Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-02-04
Insanity and IdIoey.

legislature and the people Of Texas b,
expend n large sum of money for the
care and maintenance OF lunatics and
idiots, IL is u fitting occasion to inquire
into the causes aud means OF proven
ton Of these terrible maladies. The
causes, IL IL evident, are not confined
to climate or location, but extends
alike from the colder and more healthy
regions OF the north, TO the hotter and
more miasatic climate of the south
and every state has, beyond all the
provision they have made, constantly
increasing demand for enlarged nc.
commodations for the insane and idi.
OTIS.
II 1t be fact, as has been stated,
that Texas has 800 uncared for luna
tics and idiots, not less than 81 900, 0DO
would be necessary to give them all
the accommodations, care and atten-
ton this class OF persons require.
In view Of the terrible nature of the
disease, and the heavy burden of tax
alton IL imposes upon the people, il
may be well to give ear to facts and
statements made by priests and ply
siciansp vino have had opportunity
by years spent with this class Of per.
sons, in the almost hopeless effort t.
restore them 10 health and reason.
Ii the cause be found in what We
eat or drink, can any, from any con-
sideration, oppose n rigid oversight
VI the markets, or of fOrbiddinS and
enforcing by law the sale or con
sumption Of any element which en-
tails such "a dire calamity upon the hu-
man race?
he testimony on this subject by
those who have had opportunity To
investigate IT,, Is very unanimous
aud conclusive, and should be
sufficient To stir up the minds Of all, to
"A due consideration 81 the subject, and
OF each Individuals responsibility.
The following IL but Il small part OF
this testimony, from physicians in our
own coun1rys and in England:
"Dr. shepherd, superintendent OF
Coluey Hatch Insane Asylum, said, in
letter to the London Iimcs, that
thirty-iive to iorty per cent. of insan-
ity resulted directly or indirectly from
Intoxicating drinks "Dr. Ellis, res
ident physician OF the County Lunatic
Asylum ot MiddleseX, said That out of
thirty-eight individuals admitted in
1893, nineteen were known To be
drunkards.n
"Of 2S6 persons In the lunatie ASYLUM
of dublin, Is were known TO have
been Incorporate and alcoholic drinks
the cause.
"There were admitted into the luna
tic asylum Of Liverpool, in four years.
l35 patients 80 of these were known
TO have been made insane by drink y
III. L. Ayers, NJ d., OF Forl Wayne,
Indiana, says; "Oi 800 idiots, the con-
dillon of whose progcnItors was ascer-
tanned, 30 were The children of drunk
ards -
Dir. Howe reported to the Massachu-
sets Legislature that the habits of the
parents Of 30J Idiots had been learned
ana that Ii5 of them were known TO
be drunkards y
The doctrine that drunkenness Is
transmitted to offspring is rs old as
Aristotle.
DIR, Chambers says: "The effects of
injury upon the mind and body may
not always show themselves on the
diinker, yet we very much doubt if
ever the progeny entirely escapes the
effects, in one form or another. They
may be manifest In insanity or intern
perance, or In the form of some
disease of the stomach, liver, bowels,
lungs or other organs. The hereditary
physical effects may neither show
themselves nor end with the second
generation, but may be exhibited most
Enthusiastically In the third or fourth
generation When chronic dis
eases, " says Darwin, arise from Il O
use of ardent spirits, they are liable 10
become hereditary, even TO the tblr1
generation; and If the cause is contin-
ued, to increase until tho family be-
comes extinct
Dr. Pliney Earl, superintendent of
The Northampton Lunatic ASYLUM,
Massachusetts,, says: There are at
least Ave distinct varieties of mental
arrangement which own alcohol
drinks rs their direct and efficient
cause,
Dr Buchnell says; There Is n
type of insanity, due TO the too free use
OF alcoholics, which may attack persons
though they have discontinued
the use ioranumber OF years. 4 usually
follows somo exciting moral or physr
cal cause, as u reverslon In business.
ar the death of n near relation, which
upSels the brain, producing melan.
choly. often permanent Thi. form of
insanity, though indirectly caused by
drinks, of which "A vast
number of cases are set down i'm the |
reports of insanity, rs being caused by |
III health, reverse of property, loss OF |
friends, etc, etc, should really be as |
crihed 10 intclnperance in the use of |
alcoholic drinks.
Dr. sinrgraves, a physician of phlla- |
delphia, who has given great deal of |
attention to this subject saws. The |
diseases produced 10y intemperance are
legion, Many deaths ana diseases re- !
suit nom this cnuse, and no mention
Is made of this drug rs the predlspos- !
ing cause
OF the moral causes of insanity. do |
nestle trouble and giief are undoubt. |
edly the most frequent But IL must |
he remembered that drunkenness Of |
the subject, OF OF some member of tbe |
family, IN a vast number of eases h |
the real cause OF domestic trouhle |
also insanity from the loss of pronrrty
ar irpm ~ health, resulting from dis, |
ease brought on from the use OF in |
toNiealing drinks, so that intcmper- |
aneeis remotely, rs well rs directly. |
the eanse oi insanity. Ii drinking he |
repeated too eflen aud too long, IN il il
continued after the term of life when /
the body is fully developed the injury
TO The system becomes permanent.
By carefully collected statistics
innde by the commissioners of Massal
rhusotts, and by comparison of The
reports Of 1885 aud 1865, with the three