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198
THE DAWN OF DAY

mercy, but with medical skill and goodwill. He may be in need of a change of air, of new companionship, temporary disappearance, perhaps isolation and a new occupation very well! Perhaps he himself may find it to his advantage to live for a time in custody, in order thus to find protection against himself and a troublesome, tyrannical craving—very well! We ought quite explicitly to point out to him the possibility of his being cured and the remedies required (the extermination, transformation, sublimation of the aforesaid craving), and also, in the worst case, the improbability of the cure; we ought to offer an opportunity for suicide to the incurable criminal who has become an abomination to himself. While reserving this as an extreme means of relief, we ought not to leave anything unattempted which might restore to the criminal his good courage and equanimity; we ought to wipe remorse of his soul like something unclean, and to throw out suggestions to him as to how to redress and more than balance the harm, which he may have inflicted on one, by benefits bestowed on some one else, may, perhaps on the community. Do all this with the greatest forbearance! Let him alore all remain anonymous or assign an adopted name, and frequently change locality, so that his reputation and future may suffer as little as possible. At present, it is true, the one who has been injured, quite irrespective of any method of redress, wants to have his revenge as well and applies to the courts of justice—which still administer