The treatment of lunatics in the East has not yet fully emerged from the clouds of ignorance and barbarism which have surrounded it for ages. One of the first reformers who attempted to introduce the methods of humanity and science in this field in the near East was Mr. Theophilus Waldmeier, a gentleman resident in Syria, who commenced in the spring of 1896 the work of helping and providing for the numerous sufferers from mental disease in Syria and Palestine. His efforts were crowned with success and within two years a hospital for the insane was built near Beyrout on the slopes of the Lebanon Mountains. This institution has been in full working order and has been doing good work for two years. In the fourth annual report recently issued there is an account of the institution and of its work for the year ended March 31st, 1902.