The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-08-13
Extract from the Report of the
Superintendent to the Trus-
tees of the New Hampshire
Asylum for the Insane.
Brandon Vt.

VSS0 VA OAAS NV"
Asylum for the Insane.
"There is a variety of insanity of which ev
cry asylum furnishes it's multitude of cases
SO deplorable in its nature as to demand NOR
attention than is generally paid it in hospita
reports. There is the greater necessity o
placing it before the public eye, as it is only
by the influence of truth upon the minds o
those having in charge the guardianship ant
education of youth, that the cause of so mucl
evil can be put in check. refer to the cases
produced by mastur6ation.
The records of the Asylum present no sin
gle cause which is more prolific of the most
unpromising cases than the one mentioned
though not admitted as such in the published
tables. The subject is the more deplorable,
as the victims of this degrading practice are
from the otherwise most promising classes OF
society. To witness the most brilliant intel
lect crumbling to atoms by the underworkings
Of this degrading vice, is spectacle at which
none who examine the subject can fail to be
moved.
There is striking analogy between those
cases produced in this manner, and those
which result from the use of diffusible and
| narcotic stimulants. Their prognosis, how
ever, is widely different, inasmuch as the lat
ter are amenabe to the advantages of hospital
treatment, while the former are supposed by
many, and with great reason, absolutely incu-
rable.
They seyerally act, by their excessive
draught upon the energies of the brain. The
muscular system languishes; the circulation
of the blood becomes feeble the capillary
vessels become torpid shortness of breath and
palpitation of the heart follow, as consequcn-
ces of the arrangement of the pneumonia ap-
paratus; while impaired digestion and pro-
gressive emaciation mark the inroad of decay
upon the assimilative organs.
These consequences are generally observed
before the mental faculties yield to the impen-
ding evil. Gradually the individual becomes
shy in his manners, retiring, jealous, and va
riable in temper, with alternate paroxysms Of
elevation and depression of spirits. His nat
ural resolution yields to timidity; every man.
ly attribute is lost, and the most disgusting i'd
Joey closes an existence useless to the suffer-
err, and intolerable to those on whom he hangs
in heavy dependence.Th early manifestations
Of this practice are not always as | have de-
scribed often maniacal excitement or melan-
choly, with the suicidal propensity, are the
first intimations of the brooding mischief; but
its termination is generally in utter and hope
less imbecility.
This is no fancy sketch. Every asylum for
the insane to which my observation has extern
ded, teens with cases in every stage of adj
vancement, and all tending to the same mel
anchoy termination. If the moral power to
abandon the baneful practice remains hope
of recovery may be entertained. But the
best arranged tables of hospital treatment ex
hibit only about seven per cent. of recoveries
from this form of insanity q melancholy com
mentary upon the ineflicicncy of all moral
and medical measures.
Insanity from this source must be on the
increase, if we Judge from the increase of adj
mission in this and other hospitals for the in
sane, of patients dcranged from the influence
of this practice. But probably the increase
OF insanity from this, is not more apparent
than from the whole range of strictly moral
causes.
The limits of brief report would be too
confined to exhibit the moduS Operandi of the
many springs of corruption which contami-
nate certain classes of society and to which
the press too often prostitutes its influence.
There is a certain portion of the SO called
reading public" whorequirc the excitement
of the most extravagant felton, to pander to
the cravings of an overweight and prurient
Imagination. The necessary counterpoise Of
reason and steady Judgment over the extrav-
agances of fancy and imagination, is lost, and
the individual at length passes dreamy kind
of existence, so nearly allied to insanity that
the slightest exciting cause is sufficient to de-
range the balance of reason.
Every village and neighborhood has its well
known instances of individuals of this class
and from its ranks to the wards sof an insane
asylum the graduation is almost insensible.-
The evil doubtless exists in faulty system of
education, by which the young and ardent are
suffered to indulge in the too unrestrained ex-
ercise of those habits which can only be kept
in check by a pure condition of the fountain
ofpublic sentiment. The publication ofcrim-
inal trials, especially where the evidence is of
such character as to exhibit to the untutor-
ed the gross picture of unbridled licentious-
ness, cannot fail to induce the evils of which
we complain.
OF the 90 patients now in the Asylum,
(June lst,) there are ten only who are de-
barred the opportunity of associating at the
table with the others; and of these, four arc
excluded in consequence of temporary eX-
element. The rest, in companies of sixteen
each, seat themselves atthe dining tables, and
are allowed the common table furniture
knives, forks, plates, &c. &c; and yet no acct
dent from their improper use has ever hap
pened, and the breakage of glass and crock
cry must be less than in ordinary hotels.
Our diet is always abundant and of the
best quality. The best of meats and the
choicest brands of flour only, are used. But
one kitchen supplies the whole establishment
and officers, attendants and patients partake
of the same food As we acknowledge no SUI
pcrior grade among our patients, SO we have