Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-04-07

ment Insanity from such a cause Is not
chargeable to religion ITSELF w m a
OF the cases Of insanity from intempcr-
ance, about so per cent recover in this Hos
pital. From domestic affections. about SO
per cent recover. From i'll health, about
~ per cent. recover. From religious caus4
es, about so per cent recover. From mar
tubation, about Ia pei cent. recover
Many more facts of greater or less import
ance may be obtained from these tables. \.
We are often grati6ed with good .idings
and favorable reports of patients discharged
from the Hospital. So far as we have known,
very few have relapsed who have been dis.
charged as cured, and number that have
been discharged improved, were, in fact,
convalesing, and continued to mend after
leaving the institution till they finally re-
covered
The reputation Of Hospitals for the insane,
depends much upon the number Of lis cure,
butit often requires much more effort. and
eveA greater skill, TO Improve an Old case
that has been considered hopeless that has
been abandoned to chains and the dungeon,
exposed to the cruelties of cold and hunger.
and every abuse which can degrade or rem
der desperate. To gain the confidence of
such an individual, awaken his self.respect,
and bring him 10 feel that he is human be-
ing. worthy Of the sympathy. respect and
confidence of those around him, is work
far more difficult than the cure Of recent
case. This is the merit we aspire TO- We
have the satisfaction 10 witness the most ia
vorable changes in all the habits and feelings
Of this unhappy class of patients, whose
minds will never become free from the illu-
sions Of insanity, established by time and
rendered permanent by habit. We have
seen, in many cases, the desperate, furious
and exasperatcd maniac, who, for years, has
been the tenant Of cold and dreary cell,
naked and filthy, devouring his food like a
wild beast, set at the table calm and selfpos-
sessed, with his knife and fork, taking his
meal with order and sobriety. clad in decent
apparel going TO his bed at night with COM
posure, uniting ia amusements, or joining
in labor with cheerfulness and pleasure
These changes are not affected without
long and persevering effort The number
OF this class, able TO labor, is constantly in
creasing in this establishment Many who
for long period have been considered un.
safe when weapon was within reach, have
L
the woodward with implements in hand, and
performed their labor quietly and correctly.
or the patients discharged. as recovered.
from the Hospital. during the four years Of
its operation. eight only have relapsed. a.
far as we have heard. Fifteen have had
insanity return from renewable of the causes
which first produced it.
There are many cases Of hereditary in
sanity which become periodical, with inter-
walls ofone, two, three or more years. Those
paroxysms recur frequently without appa-
rent exciting cause. Slighter causes operate
in such cases to produce insanity than when
! no predisposition to the disease exists. We
4 have had some recommtments of cases Of
this description also.
u Relapses from recoveries of insanity arc
not more frequent than from other acute dis.
eases, and are less numerous than we should
, expect, when we consider that many patients
return from the Hospital to the scenes and
circumstances connected with the origin of
the disease. .e.l
II If insanity arises from domestic Affections.
the loss of friends. or the reverse OF fortune.
/ the impressions may be again renewed.
!, when the individual arrives at home. Res
toration Of reason does not remove the sad
realities with which are associated the dis
tress and anguish that overwhelmed tho
mind, The lost friends are not there, the
Indications of former prosperity are gone,
the dscords OF domestic strife may be re.
newed, poverty may again oppress and
bring its train of evils and anxieties, coarse
and scanty fare, hard and unhealthy labor,
sickness and suffering from the apprehension
OF want; and intemperance. OF all causes OF
insanity the most likely to be renewed, be.
cause temptations are every where pre-
? scented.
Physical causes are more likely to pro.
: duce permanent disease. and realities pro,
E duce more permanent impressions than inn
laginations or fiction, and these impressions
are more likely to be renewed. fol the caus-
es are constantly operating. III health, OF
all the causes Of insanity, is most easily re-
moved, this will be seen by reference to
i the tables, and forms and exception to the
above remark The reason of this is, that a
/. removal Of the disease. upon which the in.
5 sanity depends. effects the cure. il being
, symptomatic.
) The experience of the past has not in
the least diminished our confidence in tho
, utility and Importance of moral manage.
: ment in the treatment Of the insane. Kind.
I ness and indulgence, the inclination Of self.
, respect and self-control are indispensable
! axiliaries in all well regulated management.
' While we give full credit to this. however.
!. it must not be overlooked, that in all recent
: cases of insanity, and in many old ones, we