New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-27
IMPORTING INSANITY.


there are some evils which are forcing them
selves upon public attention. That which first
suggests itself is the importation of paupers and
criminals, and of those who are in danger OF
drifting into helplessness or crime. Another
grave evil, of which the public has heard!compar-
atiyely little is the increase of insanity accom-
panying immigration, either through the direct
importation of the insane or rather their expor-
tation from European countries to this, or
through their inability in many cases to stand
the strain and hardship of their change OF life.
DR.. Kempster, superintendent of the Wisconsin
Northern Hospital for the Insane, who necessar-
lily sees much of the immigrant population,
says, in one of his reports, that besides the Ord-
nary cases of insanity there are to be found
"the depressing influences of inconsistencies
"and over-wOrk and INSTRUMENTATION
"almost always present in new countries
settled largely by foreign born persons"
The subject has been attracting attention in
Chicago in practical way. The papers there
recently announced that fifteen insane persons,
who had been picked up in the streets by the
police, and nearly all of whom were foreigners,
would be examined in the courts DR.. Foster
Pratt, of Michigan, read a paper upon this sub
iect before the American Public Health Assocl-
ton ut its recent meeting, which gave some
startling facts regarding the growth of insanity
~ reIated 10 the increase of the fOreign-bOrn
population. 1t is to be kept in mind, of course,
that statistics of insanity, though still far from
perfect, have greatly improved, and the appar-
cnt growth in insanity is perhaps due in part to
the increased accuracy of the returns. Never
tbeless. the facts show mournful increase of
insanity, and demonstrate that large proper
ton of the addition is to be ascribed to immi-
grafton. BY the census of 1850 the number OF
persons reported as insane was 1850, OF whom
2.O49 were forcign-bOrn. The great flood of
immigration was then just fairly beginning, the
Irish famine Of '4G and the German RevOu-
tions of rs being powerful moving causes. AT
this point onc-seyenth of the insanity of the
country was to be found among the alien one
tenth of the population. In 1850, 23,999 IN
sane persons were reported, OF whom 5,Ioo
were foreign born. Thus One-fourth of the re-
ported insanity was of foreign origin, though
the foreign born population had only Increased
To one eighth of the whole. In 1870, 37,432
insane persons were reported, of whom 11,22l
were of foreign BIRTH Thus, although the for
eign-bon population had increased to only
one-seventh of the whole the foreign born
among the insane had increased to ratio OF
nearly one-third. The census of 1850 showed
an enormous increase in insanity, which is as
cribed largely to the fact that the census was by
far the most accurate yet taken. But even in
this the proportion Of foreign born to the whole
numb r of insane was well preservcd-26,34
ont of 81 1897. Less than onc-scventh OF the
nopulation, but more than one-fOurth and near
" third of the insane, of foreign birth.
During the whole period named the rate of in
crease of the foreign-born insane was greater
than the rate Of increase of foreign born popu-
lation. During the last decade covered the lat
ter increased less than 20 per cent the former
$50 per cent. Dr. Pratt charges, and probably
with Justice portion of the increase OF insani-
tv among native Americans, which has been
great also. to the admixture of foreign blood
II NAV be necessary before long to consider
seriously the question of sitting immigrants
more carefully. When the right is claimed and
exercised to shut out the whole of certain race,
tho right to keep out persons OF weak and
diseased minds will hardly be denied. 1t cam
notbe doubted that among immigrants who are
"ossistedr here by their Governments, good
nroportion are those who are either mentally
deficient themselves, or are likely to transmit
mental weakness to their offspring, and this Gle
mant is dangerous one.