The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-09
Ialanlty Among TarnOr,.
Hosp1rAt ToR rus INSANE,
Wrsros, W. Va Feb. 5.

HosPITAt ToR TsE INSANE,
WEsrOS, W. Va Feb. 8.
Editor Democrat.
In your paper Of tho % inst, / no.
tice an article on "a Startling The.
ory-FaC!s for Farmers" oorrobora.
ting. to q certain extent, an editorial
in the Wheeling Iatslligenesr on the
same subject, namely, the frequency Of
insAuity in the agriculturist or farmer.
l beg leave to correct your "thsory
aud facts,r inasmuch AZ your basis Of
argument is without foundation, and
as consequence, your well.gOtten up
argument is fallacious; and ! must
congratulate the farmer that it is 80,
otherwise should expect them to beat
their plow shares and pruning hooks
into something else, and We might not
taste the fruits Of their tell again.
Your mistake arose 10 not reading
the repOr. Of the Hospital as carefully
as you should. You and the editor Of
the In.slligsnetr make the same mis-.
take, and take the WhOle number Of
farmers who have been inmates Of tho
Hospital since itS opening, 90 ysar0
which is 106, aRd places them 10 the
Hospital in tho last year, when in fact
there arc only SO farmers under treat
mOnt at this time, out Of the Isl male
patients, and adopting you. census re-
port, that there are 1912 farmers in
tho State, Il gives one insane farmer to
every 1928 who arc sane, which is a
small proportion when compared With
other occupations. But different igri-
cultural States will corroborais this
proportion, Not only will statcS, but
counties in our own State, bear a
striking proportion. Take the figures
that there are 25, LAB persons in tho
State engaged in trades, manufactures,
&c., and take tho number who are
credited from this class now in the
Hospital, o.. and We have enc insane
to every 891 sane. This lisa very
large proportion, but the State Of
Vermont, a manufacturing State, has
one insane person to t455 sane. Take
Ohio, q manufacturing county. We
hare 81 rsportsd-of these two only
are farmers, Is are lAborers and mo.
chauies, and gives the proportion Of
one insane to every sos sane. On the
other side. take the county Of Berks.
ley, farming county. We have 8
insane those two are farmers-and
gives one insane to 1902 sane. Green.
brlor has one insane to 951 sane, and
only ono Of these is a farmer.
We will now refer to the different
statSI First, We will take tho total
population Of the agricultural or farm.
Ing States
Illinois has insane to 2.5O6 nna.
Kama. /" {" 1O'71i i"
Slatei Of Ai1ea 0eegpaiioni.
Maryland has l insane to l, 227 sane.
E VS. +. 5 5 5.i55
Manufacturing ISdteG
Massachusetts / to every 5s5
New Hampshire (" GA
Rhode Island (" COG
Vermont (" 455
The proportion Of insane in the
United stAiesis one to / ,031 sane.
From the foregoing statistics We feel
justified in the assertion that farmers
aud agriculturalis.s are much less liable
to insanity than laborsrs and mechan.
los. And when We take into consider.
alton that I'LL Health" sssnds FIRST
inths causes Of insanity in Amer.
ica, we may readily conclude
that occupations most conducive TO
health are less liable 10 mental dis.
ease. The class Of persons who havS'a
competency, with no fear Of want, and
are well fod aud clothed, aud obey the
laws Of health, even II they do a large
amount Of brain work, are less liable
to mental disease than those who are
less favored by fortune, such as a Ia.
boring population, lwho have no Cnpi.
tai, lsd are compelled 10 earn their
daily subsistence BY the labor Of their
hands exclusively. They earn day BY
day what they consume. and lie down
at night no richer then they were in
the morning. Their feed 10 often
Icsut, and Il boltsd into the stomach
in order TO be on time for duty. In.
digestion aud all It's eoneomitanIs fol.
low. Low spirits lead to intoxicating
drinks for relief. Alcoholism is set
up, which Is another great cause Of
insanity. The blood Is vitiatsd, The
brain does n G. receive lis proper nour.
ishmsnt, and mOasal disease Is the re.
suit. A happy medium between tho
extremes Of cver.brain work without
due regard to the laws Of health, and
Of poverty 10 mind, feod, clothing aud
shelter is most conducive to bodily aud
brain health. And In the Language Of
one Of the standard authors. We quote,
"ThAt taking the returns 10 our nos.
session, they indicate more inIlsity
among mechanics and tho learned pro.
fesiors than 'agrisulluralil,s. Among
women the largest proportion appears
under tho head Of ssansIrOiI Ss and
'millinsrs.'"
There is one physician, one lawyer,
aud one merchant in the Hospital.
MI. E.1f.g-