The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-29

These Commi ssoners see ned to have made no
inquiry in the private families OF the prosperous
This statement, therefore, IL does not IN ciude
the sefsupporting patients who not in asylums,
cannot be taken as representation OF all the luna
tics of England and Wales.
Etquiro says, that there were in Norway, 995
male and 500 female lunatics; and in Paris, q, l56
males and q, 1l3 females insane.
In Al established countries which are not
peoped, IN whole or in par, by recent immigra-
uon there are more females tssd males, in all ages
beyond childhood.
Almost all the cases Of insanity occur after the
age OF ~. The proportion Of those VIII become ia
sane previous 10 this period IL small that IL may
be- left out of the calculation.
According 90 the last census, there were in Great
Britain and ireland d, 12t, O19 males. and 800 26I
females, above % years OF age. II the sexes have
borne the same proportion during all the periods
from which the hos ital reports taken, then the
propotionate lilbllity 10 insanity, far can be
determined by the admissions into insane asylums,
will not he IN the apparent proportion 81 it,TlT
males 10 50 O9l females, but IN the true proportion
OF C52 male lunatcs TO s9i female lunaics sent
20 these hospitals out Of a million Of persons Of
each EEK over 20 years of age, throughout the
whole kingdom OF in the ratio Of loo females To
Il2 miles
Ia the fifteen States Of this country. from whose
hospitals the separately reported, and in
cluded in this calculation, there ~ lSt0, &C.
cordiDg 10 the national census, 6s7 ga mlies, and
5Sl ,Od2 females, over 20 years OF aye. Then The
true proportion Of the different sexes. contributed
10 the uDatic hospitals, Is not 1881 males to
10 gsS males, the numbers actually received: bat
as 4, 957 males TO ,257 females lrsm every million
persons OF each sex over 20 years old; or as 100
females TO ll5 males, which difference IN favor
cf wom'n, somewhat greater than that In Great
Britain aud Ireland.
II appears, as nigh, be reasoned from aaaloqy,
that men more lale insanity from one set OF
causes than wemen, and vitc rysa
The question resolves into another, that is
which OF these causes, classes Of causes, pra-
walls the most frequently and extensively AID
10 this the answer must vary with various coun-
ries, and in different ages, and different states Of
ociety.
But the general answer now to be given, from
the facts which present themselves from Great
Britain, Irelsnd, France, Belgium, and Amencs.
In, that those causes of Insanity which act UPON
males are more extensive and effective than those
which act upon females. But this must vary with
different nations, different periods Of the world,
and different habits Of the people
| Thus the recent Investigations corroborste the
general truth Of what Esquirol said, twenty years
sgo. 1.-The relations Of insanity to the vares
from north to south, from nation TO nation. from
province to province. In Scotland, the sexes have
equal proportions Of lunaey In England, there are
France, the female lunstics, and 10 the somh. of
| France, the male lunatics, predominate. IN Ma
pies, there are two female TO one male lunaio; bot
in Milan, this properties Is reversed
Of insanity, in which the writer shows thai bat lit
tie psearess is yet made IN the medical tresme nt
Of this terrible malsdy, the writer. speaks favor
ably Of OPIUM, though he has found T. very diff
cuh to break of hs use without astnrn Of the
mnlady.
| Although opium is not suited to- all constitu-
tiens, nor TO any individual case al all times il
has, when the system is properly prepared for its
exhibition, maintained i,s supepiory for ages past
a narcotic, and probably IA destined to, tor ages
| TO come.
In the early stage Of maniacai disease, the irri-
tation and vascular action are such, that opium In
any ofits forms, seems rather to increase Than to
| slley excitement But when this irrititc Is mo-
derated, and the vascular action somewhat equal
| ye cd nd mil xheA hN hR xvctl
baths, sl'imony and saline dreughts, some OF the
salts of opium VI other compounds, IN which the
article forms the most active agent, may usually
be safely and advsntageously administered:
The author concludes as follows-Hsving de-
s;guedly avoided any mention Of moral treatment
il may be thought consider the medical as the
more important. can give my views 10 single
| short paragraph. In the first stage, deem the
: | medical more efficient than the moral treatment
|. | in the second equal, and m convalescence tn
! neral has deeidfdly the prfpondeIknce.