In a brash attempt to control mental illness in early 20th century Britain, the British government called for an attempt to segregate the mentally ill into institutions where they would be unable to reproduce. Chesterton attacked this idea believing that all people should be free and that those suffering were just as human as everyone else. This work is foundational in today's society when so much light is being put on mental illness and where we as a society need to start heading. Chesterton was one of the advocates that started the modern day need for mental health equality.