For a considerable period before the now practically universal system of caution cards was adopted in our asylums, other methods had to be resorted to in order that special attention should be given to suicidal patients. In the earlier established asylums, when the various duties, clerical and otherwise, of both medical officers and attendants were less mapped out for them, when, in addition, the number of patients was very much less, the then existing verbal caution was in general use, and was considered fairly efficient.