The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-05-24
Intemperance and Insanity.

The F0rtnigbtlg Review for April con-
tains an article by Mr.. w. j. Corbet,
NJ P, on the increase of insanity in the
United Kingdom. From a comparison
of critical statistics he shows very
clearly that within the last twenty years
the ratio of the insane to the popula-
ton of England, Ireland and Scotland
has steadily and rapidly increased. In
1862 the ratio was 1.81 per 1000; in
1872 it vas Pa per 1000; and in 1882
it was 2.S4 per 1000. These figures
indicate an increase in the two decades
of about sixty per cent, Among the
causes assigned for this alarming show
ing intemperance holds the chief place.
Out of q total of 1854 cases in the
United Kingdom in 1881, 1,730 were di-
rectly attributable to incorporate hab-
its. He quoted Lord SALISBURY as
saying: I'm the year 1S43 | stated that
a large proportion of the cases of lunacy
was ascribable to intoxication, and that
remark applies equally to the present
time, for it is applicable to all times
that habits of intemperance in many in
stances lead to the development of in
sanity. We shall see that a large pro-
portion of the cases of lunacy are as
cribable to intoXication, and we shall
draw, mdfeover, this startling con-
clusion that if thousands are deprived
from this cause of their reason and in
carcerated in warehouses, there must
| be manifold more who, though they fall
short of absolute insanity, are impaired
in their understanding and moral per-
ceptions." Lord Shaftesbury proceeds
/ to say that he had communicated with
medical authorities on the sub ject, and
| general concensus of opinion was that
an immense proportion Of cases of in
sanity arise more or less from the use
of strong drink. The writer adds: II
! 90 a step further, and hold that there
is abundant evidence to prove that to
dissipation and drunkenness, either
directly or consequentially, by trans
mission to the next generation, is to be
charged an emmense proportion of the
annual increase of lunacy."
These views receive further confirma-
ton from the statistics of fhe lunatic
asyiums in this country. A recent re-
port of the New York Asylum shows
that out of 254 patients admitted, over
n per cent. were drinkers. The report
of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the
Insane for the year 1888 in table
showing the causes of insanity in 1852
cases attributes to intemperance S2S-a
far larger numer than are attributed to
any other specific cause.
1t is easy to believe that large pro-
portion of cases assigned to ''loss of
property domestic difficulties,
''want of employment" ETC., might be
traced to the influence of strong drink.
1t is also evident that, although the num-
Der of those addicted to strong drink is
proportionately less than it was forty
or fifty years ago, the tendency to IN
sanity from this cause has increased.
The reason for this must be sought for
in the character of the drink itself. 1t
is a notorious fact that the drugs and
other compounds used to adulterate
liquors at the present day are of ma
ture calculated not only to stupefy and
benumb, but to quickly and permanent
| ly derange the brain. Under the in
tiuence of these drugged compounds
the madness of intoXication becomes q
real madness, and not q temporary ex-
hilaration. N. y. Observer.