The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-10-05
Insanity the Result of Physical Disease.

DR. John F. Gray, Superintendent CT the
New Yor4k State Lupatic Asylum, in paper
read before the II edical Society OF the State OF
New York, at its annual meeting, February
1871, takes positive ground that insanity is
IN general the result Of physical disease. No
one can dispute the authoritative character
IF this proposition, coming as it does from a
man of such learning and experience as Or.
Gray, and though it conflicts with old super
stitions, as well as with modern theories it is
worthy Of most careful consideration. DR..
Gray expresses the opinion thata very large
proportion Of those sent to the Asylum too
late for successful treatment, might be saved
from the dreadful doom Of insanity for life,
were the faculty in general to accept his
proposition as fundamental, and famliarize
themselves with the pathology and treatment
Of those morbid conditions lending to insani-
ty. Religious anxiety, jealousy, fear, and the
entire catalogue Of SO called moral causes
wouId never shake the MAD so far as 10 de-
prive it Of reason, were tho body healthy. 1t
is trua that these moral causes may react as
disturbing forces upon the functions Of the
body; may produce parched tongues, loss of
appetite, sleeplessness, and many ether ills
which, 10 their turn, react upon the mind ;
but what we understand from DR.. Gray's ex-
position is this : that until the body so far
Yields as to become diseased, the reason will
retain its seat. Persons who are in state of
great mental depression, unduiy excited by
the passions Of Jealousy, avarice, or revenge,
etc, are so, because their physical condition
renders these depressions and cxctements
possible. We all know how speedily exhu
berant health rises superior to sorrow, and
the burden of business anxieties. and we ven
tuTe TO say that no one ever say profound
melancholy coupled with splendid appetite.
Our bodies are of little value, unless as a COW
ering for that higher indeinable something,
Of which we arc conscious and by which we
identify ourselves the mind, the soul, or what
ever we may call it, which wills, aud rules or
should rule over the flesh, at the same time it
is dependent upon. and to some extent is
ruled by the flesh The king is greater than
the palace, yet the palace Confines, aud. in a
certain degree, controls the king So the
mind, which rue:h the body is in certain
sense subject to the body. Nothing seems to
Us 50 encouraging in the tendencies Of the
times as the gradual growth in the belief that
bodily health underiies mental and moral san-
ity; not that a bodily we'll IN n may not be
a mentally corrupt man but that no man
can be DO h mentally AMI morally sound and
strong, who is poor in bodily health. The
sick man is irritable, impatient, depressed in
spirits. There will always be found some
o.al or mental indication Of this bodily all
ing The mental indication may vary from
want Of nornsl mentll power 0 the widest
nlaniacal ra9iDs The sooner we recognize
tie flct that sound public morals are insep-
arabic from Sound minds in healthy bodies, y
the sooner we shall be able to solve the prob
lens Of tho prevention OF insanity, crime and
fauperism. In this view DR.. Grays paper
IS s-n important contribution to social science.