Strange people on the streets

Lunatic London

                     A new book, Bedlam, examines  London's treatment of the insane over the centuries, from the founding  of Bedlam to the establishment of Victorian institutions.

                         ![](http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44883000/jpg/_44883328_2d1c33a5-d13b-4e6c-9d0b-db96340f97e9.jpg)

                     People used to visit Bedlam to see  the lunatics - there were 96,000 visits in 1814. Entry was free on the  first Tuesday of the month. Visitors were permitted to bring sticks to  poke and enrage inmates.