefallenvictimstotheprevalentsuperstition。Unfortunately，JosephhadarrayedagainsthimselfthewholepoweroftheChurch，andmostofhisgoodeffortsseemedbroughttonaught。ButwhatthenoblestoftheoldraceofGermanemperorscouldnotdosuddenly，theGermanmenofsciencedidgradually。Quietlyandthoroughly，byproofsthatcouldnotbegainsaid，theyrecoveredtheoldscientificfactestablishedinpaganGreeceandRome，thatmadnessissimplyphysicaldisease。Buttheynowestablisheditonabasisthatcanneveragainbeshaken；for，inpost-mortemexaminationsoflargenumbersof“possessed“persons，theyfoundevidenceofbrain-disease。TypicalisacaseatHamburgin1729。Anafflictedwomanshowedinahighdegreealltherecognisedcharacteristicsofdiabolicpossession：exorcisms，preachings，andsanctifiedremediesofeverysortweretriedinvain；mildermedicalmeanswerethentried，andshesofarrecoveredthatshewasallowedtotakethecommunionbeforeshedied：theautopsy，heldinthepresenceoffifteenphysiciansandapublicnotary，showedittobesimplyacaseofchronicmeningitis。TheworkofGermanmenofscienceinthisfieldisnobleindeed；agreatsuccession，fromWiertoVirchow，haveerectedabarrieragainstwhichalltheeffortsofreactionistsbeatinvain。[378]
[378]SeeKirchhoff，pp。181-187；alsoLangin，ReligionundHexenprozess，asabovecited。
InAmerica，thebeliefindiabolicinfluencehad，intheearlycolonialperiod，fullcontrol。TheMathers，sosuperiortotheirtimeinmanythings，werechildrenoftheirtimeinthis：
theysupportedthebelieffully，andtheSalemwitchcrafthorrorswereamongitsresults；butthediscussionofthatfollybyCalefstruckitasevereblow，andabetterinfluencespreadrapidlythroughoutthecolonies。
Bythemiddleoftheeighteenthcenturybeliefindiabolicpossessionhadpracticallydisappearedfromallenlightenedcountries，andduringthenineteenthcenturyithaslostitsholdeveninregionswherethemedievalspiritcontinuesstrongest。
ThroughouttheMiddleAges，aswehaveseen，Satanwasaleadingpersonageinthemiracle-plays，butin1810theBavarianGovernmentrefusedtoallowthePassionPlayatOber-AmmergauifSatanwaspermittedtotakeanypartinit；inspiteofheroiceffortstomaintaintheoldbelief，eventhechildlikefaithoftheTyrolesehadarrivedatapointwhichmadearepresentationofSatansimplyathingtoprovokelaughter。
VerysignificantalsowasthetrialwhichtookplaceatWemding，insouthernGermany，in1892。Aboyhadbecomehysterical，andtheCapuchinFatherAureliantriedtoexorcisehim，andchargedapeasant’swife，FrauHerz，withbewitchinghim，onevidencethatwouldhavecostthewomanherlifeatanytimeduringtheseventeenthcentury。Thereuponthewoman’shusbandbroughtsuitagainstFatherAurelianforslander。Thelatterurgedinhisdefencethattheboywaspossessedofanevilspirit，ifanybodyeverwas；thatwhathadbeensaidanddonewasinaccordancewiththerulesandregulationsoftheChurch，aslaiddownindecrees，formulas，andritualssanctionedbypopes，councils，andinnumerablebishopsduringages。Allinvain。Thecourtcondemnedthegoodfathertofineandimprisonment。AsinafamousEnglishcase，“hellwasdismissed，withcosts。”EvenmoresignificantisthefactthatrecentlyaboydeclaredbytwoBavarianprieststobepossessedbythedevil，wastaken，afterallChurchexorcismshadfailed，toFatherKneipp’shydropathicestablishmentandwastherespeedilycured。[379]
[379]ForremarkablyinterestingarticlesshowingtherecenteffortsofsundrypriestsinItalyandSouthGermanytorevivethebeliefindiabolicpossession——effortsinwhichtheBishopofAugsburgtookpart——seeProf。E。P。Evans，onModernInstancesofDiabolicPossession，andonRecentRecrudescenceofSuperstitioninThePopularScienceMonthlyforDec。1892，andforOct。，Nov。，1895。
SpeakingofthepartplayedbySatanatOber-Ammergau，Hasesays：
“Formerly，seatedonhisinfernalthrone，surroundedbyhishostswithSinandDeath，heopenedtheplay，……and……retainedthroughoutaconsiderablepart；buthehasbeensurrenderedtotheprogressofthatenlightenmentwhicheventheBavarianhighlandshavenotbeenabletoescape“p。80。
Theespecialpointtobenotedis，thatfromthemiracle-playofthepresentdaySatanandhisworkshavedisappeared。Thepresentwriterwasunabletodetect，inarepresentationofthePassionPlayatOber-Ammergau，in1881，theslightestreferencetodiabolicinterferencewiththecourseofeventsasrepresentedfromtheOldTestament，orfromtheNew，inaseriesoftableauxlasting，withaslightintermission，fromnineinthemorningtoafterfourintheafternoon。WiththemostthoroughexhibitionofminuteeventsinthelifeofChrist，andattimeswithhundredsoffiguresonthestage，therewasnotapersonorawordwhichrecalledthatmainfeatureinthemediaevalChurchplays。Thepresentwriteralsomadeafullcollectionofthephotographsoftableaux，ofengravingsofmusic，andofworksbearingupontheserepresentationsfortwentyyearsbefore，andinnoneofthesewasthereanapparentsurvivaloftheoldbelief。
But，althoughtheoldsuperstitionhadbeendiscarded，theinevitableconservatismintheologyandmedicinecausedmanyoldabusestobecontinuedforyearsafterthetheologicalbasisforthemhadreallydisappeared。Therestilllingeredalsoafeelingofdisliketowardmadmen，engenderedbytheearlyfeelingofhostilitytowardthem，whichsufficedtopreventformanyyearsanypracticalreforms。
Whatthatoldtheoryhadbeen，evenunderthemostfavourablecircumstancesandamongthebestofmen，wehaveseeninthefactthatSirThomasMoreorderedacknowledgedlunaticstobepubliclyflogged；anditwillberememberedthatShakespearemakesoneofhischaractersrefertomadmenasdeserving“adarkhouseandawhip。”Whattheoldpracticewasandcontinuedtobeweknowbuttoowell。TakingProtestantEnglandasanexample——anditwasprobablythemosthumane——wehaveachainoftestimony。Towardtheendofthesixteenthcentury，BethlehemHospitalwasreportedtooloathsomeforanymantoenter；intheseventeenthcentury，JohnEvelynfounditnobetter；intheeighteenth，Hogarth’spicturesandcontemporaryreportsshowittobeessentiallywhatithadbeeninthosepreviouscenturies。[380]
[380]OnSirThomasMoreandtheconditionofBedlam，seeTuke，HistoryoftheInsaneintheBritishIsles，pp。63-73。OneofthepassagesofShakespeareisinAsYouLikeIt，Actiii，scene2。Astothesurvivalofindifferencetothesufferingsoftheinsanesolongafterthebeliefwhichcausedithadgenerallydisappeared，seesomeexcellentremarksinMaudsley’sResponsibilityinMentalDisease，London，1885，pp。10-12。
TheolderEnglishpracticeisthusquaintlydescribedbyRichardCarewinhisSurveyofCornwall，London，1602，1769：“Inourforefathers’daies，whendevotionasmuchexceededknowledge，asknowledgenowcommethshortofdevotion，thereweremanybowsseningplaces，forcuringofmadmen，andamongsttherest，oneatAlternunneinthisHundred，calledS。Nunnespoole，whichSaintsAltaritmaybe……gavenametothechurch……ThewatterrunningfromS。Nunneswell，fellintoasquareandclosewalledplot，whichmightbeefilledatwhatdepththeylisted。
Vponthiswallwasthefrantickepersonsettostand，hisbacketowardsthepoole，andfromthencewithasuddenblowinthebrest，tumbledheadlongintothepond；whereastrongfellowe，providedforthenonce，tookehim，andtossedhimvpanddowne，alongstandathwartthewater，vntillthepatient，byforgoingstrength，hadsomewhatforgothisfury。ThentherewasheeconveyedtotheChurch，andcertainMassessungoverhim；vponwhichhandling，ifhisrightwitsreturned，S。Nunnehadthethanks；butifthereappearedanysmallamendment，hewasbowsenedagaine，andagaine，whilethereremaynedinhimanyhopeoflife，forrecovery。”
ThefirsthumaneimpulseofanyconsiderableimportanceinthisfieldseemstohavebeenarousedinAmerica。Intheyear1751
certainmembersoftheSocietyofFriendsfoundedasmallhospitalfortheinsane，onbetterprinciples，inPennsylvania。
Tousethelanguageofitsfounders，itwasintended“asagoodwork，acceptabletoGod。”TwentyyearslaterVirginiaestablishedasimilarasylum，andgraduallyothersappearedinothercolonies。
ButitwasinFrancethatmercywastobeputuponascientificbasis，andwastoleadtopracticalresultswhichweretoconverttheworldtohumanity。Inthiscase，asinsomanyothers，fromFrancewasspreadandpopularizednotonlythescepticismwhichdestroyedthetheologicaltheory，butalsothedevotionwhichbuiltupthenewscientifictheoryandendowedtheworldwithanewtreasureofcivilization。
In1756somephysiciansofthegreathospitalatParisknownastheHotel-Dieuprotestedthatthecrueltiesprevailinginthetreatmentoftheinsanewereaggravatingthedisease；andsomeprotestsfollowedfromotherquarters。Littleeffectwasproducedatfirst；butjustbeforetheFrenchRevolution，Tenon，LaRochefoucauld-Liancourt，andotherstookupthesubject，andin1791acommissionwasappointedtoundertakeareform。
Bygreatgoodfortune，themanselectedtoleadinthemovementwasonewhohadalreadythrownhisheartintoit——JeanBaptistePinel。In1792PinelwasmadephysicianatBicetre，oneofthemostextensivelunaticasylumsinFrance，andtotheworkthereimposeduponhimhegaveallhispowers。Littlewasheardofhimatfirst。ThemostterriblescenesoftheFrenchRevolutionweredrawingnigh；buthelabouredon，modestlyanddevotedly——apparentlywithoutathoughtofthegreatpoliticalstormragingabouthim。
Hisfirststepwastodiscardutterlythewholetheologicaldoctrineof“possession。”andespeciallytheideathatinsanityistheresultofanysubtlespiritualinfluence。Hesimplyputinpracticethetheorythatlunacyistheresultofbodilydisease。