"From its opening in 1676,
tours of the new building could be had for a penny a time. That people came and poked the insane with sticks is unlikely, but they did come to watch the 'ravers'; particular favourites being the compulsive masturbators of both sexes. In no way do I condone making a spectacle of mental illness, but
if asylums were open for visiting today people would go and gawp, so to condemn the Georgians as cruel is hypocritical considering the number of websites and magazines devoted to the bizarre and unfortunate of every kind."