The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-04-15
THE CAUSES OF INSANITY.

We have the Annual Report OF the Board
OF Trustees for the Massachusetts Genera!
Hospital. Itpresents briei and very valua-
bic review of the years operations of the two
branches of this magnificent charity. We
observe that with the enlargement Of expon-
ses, and the necessary enlargement of the
demands upon the Hospital, the expenses of
the last year have materially exceeded the
the income. There is no considerable reduc-
ton possible in these expenses; and it fol.
lows, therefore, that 10 sustain the institution
on the scale which humanity and science
demand, the community must provide in
some way the enlargement, of lis receipts.
In very interesting report of DR.. Booth,
now at the head of the Mclean Asylum fol
the insane, he comedies The fac, that insanity
is on the increase. In q cursory examination
of the causes of this increase, all of which
should receive The most careful consideration,
we find the following remarks, to which we
beg attention, on the passion for beginning
the school education of children to young
We are induced 10 copy these in the feeling
that they have peculiar value al the present
lime, when the attention of the public has
been called anew 10 lis subject:
In looking at the manners and habits Of
the people oil our age, we shall find abund.
ant evidence of the truth of what has been
here indicated. We siad in life as if deter.
mined TO thwarl The laws established for the
preservation of health, and for the proper de-
yelopment of our faculties. Passing over the
errors of the nursery, which are many and
unqueslionably fruitful in producing most
of the sickness and mortality of infancy, let
us follow the child as he is committed 10
school, usually at the age of four or five years.
Perhaps il cannot be SAID that large major
ity of children are obviously injured by being
placed at school at this early age; but there
are undoubtedly many who suffer from the
undue and unhealthy stimulation of the brain.
AT this age, the brain being pro(usely sup
Piled with blood, and very susceptible of ir-
ritation, shoald be watched with the greatest
care, TO preserve its delicate structure from
injury or destruction. But it is hardly posi-
bic that young children can be subjected, for
SO many of their waking hours 10 the observ-
ance of rules usually deemed necessary for
the government of schools, without seriously
rearding or preventing the regular healthy
development Of the physical system. In this
way upquestionably, is laid the foundation
of much disease of tho spine, and kindred
ailments, which prematurely cripple SO mary
OF the young, or hasten niein W u premature
grave.
Hufeland, distinguished physician of
Prussia, in his valuable work on the 'Art Of
Prolonging Life,' observes, Intellectual efIor,
in the first years of life is very injurious. All
labor of the mind which is required of chill
dren before their seventh year is in opposition
to the organization, and prevents its proper
Development Again, he says, 1T is neces-
sary lha, we should not begin TO exercise The
faculties of the mind 10 early; il is great
mistake that we cannot commence their cul-
tivation loo soon: we ought OF think of al
tempting this while nature is wholly occupied
with the development of the organs, and has
want of all the vigor of the system to effect
this object. If children are compelled to
study before this age, the most noble part of
the vital force is Withdrawn from perlecing
the organization, and is consumed by The act
of thought; from which 1t necessarily results
that the bodily development is arrested or
disturbed, digestion is deranged, the humors
delerioated, and scrofu'a produced. In fine,
The nervous system thus acquires predom-
nance over all others, which it preserves for
the remainder of life, producing innumerable
nervous complaints, melancholy, hypochon-
dra, sc. 1t is true however, that diversity
of character requires different methods in this
respect. Bot in all cases, the course 10 be
pursued is directly opposed 10 that which is
usually adopted. lfa child shows at an ear.
ly age, great prope nsity for study, instead
of animaling and encouraging him 10 pro.
ceed in this course, as most teachers do, it is
necessary to moderate his zeal for preco.
cious maturity of mind is nearly always dis
ease, or shows an unnatural propensity which
it is most prudent to correct"