The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-02
Ifso, Tell US the Cause and the
Remedy.

A recent number Of the Wheeling
latelligencer contained a very elabO-
rate editorial article, showing, by the
rerort OF the West Virginia and other
n ylums for tn, insane, that in
sanity was much more frequent among
those engaged in agricultural pursuits
,hsn among jewellers in towns
,tcre was SO mach sound philosophy
md good reason in tue statements
made by tue writer,-both in proving
that be was correct and in accounting
Tor tue cause, -tbut We have given
tho subject some considerations and We
find that bis itea, in this regard will
bear the test Of criticism.
Hitherto, the fresh air Of tue couR-
try, the pure water of the mountain
springs, and the hcalthful exercise
attendant upon an agricultural occu.
nation, have been regarded as in every
way conducive to physical aud mental
health, aud ultimate longevity. We
regret to see this favOri,0 idea explO-
ded by tho stern logic Of facts and
figures; lrutit lisa truth abundantly
proven by statisticiaus that farmers
nro not near 50 lOng.lived as persons
engaged in trade, and living in towns
and cities. For illustration; Out Of
6s,s97 agricultural laborcrs in Penn
sylyania, only 2.0lG arc GO years Of
age, and out Of 1874, 52G in New York,
hut {, 1884 are over three.score. By
reference to the census report. it will
he seen that tho same prin,iplo APP
pies in oil the other States, not only
us regards longevity, but in cases Of
mental disorder The average rate Of
human life (aftor arriving At maturity
is 80 years; but it is shown by vital
statistics that preachers, lawyers, doc.
tors, merchants, aud members Of
almost all the trades and professions,
live, on an average. nearly twice as
long as farmers. West Virginia, as
We shall show, is an agricultural eonlN
,uunity; and the average rate OF life
her. (of the whole pOpulatiOn) is but
Is years.
Statistics also place It beyond doubt
that in the cities and towns, extreme
and vigorous ll ago arc to be met
with much more frequently than in
the country, and they also point I'm.
etringly to the fact that much larger
proportion Of the insane come from the
pillow and the reel, rather than the
studio, tho desk or the workshop
In looking over this latter matter, we
have had reference to tho authorities,
aud we are compelled, much against
our will, TO dcmolish our fayorite
structure by tho following facts:
Tho census Of 1870 credits West
Virginia with a population Of 30S ,494
persons over 10 years of age, Of whom
154, 234 are miles and 154,190 fe.
males. We arc also credited with
jl5, 229 persons engaged in all classes
Of occupations, Of whom l07 ,07G are
males and S,lG3 females. OF this
number, 1880 are engaged in agri.
cultural pursuits, and all Of these are
males except 1885,. The total mum.
her engaged in professional and per-
sonal services" is 5000, Of whom
0.G36 are males and 1868 females.
The total number engaged in "tralO
and transportation is G, s07, Of whom
G.sss are m,lsi and 0 are females.
The number engaged in mining and
mechanical and manufacturing indus.
tries" Ii, CTS, Of whom 1887 are
males, and $40 females. For tho con.
vOniencs q the reader, wO rec,pitu.
late as follows, dividing the total MALE
population engaged 10 some occupa.
tiOn, under the four heads given 10
the census rcport..of 1870:
Engaged In agriculture, 1875
I" professions, &c. 1896
az a. lt,de T., 4 eee