Joseph Daquin, Piedmontese Savoyard physician, a "not well-known chiarugi"

We present a critical review of La philosophie de la folie, second edition, published in 1804. Joseph Daquin's thoughts and clinical activity in the psychiatric field are described. Daquin's ideas about various forms of madness and the different therapeutic, moral, physical treatments, his anatomical studies, successes and failures are presented. Several clinical cases are described. The author's view of the moon's influence on madness is described. Finally it is shown how very important was the human person and the moral treatment of madness for Daquin, in contrast with the current opinion at the end of 1700.