Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-06-15
Causes Of Insanity.

We have been interested in report from
Dr. Brigham, Superintendent of the New York
State Insane Asylum, at Utica, on the subject Of
insanity, in which are many excellent thoughts
and suggestions on this important branch OF
mental debility. The most frequent and imme-
date cause Of insanity, he says, is want Of sleep
$50 rarely" he observes, "do we see a recent
case Of insanity that is not preceded by want Of
sleep, that we regard II as the sure precursor Of
mental arrangement. Notwithstanding strong
hereditary predispositon, i'll health, loss Of kin.
bred or property, insanity rarely results unless
the exciting causes are such as occasion loss Of
sleep. A mother may lose her only child, the
merchant his fortune, the politician, the scholar,
the enthusiast, may have their minds powerfully
excited and disturbed yet if they sleep well,
they will not become insane. We find No adj
vice so usefui 10 rnose who are predisposed to
insanity, or to those who have recovered from
an attack, as to carefully avoid every thing like
ly to cause loss Of sleep, to pass their evenings
TRANQUILITY at home, and to retire early to rest
Long continued wakefulness disorders the whole
system. The appetites becom impaired, the Sc
cretions diminished or changed, the mind defect
ed, and soon waking dreams occur and strange
phantoms appear, which at first may be tran
cient, but ultimately take possession Of the mind,
and madness or death ensues. We wish we
could impress upon all, the vast importance Of
securing sound and abundant sleep; IL 20, we
should feel that we had done an immense good
to our fellow beings, not merely in preventing
insanity, but other diseases also
In order to secure sound sleep, DIR Brigham
gives the following rules
LIST. 1t is important in the first place, that the
mind should not be disturbed for several hours
before retiring to rest.
I'd. Retire early, and neither when very
warm or cold sleep on hair mattress, or on
had moi eof INrn hal -f.o0 ohnut ha
large and well ventilated, and the bed should
not be placed near the WALL or near window,
as such an arrangement often exposes the person
to currents of cold air.
Sd. There should he nothing tight about the
neck, and the Chinese rule Of brushing the teeth
before retiring, is good one. Tea or coffee,
taken late in the evening, is apt to disturb
sleep. Strive to Danish thoughts, as much as
possible, on retiring to rest, or take up the most
dull subject. Study during the evening is i'm
proper.
The statistics exhibited by DIR. Brigham show
that insanity is little more likely TO be trans
mitted by the mother than by the father, ant
that mothers are considerably moro likely tC
transmit it to daughters than TO sons. Among
the most frequent causes OF insanity in those MOI
disposed to it, is the over-indulgenee Of the appe
tites and passions in early life and 10 those who
inherit tendency to this disease, such n course
is highly pernicious. The utmost attention
should be given to securing good bodily con
stitution. Such children should be confined bu
little at school they should be encouraged tc
run about in the fields and take much exercise
in the open air, and thus ensure the equal and
proper development Of all the bodily organs
These hints are Of the utmost value, and should
be carefully observed by all who have any CAUSE
to fear the development of so dreaded a mals
dy either in themselves or children.