Abstract

Maurice Bucke, physician, asylum superintendent and philosopher, is the third subject of this series on the Royal Society of Canada’s founding members. He is an old acquaintance, since my Master’s thesis was a study of the London, Ontario Asylum for the Insane when he was in charge of it. I wouldn’t call him an old friend, because of some of the misguided, indeed horrifying practices he performed at the institution, but he was certainly a picturesque figure. Let’s just say it’s best not to get too nostalgic about life before informed consent.