It is stated that there is a definite change in Dutch att's to physical & mental illness: the mentally ill are no longer treated as `mad' or possessed by the devil & phrases like 'lunatic asylum' have been replaced by the Dutch equivalents of 'mental hosp.' There still exists an appreciable discrepancy between the att's of the Med avant garde & those of the general public. In supportofthis contention, US sources are quoted, esp J. C. Nunally Jr's POPULAR CONCEPTIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH (New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1961), based on an investigation in Ill. Att's towards physical & mental illness do not necessarily go hand in hand; they may be determined by diff historical precedents & operative structural factors. 'The role of the sick' is considered. They have 2 chief rights-exemption from soc duties, ie, educ or military service, & right to special care & attention-& 2 chief duties-not to hinder attempts to help them & not to be sick more than necessary. An examination of collective att's towards physical & mental illness yields 4 conclusions: (1) the behavior of the mentally ill is less easy to regulate soc'ly than that of the physically ill; (2) people are more familiar with the role of the physically ill than of the mentally ill; (3) physical illness is more amenable to prognosis & is usually more transitory than mental illness; & (4) physical & mental illness differ in collective att's towards their 'guilt problem' -these tend to be more negative on mental illness. It is believed that the Med profession should not accept this state of affairs fatalistically but should take definite measures to improve it. I. Langnas.
