The Shasta courier., 1855-03-17
THE SHASTA COURIER
stnic Insane Asylurn.


Senator Sprague has obliged us with copy
of the annual Reports Of the officers of the State
Insane Asylum for the year 1854. From cur
sorry perasal of these documents, we are led to
believe that few similar institutions in any porr
tion of the world, have been conducted more
successfully and with more credit to all par
ties concerned, than has the California Insane
Asylum during the past year. The institution
is one of which we are proud to boast--it is an
honor 10 our glorious young State,
The success with WHICH patients have been
treated in this institution is, indeed, most re-
nIarkable-almost unparaeied-and speaks IN
manner stronger than words, of the great abilir
ties of the Resident Physician, Robert Z. Reed,
and his Assistants.
The whole number under treatment during
the year, was 305-2?a males, s3 females-d
whom recovered aud were discharged, l50-
I32 males, and Ia females. The whole number
of patients admitted into the institution since its
establishment in 1852, is 65l; of these 3I2 have
recovered, 43 died. and 800 remain many of
whom are chronic cases aud past the hope OF
recovery.
MORAL CAUsEs-l3a Mental Excitement 81,
Domestic Atfict:op 81, Pecuniary Dlsappoinl-
lnent %, Political disappointment ,. Disappoiut-
ed Affection 5, Desertion OF Wife 3, Deseri"u OF
Husband 4, Deserrion Of Mistress =, Seduction
und Desertion 2 Jealousy &c. ,, Gret and Fear
), Sudden Wealth ,, Religion, &c. 3, Fapaticism
.. Spiritnalism 4, Mormonisn /.
PHYsicAL CAusKs--l73--Intemp in
Spirits H. Inemperance in Opium =. Intempe-
rance i'll Tobacco !, Masturbatlnp %, Amative-
pess3 Consequence of Partllrition TO- Suppress
I'D Mensiruatlon >, Consestiye Ferer2, Typl,oid
Fever 6, Injury OF Head q. Epilepsy 10, Syphilis
4, Coup de Solel ?, LII Health %, Hereditary
~, Unknown -.
Table VIII. presents some resplis, with refer
ence to the intluepce of marriage aud celibacy
on the development of insanity, well calculated
10 starte the unmarried adult population. Ofthe
305 patients admitted during the year, 2l7 were
single, aud 80 widowed, while but Sc were maj
ried.
The average age OF these patients only 80
years. The extremes 10 aud 20. Children and
old persons rarely become insane. 1t is middle
age, says DIR. Reid, the prime and vigor OF life,
between 90 aud 80 years, when the mind pos
sesses the highest activity and energy, that in
sanity most frequently occurs.
All the various occupations fife, from editors
and preachers to lawyers and (!) gamblers, are
here represented. The miners, however, greai-
ly preponderaie,-lO2 Of the 3O5- being OF this
occupation.
OF the whole number for the year, Calaveras
sent 90, Ell Dorado %, Sacramento so, San Fran
cisco 81, San Joaquin 30, Santa Clara TO- Tuol-
pmne 12, Yuba IA, and The remainder of the
counties from one to FIVE each-Shasta a, Siski-
you 3, Trinity ], and Colusa 1.
OF these 3Q5 patients. 1873 were Americans,
and l22 Foreigners. Every State in the Union,
according to tables XII. and KILL, was repre-
sented also England, ireland, Scotland, France,
Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany. Switzerland,
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Prussia,
Poland, Chile Peru, Mexico, Canada, Australia,
China, Hndoostan and Africa. Nothing can
give better idea of the perfect conglomeration
OF different peoples and nations, without fusion
or assimilation, OF which our population is COM
posed, than the figures of these tables.
At some future time we will take occasion to
copy that portion of DIR. Reid's Report, which
treats of some of the productive causes OF the
terrible disease of insanity.