Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-05-27
A Mad World.

The case of the alleged insanity OF
George Francis Train now under investi-
cation in one of the New York courts,
suggests some curious reflections. The
course of inquiry pursued shows that we
have no settled theory on the subject of
mania. BY which the question of q per-
sons sanity may be testSd. 1t appears to
be exceedingly difficult to distinguish
between eccentricity and insanity, and
to tell where one ends and the other be-
gins. The shades of distinction blend so
imperceptibly into each other that, ex-
cept In extraordinary cases, the line of
demarcation cannot be found. In more
than one recent investigation of insanity,
1t has been evident that physicians were
in vain." Even the experts of the faculty
show themselves at fault. Sometimes
they save neck from the gallows by the
professional gravity of their remarks.
More often they only succeed in furnish
spectators.
From the little knowledge already &C
quired on the subject, it would appear
that recent verdict of ''insane, though
harmless" would apply to three out of
four persons whom we pass on the street.
They have queer streaks about them,
which do no harm to any one, but indi-
cate, percepubly, an obliquity of the
mind. These strata of lunacy take vari-
GUS directions. Sometimes they turn to-
ward religion, politics, or social theories.
Again, they hinge upon an invention, a
novelty In literature, or an idea that is
bent on destroying old and settled theo-
ries Of professional life. The persons so
affected are often the most marked and
brilliant members of society. Moham-
med, unquestionably, was insane; but
his madness drew a multitude in his train,
and carved out empire after empire on the
earth. There can be little doubt that in
sanity had much to do with the Mormon
movement, and builded up the stubborn
power that made Utah garden. So, in
many other historic instances, the cult
Walton of one idea to the dwarfing of all
others has given strength and brilliancy
to a pet mania. The madness oflovers is
prOverbial, but in times past it has des-
troyed cities, divided empires, and blotted
out a nation.
Looking back, we shall see that many
of the greatest advances made by the
world were credited at the time to insani-
ty, and most marvellous effects have been
produced by men suspected of lunacy or
of dealings with the evil one. Friar Ba-
con and Calico, "Crazy Rumsey," who
dreamed out steamboat on the banks of
the Potomac, In the last century, and the
man who put it in practice in "Fulton's
folly" are cases in point. Men are living
who laughed at Governor Clinton's "big
ditch" from Albany to Buffalo, and most
of the present generation thought it mad
ness to attempt laying the Atlantic cable.
Judged critically, the men whose persis-
tent adherence to one idea wrought these
great works may have been insane but,
as Lincoln once remarked of Sherman's
alleged insanity, it would be as well il
some of the rest of the world were affected
In the same way.
A curious question arises as to the pos
sibility of contagion in insanity. The
most heretical and immortal teachers of
religious codes have found no difficulty in
attaching followers to themselves and i'm
pressing their own personalities upon
them. Earnestness has seemed to be the
one quality that has never failed to make
martyrs, even for an undoubtedly insane
belief. Joan Of Arc went exultingly to
the stake, leaving the record of her full
belief in the vision that called her to the
head of the French armies, and nation
mOurned her serenely. Joe Smith, the
vagabond of Wayne County, is to-day re-
garded as saint and prophet by hum
dred thousand of the faithful in Utah.
Hundreds of similar examples force the
conviction that insanity may be conta-
gious. And it would appear that the
medical faculty begin to think so, for they
now advocate a number of separate build
ings for the insane, instead of one large
asylum, as has been the usual mode.
Yet, after all, this novel mode of treat
ment may be but streak of lunacy in men
who have given too much thought to
single idea. Who knows? Verify, this
is, Indeed, ga mad world, my masters. p
N. y. Graphic.