The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-30

INSANITY IN GREAT BRITAIN.-Although, says the
Pdu Mall Gazette, there is some difference OF opinion
with regard to the cause OF 1t, hardly doubt
that insanity is greatly increasing ia these Islands.
1t would seem as If the worst OF all human diseases
liable to grow with the growth OF civilization,
and as If medical science tmpotent to stay It's
progress. This is what the non-professional o.
server will gather from certain statements and sta
tstics on the subjects and it Is, indeed admitted to
a large extent by medical men in scientific perodl-
Gals. Thus for example, In the Quarterly Journal
Of Science just published, DR.. Martin Duncan writes
that "the cures OF the insane in fine asyums are
not more numerous than they were from
1I4s to 1914 when the treatment of the insane
was a disgrace to humanity" that "our social
state is producing year after year an increasing
amount OF insanity more than diGcult OF cure
and again. that "there is no denying or explaining
away the fact Of the rapid accumulation OF insane
persons in all parts Of the kingdom" In the Medico-
Chir,rgical ReUiep for April there is an article on
the same subject in which the writer states that In
the course OF ten years the number OF recorded
lunatics has increased as per cent and that the i'm
mense additions made to hospital accommodation
durink the same period shave been fruitless so far
as they were intended as means OF bringing all
pauper lunatics under proper supervision and under
the protection of the lunacy laws-a privilege not
belonging to w0rkhOuse inmates" In proof OF these
statements the writer adds that WHILE during the
last ten years, asylum accommodation has been en-
larged by nearly tWotnlrds, 'yet the lunatics de-
tanned in warehouses; in 1869 were close upon 5000
more than in 1860. At the same time the pauper
insane distributed in lodgings have advanced from
$3.50 to 69s7." Both these journals thus assert the
increase of insanity, both declare that the plan of
large asylums has proved comparative failure
and is mimic al to recovery and both favor of
placing pauper lunatcs in cottage homes, as is done
in some parts of Scotland and at Gheel, but under
careful system of registration and supervision. Dr..
Tuke, writing in the Journal of Mental Science
arrives in the main at similar conclusion. He
points out the evils OF the cottage system as ex-
hbted at Kennoway in Flfeshire, but believes that
sooner or later it must be brought more fully into
play, and that If improved and elaborated it may be
the best way of providing for harmless and ncurabe
lunatcs. Neither Of these writers holds out to us
any hope that the growth of insanity is temporary
evil. Luxury is advancing with gigantic strides
and poverty, with its attendant mserles, grows In
like proportion. Consumption and scrofula, says
the Medico- Chirurgca Reuie are increasing through
out the country. degenerate state of body tends
to produce weak mind and the Journal of Science
alrms that insanity is due far more frequently to
insufficient nutriment to poverty, and to physical
deterioration than to the mental strain which
is so often demanded in the present day from the
upper and middle classes. The increase OF lunacy
is not to be found among the educated men, but is
to be traced almost wholly to the pauper class In
proof of this it is enough to state that in the five
years ending January 1867, the increase private
patients in asylums was SO, while the increase of
pauper lunatcs during the same period was 6O49 1t
would seem, therefore, that in proportion we can
diminish the pauperism OF the country, we shall
stay the progress of the most awful disease which
can afilict humanity.