The Sun.
London, England, 1837-10-14 00:00:00

INSANITY.

Many statements have been published of late years tend-
ing to show that the number of lunatics in this country is
rapidly increasing. A writer in the Number of the Foreign
Quarterly Review which has just appeared, in an instruciive
article on the " Statistics of Insanity at Charenton," by that
eminent French physician, M. Esquirol, contends that the
notion of a positive increase in the class of persons visited
with that severest of human afflictions is unfounded.

" There is an opinion afloat," says this Reviewer, " that
insanity is on the increase in this country, and the 'opinion
is in some degree borne out by a comparison of late regis-
ters with those of older date. Dr. Powel, who first directed
attention to this particular department, grounded his.belief
of a positive increase on the apparent augmentation in the
London registers for lunatics. These included all lunatics
confined in private asylums throughout England, which gave
an increase as compared with eight quinquennial periods
from 1775 to 1814 ; the aggregate for the former being
1,783, for the latter 3,647. This is a conclusion which Dr.
Burrows says is not borne out by facts, us the register does
not comprehend lunatics confined in unlicensed houses.
Comparing the lunatics with the census of the population
for 1800, Dr. Powel arrived at the conclusion that there
was one lunatic to 7,300 persons, a conclusion which shows
how absurd it was to attempt a statistic account of insanity
with means so inadequate. Pinel thought that the increase
in the returns of the insane might be accounted for in various
ways—irregularity in former returns, and increase of the in-
mates of asylums, from the better arrangements which now
prevail. He says that the greater the liberty in any country,
the greater the number of insane is likely to be.
" In 1806 a Select Committee was appointed to inquire
into this subject, and in the report which they sent in, they
gave for England and Wales an aggregate of 2,248 lunatics.
In 1815 another report was made, which gave nearly double
the number, but which increase should be ascribed to the
inaccuracy of former returns rather than to any positive
augmentation in the number of the insane.
"By the returns which were made in 1819, Dr. Bur-
rows found the aggregate of lunatics confined in public hos-
pitals and asylums to be 1,456, in private asylums 2,585,
in all for England and Wales 4,041, to which he added
half the number for those confined in private asylums not
registered. In this way he raised the whole number to
6,000, which hs considered the nearest approximation to
the total number of lunatics in Great Britain, and which
gives us a proportion of about one lunatic in 2,000 persons.
In 1826, Sir A. Halliday made a return of the lunatics
confined in public and private asylums in England and
Wales, giving as the gross amount 4,782, to which be adds
those of whom the law takes no notice, as living with their
friends, and concludes, from an experience of twenty-five
years, that the number confined in England and Wales, in
public and private asylums, exceeds 8,000 ; yet, with this
apparent augmentation, he is not disposed to believe that
insanity is on the increase with -us. He estimates the in-
sane of Scotland at 3,700.
" In 1829 lie sent in another report, which gave for Eng-
land Wales 6,806 lunaticF, and rates the idiots at 5,741,
to which he adds for places not returned 1,500, in all
14,000. The proportion of insane to the population is, he
says—England 1 in 1,000 ; Wales 1 in 800 ; Scotland 1 in
574. In the gross amount of 14,000, the paupers are esti-
mated at 11,000.

" Some very curious returns have been made, showing the
influence of different habits and pursuits in life in producing
insanity. In twelve English counties, where the population
is employed in agriculture, the proportion of insane to the
general population is 1 in 820, and the lunatics are to idiots
as 5 to 7. In twelve counties where the people arc diffe-
rently employed, the insane are to the population as 1 to
1,200. People who work in mines are reported to be less
liable to insanity than those who work on the surface. Is

it because they are less exposed to the exciting influences of
busy life, which are ever passing around us in our inter-
course with the world, and from which miners are for a
great portion of their life withdrawn ?
" In six maritime counties the lunatics are to the popu-
lation as 1 to 1,000, and idiots are to lunatics as 2 to 1 ;
while in six counties of North Wales there are 7 idiots to
1 lunatic, and 1 lunatic to 8.50.

" In South Wales the proportion of lunatics to the po-
pulation is 1 to 7.50, and idiots are to the insane as I to
Throughout Wales, as in many parts of England,
there is •a preponderance on the side of female lunatics
over males ; female idiots arc also more numerous than
males ;in Wales the excel is very great. The explana-
tion afforded for this is, that nearly half the population is
employed in agriculture. There is a general impression
that, in agricultural districts, where people work hard and
where females are employed in labour, the violent exertions
required in such occupations produce distortion of the
body, and may very materially effect the growth and de-
velopment of the brain, and even the form of the cranium
in utcro. It is well known that females are obliged to work
during the whole of their pregnancy, And there can be no
doubt of the injury which such occupations must entail on
the offspring.
" According to a return made for Scotland in 1821. the
proportion of lunatics to the population is 1 to 474, but
little reliance can be placed on this as a correct estimate of
the state of insanity there."

On Wednesday morning a young woman, named
Amelia Duncan, threw herself into the Ravensbourne river,

at Deptford, while in a state of intoxication. The body
was scarcely cold when taken out, and every effort was re-
sorted to restore animation,.but without effect. Last night
an inquest was held on the body, when the only reason as-
signed for the rash act was a letter stated to have been re-
ceived by her on the above morning with the information
that a young sailor to whom she was much attached had died

at sea. Verdict accordingly. The deceased was of the
class called " unfortunate," and had only been out of Maid-
stone gaol (after 29 committals) nine days.

Two privates, named Doran and benison, belong-
ing to the Royal Regiment, were tried by Court-martial,
in Athlone garrison, last week. The first, for repeated

desertion, selling of necessaries, and incorrigible bad conduct,
was sentenced to receive 150 lashes, which sentence was
carried into effect on Saturday ; and the latter, for a similar
offence, was sentenced to 100 lashes, which were inflicted on
Monday last. We understand that both these men will

get blank discharges in consequence of their bad conduct.
The new safety coach, which was recently de-
scribed, has been engaged for the Brighton Road, and will
start in a few days, accompanied, it is anticipated, by the
Taglioni and Duvernay fashionable drags, and a number of
distinguished individuals as judges of the experiments to
be performed. It is guaranteed to maintain its perpendi-
cularity running at full speed with the near wheels off, and

;he far ones on, or vice versa ; also with one or two wheels

working on a bank three feet high, and the others in the
drain ; nay, even with its axle broke. The coach has a
very elegant appearance, and the upright supporters which
rise from the beds and axle, passing between the body and
the boots, and by means of which the vehicle maintains its
vertical position, are concealed from view. The principle
has already been taken up for private carriages, several of
which are now building.
On Monday an inquest was held in Dublin on the
body of Jane bunne, who had been buried since Sunday
week, and who had been disinterred fer the purpose of in-
vestigatiag the manner she had come by her death, it being
alleged it was in consequence of the general ill-treatment,
and in particular a severe beating, received from her hus-
band, a coach-maker and pawnbroker in Mary-street. An
anonymous letter to the Magistrates led to the prisoner's
arrest, and the inquest. The jury returned a verdict to
the following effect :—" That Jane Dunne came by her
death in consequence of a severe heating inflicted on her
by her husband." The prisoner was committed on the Co-
roner's warrant.
Yesterday morning the owner of a dog-cart was pro-
ceeding along the Deptford Lower-road, when a dog (a
small one) ran on the footpath, which raised the ire of its
cruel master, who beat the poor animal over the head with
a thick stick until it fell dead at his feet. Several persons
then seized the cart, and broke it into several pieces, and
would have inflicted summary punishment on the wretch.
but he sneaked off, amidst the execrations of all present.
Yesterday afternoon, between four and five q'elock,
an elegantly dressed female, of prepossessing appearance,
apparently about eighteen years of age, in an advanced
stage of pregnancy, attempted to commit suicide by throw-
ing herself into the Surrey Canal, on the Kent-road. She
was, however, after great difficulty, got out alive by a la-
bouring mar,, named Smith, wt..° was passing at the time.
The unhappy girl statedthe.i she had been seduced by a
gentleman under a pr',mise of marriage, but that lie had
left days ago without performing it. She
gave EnglandeSmitii a few
twr, sovereigns.
ZoOLOciicAL GARDENS.—One of a pair of Dro-
medaries about five years of age, and which have been in
this collection for nearly two years, has .recently bred at
the gardens, being the only instance of the kind known in
Europe. The young one, which is a female, is now five
weeks old, stands about five feet high to the top of its
hump, and is remarkably vigorous and healthy. The ar-
rangements for protecting the giraffes from the incle:nency
of the winter are complete, and most of the other animals
have been removed into their winter quarters. The former
animals enjoy good health and are in very fine condition.
They appear to have become almost acclimatised, and one
of them has grown nearly three feet taller since its arrival
in this country.
The Lords of the Treasury have given their sanction
to a loan of 1,950/., payable by instalments, and at 41. per
cent., and a grant of 1,9611. as a free gift, for making a new
road from Cahirciveen to Kenmarc. This road has been
indispensably necessary. Their Lordships have also sanc-
tioned a loan of 1,500/., and a grant of 1,501/.. for making
a new road from Tralee to Castlemain,betweent
bridge and Castlemain.—Tralee Mercury,