The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-15
THE CAUSES OF INSANITY.

suggests that the causes of this protean and
growing social evil are far from being under
stood. The attempt has been made to bring
the study of disease to a strictly material
and scientific basis, and as regards insanity
to make it disease of the brain, as govt is
of the joints or pneumonia OF the lungs.
But insanity is not disease. 1t is q symp-
tom, or more properly a result Its causes
are not only physical, but also mental and
moral and often these several elements are
inseparable 1t is for this reason that the
heads of our asylums should not only be
psychologists and Psychologists, but also
psychologists, else in their efforts to minis
ter to mind diseased they will overlook
the mental and moral factors In a recent
essay on the relations of physical disease to
mental impairment read by DR.. Thomas, of
the medical staff of the State asylum, before
the Marion County Medical Society, the
essayist showed the relation of consumption,
heart disease and fever as causes, taking the
ground also that experience does not verify
the common belief of the laity that alcohol
is more common cause of insanity than
either of the diseases mentioned. As
moral and social factor, and one inlaid by
heredity, alcohol, no doubt, is responsible
for many cases. But alcohol is often the
last link in the chain of evil. A man of
weak mind and physique by inheritance
marries. He breaks down in business or
loses his family. He takes to drink,
becomes insane. and only this
when really it is one OF many. DR.. Thomas
touched on the relations Of heredity to in
sanity, expressing the well-known fact that
not enough attention is given to race culture.
This all admit 5dt few individuals have the
moral courage, and as yet no social or legis-
lative body has dared to apply the remedy
the marriage only of those sound in mind
and body. The essayist said: eve pay great
attention to the breeding of the lower ami
mails, but little to the proper breeding of our
own species; with our fair, pure daughters,
do we consider carefully enough the moral,
mental and physical attributes of the men
to whom they are wed?''
In recent classification of the dangers of
our American life tending toward insanity,
DR.. Claiming reverses the ordinary order
and puts the moral and social causes
at the head. Among these is put
and the accumulation of wealth without
regard to the fitness for Office or capacity to
use wealth rightly working at too high
pressure, and by quick and superficial meth
DDS, also our high-pressure system of school
education. developing the intellect without
proper training in religion and morality-in
naturally following the living in cities, the
invention OF machinery and the utilization
of new forces-steam and electricity-in the
development of national resources. But our
people will, in time, get used to the new
conditions, and they will cease to be so i'm
portant factor in producing insanity. AT
the last, one may hope for general amelio-
ration of our social conditions through edu-
cation properly directed, ana also through
an awakened moral purpose.
Our asylum physicians have an excel
lent opportunity to study insanity. Their
opportunities Of determining the causes
Of it are not equal to those of the
family physician in large cities, who know
not only the insane individuals, but also
their moral and social surroundings, and the
history of the family from whom the afflicted
one is descended. 1t is to be hoped more at
tenton will be given this matter in our own
State. Prevention is better than cure and if
the medical men controlling our asylums,
from whom we have so far heard but little,
will occasionally give the results of their re-
searches in psychiatry, for tue use and guild
ance OF the general physician, the result can
not fail but be beneficial.