New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-03
unnERY C4ESES OF INSANITY.

Tn the current number of The Sdnitdridn
Professor Hitchcock has an interesting paper
on 4 Perverted Will "a Factor in Insanity.
He is of opinion that the marked increase of in
sanity of late years is largely if not altogether
due to the rapid progress OF democratic ideas,
the development of strong individualism, and
the weakening of respect for authority. 1t Is not
to be inferred that he considers democratic ideas
mischicyous, but that hc holds it to be often
dangerous 10 put new wine into old bottles.
The general effect of modern influences he re-
CARDS as tending to destroy seli-control,
whether in the pursuit of wealth or the graft
hcaton Of appetite. Luxury offers constant
temptations to the present generation. and
where there is no training to furnish basis OF
self restraint, excess IN many directions Is to be
apprchcnded. Again, self-cOntrOl Is weak
Lened, especially in orr American public by a
"disrekard or discstccm of law and authority.
"The democratic idea, the intense individual
"ism that pcrmeates the body polite as does
"our blood the body is a demOralizer to II sound
"mental condition. The disrespect for civil
"law, as manifested by many who only seem to
"see in it red tape and needless formaliiy, is a
"gOOd seed of insanity"
Professor Hitchcock might have gone further
back in tracing the development of the insane
neuross. 1t is highly probable that those
parents who, through mistaken notions of edu-
cation permit their children to grow up ignO-
rant OF sclf-Surrcnder discipline and restraint,
are encouraging in them the tendencies to ex-
cess which in later life may issue in insanity. 1t
is indeed patent fact that the power Of self
control is less cultivated at present than form
erly. Our foreiathcls held many hard and bar
barous beliefs, but there was one belief OF theirs
which we should have done well to retain
namely the conviction that serious and pro-
longed discipline is necessary to the building mp
of a sound and self-sustaining manhood. In
these days the last lesson impaired is that of
obedience, yet it is certain that they who cannot
obey will never know how to rule, and that with
out scil-coutrol the finest natural abilities may
be worse than wasted. The diseases of to-day
are largely the products Of prolusc expenditure
of vitality. Extravaganza in physical outlay Is
one OF the most serious vices of the time.
NerVou, and cerebral exhaustion follow these
courses, and at short intervals our most active
and energetic men drop out of the race, and are
consigned to the asylum OF the grave.
When the tendency to insanity is the effect Of
new ideas upon sluggish mcntalitcs, which are
confused rather than emil ghtened by the impact,
it is probable that nothing can be done. Ia such
eases Natures law of the survival of the ttest
must operate, and such are incapable OF I'M
provcmcnt must perish. But with regard to
the stronger natures tlat tend to excess be
cause of defective training and the force OF cx-
tcrnal stimulants, it is not useless to speak
words of warning. Nature will be avenged iol
violations of her laws, and those who exhaust
their limited stock of vitality in youth and mid
die life will be denied the restful old age to
which they yainly look forward. They will die
in harness. THY will drop even before they
have reached Mount Pisgah. The parents who
think it philosophical to withhold all discipline
and training in self-control from their children
will do well to reflect that, far from fitting
them for an ampler manhood and womanhood
by these means, they are preparing them fol
disaster, misfortune end failure, and deDriyinG