The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-05
HEALERs OF THE SICK.
Meeting of the County Medical Society-Dis-
cussion ON the Causes and Treatment
of Insanity.

The Marion County Medical Society met, last
night, in the Council chamber, DR., L. j. Thomp-
son In the chair. Dr. John H. oliver, secretary,
read the minutes of the last meeting Present,
Doctors L. ]. Thompson, John oliver, Cook, Roe,
Henthorne. Brown, Hodges, Stevens, Brayton,
Harry oolen, Porter, Hervey, Bryan, Petit
job wa Pantzer, C. I. Fletcher, Newcomer,
Fee on 1itchen and spicer. of Acton.
DR.. 4..~.Aas, the essayist, said that the alleged
causes of insanity are almost infinite. To de-
termine the exciting cause is difficult. The his
tory given by friends is usually disjointed. Con-
sumption, which is essentially malnutritiOn, is
a very common cause; the very gaiety and hope
fitness of consumptives may be a
species of insanity. Heart disease
often impairs the functions of the brain,
as it controls the brain circulation. Venereal
diseases are q far more common cause than Is
usually supposed: patients often recover when
put on an anti-syphilitic treatment Typhoid
fever, long continued, so wastes the system as
to cause mental impairment. Alchohol 10 not SO
common a cause as either Of tie above diseases.
although the general opinion of the latty ls to
the contrary. OF thirty cases of paralysis
treated in the last four years by DIR. Thomas,
not one was caused by alchohol General par
alysis is becoming more common; a hundred
cases have occurred in the hospital within -FOUR
years. Such patients suffer little; they have glo-
rions visions and are a happy class of patients.
Diseases peculiar to women cause many cases
of insanity. DR.. Storer, of Boston. thought
every insane woman was suffering from diseases
peculiar to the With this view DR.. Thomas
disagreed. Insanity and sexual disease were
mutually cause aud effect. Physiological rest In
the asylum often was the natural cure of insan-
ity due to uterine troubles Prevention OF insan-
itv was to be brought about by the mutual
efforts of physicians, social science crosses,
legislatures, and in fact by all individuals and
associations interested In the amel1oratlon OF
mental impairment. DR.. Thomas closed by
calling attention to the relations OF heredity
and insanity, holding that sufficient attention
was not given to race culture. DR.. Thomas
said: I'VE pay great attention to the breedlb
breeding Of our own species; with our fair, pure
daughters, flesh OF our flesh, the delight of our
lives and the joy of our homes, do we consider
carefully enough the moral mental and physi-
cal attributes OF the men to whom they are
wedP'
Dr. Bryan opened the discussion, agreeing
with the essayist; DIR. Hervey cited cases of in
sanity following typhoid and malarial fevers.
Dr. Stevens thought that insanity was often
Inherent, and only awaited awakening.
DIR. Harvey discussed the relation of tuber-
cular disease to insanity; he thought the malnu-
triton due to phthisis and fever was a common
cause of insanity. He thought that diseases pc
culiar to women often caused insanity, but was
, only one cause of many.
Dr. Hodges thought that from his experience
religious excitement caused insanity oftener
than inebriety.
Dr. Wooden did not think insanity hereditary;
1t is not pathological condition; 1t is pervert-
ed physiological condition, aroused by certain
exciting causes.
DR. Newcomer believed in the hereditary tend
ency of disease including insanity. There is
both a mental, moral and physical transmission.
AS long as the present laXity of our laws regard
ing marriage and divorce exists, we cannot hope
for any great Improvement in the moral and
physical state Of our people
DR.. Thomas closed the discussion, answering
several questions asked by members.
The meeting one of unusual interest ana
profit TO the medical men present DR.. Kitchen
was able TO attend the society for the first time
since his injury last July, and was warmly well
coined by his brother ply solans.