Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-03-15
MISCELL AN Y.
From the Home Journal.
Startling Views of Female Insanity.

Startling Views of Female INSANITY.
In the admirable report of the Insane
Asylum at Hartford, we find the following
most instructive statements as 10 female in
sanity and its CAUSES :-Ahhough generally
more difficult to control, they are, IMink,
more durable Mon the other sec; their home
attachments are stronger, they realize more
fully the importance of their services in the
circle ct home duties, and naturally there
tore respond more readily to our efforts to
induce more perfect self control as the
first step toward recovery. They are also
more impressibe, they more keenly and
readily appreciate the genial and soo'hng
influences of those means of moral treat
ment TO which have so frequently alluded,
and upon which SO greatly depend. Thus
they are more easily led to acquiesce in my
views, and ultimately to cooperate with me
in that general course of treatment which is
best adapted to attain the longed for result.
The use of the needle, and the larger num-
Der Of domestic female employments, gives
lh' IN also a greater variety at least of pas
sing occupation. All this is AN illustration
OF the great importance and efficiency OF
y oman in her especial element, that sphere
of boundless infucnc--home. 1t is there
that she will find tie ,Iace of the fullest de-
vefopmeut mteneCtuai
influence, for it is pre-eminently and right.
fully, starting point of all social elevation
That is one of The errors of the times, most
pregnant with evil, which shortens the pc
riod of her domestic and educational train
ins, disregards her ply steal development
and ranks the external accomplishments ot
person, manner, and dress, above the ex.
pansion OF intellect. the refinement of taste
the elevation Of the sentiment, and, the
most important Of all to human happiness
the cultivation Of the heart, thus sending
her forth into society, TO play her high part
on the stage of life, with hardly a qualifica.
ton 10 meet the resposible duties of wife
and mother. This is not, perhaps, the righr
lace to follow out this interesting subject
in its relations and results. | would, how.
ever, remark that over three thousand cases
4 iLsaii;y have now come under my direct
care and observation. 10 large proper
lion of those cases whose History could
obtain, have found that the remote ani
pe-di>posing causes Of insanity, could be
plai ly traced TO the mahgn Influences oJ
childkood These infurnces | cannot at
this lime stop 10 enum crate or consider, bat
their knowrd-e jusifcs the assertion that
,rhen the duiy Of making home arise ana
hoppy shall Be reolized, We slial have in our
land less of vice and crime. AID much less
If insanity. The neglect of physical
training. aud he imperi,ct physical devel.
opment VIII ch follows, conse quent to this
neglect, are ,Iriklngy evident in many o.
oar female patients. The various causes
which are reported to me, as the sources OF
dist ase, and which arr classified in the Ia
bles under the head If ''ilI health" "iniense
mental aud bodily effort ''gri f" domestic
unhappin S. etc. may frequently be traced
IN their primary influences, to The one cause
OF want Of physical stamina. ! cannot
r, fran from referring ere TO remarks which
made in the 24ih annual report (for lS4S.) }
| there stated that of the one hundred and
eighty-se, en- female patients admitted da-
ring the past tIrve years. thirty per
cent we're the aeires Of farmers and mechal-
ics-quite an undue proportion Of The COM
parative number of these classes in the
community. The consideration Of the causes
which led 10 this most natural result, showed
that between nursing, the accumulation OF
household duties and drudgery. and the
ssostsiglied economy sokieh often I'D lse
husband to refrain from supplying hhe nee
essaSy domestic assistance, the poor hraFt-
broken and discouraged wife had lost IN
tarn. her appetite, her rest and her strengths
her nervous system had become Frustrated
and. sinking ar.der her burdens. she had
sou sht refuge in the Retreat. One of our
worthy female patients remarked one day
10 a LADY. sOnly think Of it J DIR. Butler Is
keeping me- here, and | have six children
and fourteen cows TO take care of at home
..Twen,y excellent reasons for your re-
naming here til You are cured, was ihe