Undertaker of the mind: John Monro and mad-doctoring in eighteenth-century England

too. For example, much of the background material on issues like legislation will be thoroughly known to social historians of eighteenth-century medicine. The chapter on Earl Ferrers' and Nicholson's trials is principally narrative and does little to advance our understanding of the development of the insanity defence in the eighteenth century. At one level it is curiously old-fashioned, even if the analysis of social status and gender in determining the treatment of offenders is right up-todate. Yet these reservations should not detract from a book that is often fascinating and original. R A Houston, University of St Andrews