Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-02-08
Lessons From Insanity,

Inc report OF the superintendent Of
the State Hospital for the Insane, DR..
Wiggenton lately received, contains a
considerable amount of valuable stats
iical information in relation to the state
insane. In the same connection the
Doctor presents many interesting facts
bearing upon the causes of insanity as
deduced from the records of patients
committed to his care.
After calling attention TO the fact that
the accompanying tables show that a
larger number of those admitted to the
hospital that were attacked with this
terrible malady between the ages OF
twenty and thirty, the Doctor says:
Between the age Of thirty and forty
there are more females admitted; then
again, between the ages of forty and
fifty the males predominant and con-
tinue so to do ON down. These are
curious facts; but the statistics of this
table are not necessarily borne out in
other states or other countries, different
causes often operating to produce diff
erent results. Why II larger number
are admitted between the ages of twenty
and thirty can be readily explained. AT
this age rapid change takes place in
the system. A stride as it were is taken
from childhood to womanhood. All the
perceptive faculties are keen and the
emotions at a high tension y
1t is an age full of hope and disap-
nnfntnnnnt That mora n0aIpz ai.n nd
mitted during this period is due largely
to the fact that the accidents and temp
tations are greater in this sex; and at
this period more single men than single
women become insane. Between the
ages of thirty and forty this order of
things is reversed. During this period
more females are admitted. The ex-
PLANTATION here is hat the dangers of
married life are much greater with the
female than with the male. Then again,
between the ages of forty and fifty we
see this order Of things reversed. After
the fruitful period of the woman has
passed a greater immunity from disease
prevails and the odds are in her favor
the greater number appearing in the
male column. At the age of sixty the
odds are largely in her favor, the work
and worry of life in the male leading to
premature decay.
Further on the Doctor says: liable
number seven exhibits two marked facts,
namely; that celibacy in the male pre-
disposes to insanity while the converse
is true of the opposite sex; and that
married life in females tends toward in
sanity, while in the male sex the opposite
is true"
Among the saddest and most startling
of the Doctors statements is that which
says:
That of all the admissions not more
than half upon entrance to the hospital
present any show whatever for recovery.
In the hospital to-day there are not
above thirty that will recover, the bal.
ance of our household being the accu.
mutation that has gradually taken place
since the opening of the institution.
Speaking of the outdoor exercise anC
enjoyment which are among the prom.
inent appliances in endeavoring to re
move the heavy cloud which rests upor
the weary brains the report says:
1t is a humiliating acknowledge
ment, but nevertheless a fact, that {
large proportion of our hospital popu
lation never knew how to enjoy life anC
this has been largely instrumental il
bringing them here. 1t needs but {
casual survey by any keen observer L
detect this fact and the wonder is tina
{ cy do not Scei [ themselves before ii il
too late and disease has entered The
household.
Here is a sermon in a few lines. lgnor
ance and ayarice wait upon insanity
Wholesome enjoyment stifled through
lack of intelligence OIL the ambitious
demands of super-intelligence bring likt
returns. In the shadows turks tn,
phantom of the mad-house. The brair
befogged in superstition with but +;
thought above the beasts with which i
associates. allowing no time for enjoy
ment and unable TO appreciate any o
the social joys which go so far to make
life pleasant. plumbers along until th'
open doors of the asylum furnishes q
lifelong refuge. On the other hand il
brother debasing intelligence to th'
dead level of mere money-niaking bend
ing every nerve and thought to accumu.
lation, led on by that ignis fatuus, tina
fatal will-'o-the wisp, "afew years more
and / will have enough, then l viii rest
finds when the clang of the asylum
doors shut him in that the rest comes
sooner than he expected, andsuch a rest
The human engine is q thousand folt
more delicate and complicated than tn,
steam moter, vet even the latter cannoI
perform its allotted task without time tc
generate the steam which when gener
'ated moves the inert mass of steel and