The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-07-19
HEALTH HINTS.
MENTAL DIsEAsEs-ISsAxIrY.

For The WIIMINGToNIAN.
The subject Of mental diseases is one of
such vast extent and, unfortunately, of such |
grave Importance, that it is quite impossible
to deal with it within the compass of a news
paper article, published for the perusal of
readers. But the fact that in
the popular mind there exists an entire mis-
understanding of the nature and treatment
Of affections of the brain emboldens us to
attempt brief sketch of what constitutes
real insanity and its allied changes in the
operations of the reasoning powers.
II there is one thing more clearly estab-
lished than another in the practice of medi-
cine it is the hereditary character of insanity.
For this reason a man who has the nisfor-
tune to tic descended from a parent of
unsound mind, should not marry. 1t
appears pretty certain that the disease is
more likely to be transmitted from the
father than the mother, partly because men
are more subject to the harrassing cares and
temptations which predspose to mental
disease, partly because the occurrence of
insanity in women is indicated by signs which
lead to their prompt isolation, and which
impose a natural check on the production Of
offspring
1t has been boldly asserted that the seeds
OF insanity are sOwn more widely ttan we
have any idea of OF any desire to believe, and
that signs and actions in children and even
in young men which are classed as mere
oddities or eccentricities, are in reality symp-
toms of the latent disease which may at any
time assume complete and terrible develop
ment 1t is certain that the curse of drink
has done much to produce insanity, and the
same remark holds good Of secret vice
acquired at school-both being notably
prevalent in communities where the condi-
tions of society favor Incidence and luxury,
and as conspicuously absent when a spare
diet, chiefly of the vegetable kind, regular
hours and hard couch are the prevailing
conditions. Thus insanity is very common
in the United States, in England, in France
and in S veden, while it is rare in Italy and
Spain, and almost unknown among the
native population of Asia Minor and Arabia.
In Sweden the disease has been clearly
traced to the enormous consumption OF
alcoholic liquors; the same remark applies to
Scotland where the otherwise healthy habits
of the people are marred by the curse OF
drink. The Belgians who affect light wines
and weak beer are tree from the evidences OF
insanity which are common in dram-drnk-
ing Holland. In Turkey drinking is not a
common vice, but other vices of an even
| nhn A..
inevitable effect
A single crushing blow is the most fire.
quent cause of acute mania, or in Other
words of violent insanity. A man who has
lost his all in speculation, or has been
stricken down by some overwhelming
family sorrow-a disgrace or bereavement
is peculiarly liable to such calamity
But the loss of reason very commonly comes
on nsiduously as the result of over-study, OF
political excitement, of brooding over some
wrong-reai or imaginary-or still more
frequently of long continued indulgence oil
the passions. Here there is some sort OF
warning given, and the friends of the patient
If they are observapt and sympathetic
enough to deserve the name-will not hest
tate TO construc Alright the change in the
manner and appearance of the sufferer
One of the earliest and surest Indication,
of the approach of mental disease is a Low,
of solitude, and disposition to slight OF
even to quarrel with those who have pre-
viously been the objects of sincere regard
and affection. Coupled with this we FIRE
quently find religious monomania, and q
constant assertion ON the patients part that
lie has committed some wrong for which
God will never forgive him. One of ;he
healthiest evidences Of Il sound mind in man
is an unconquerable trust in the clowning
and a!l-cmbacng mercy of the Almighty
one of the earliest signs of disease is the loss
of this holy and childlike confidence Yet
another evidence of incipient meutal disease
is the suspicion ON the part of person
known to be possessed of abundant means
that he or she is on the verge of dire pecun-
larry rcvcrscs. Or again there may be q
haunting fear of some unknown evil, fol
which the patient cannot find a name and
which he is unable to describe to his friends
With these symptoms, which vary greatly
in different individuals, we find the approach
of insanity marked by growing restlessnesS,
which constitutes of itself an alarming
symptom, and is a strong indication that the
brain has become organically diseased. This
is of course true only when the restlessness
becomes constant, So that the patient cannot
sit still or fix his ideas during a converse
ton aud his slumbers at night are broken
by ncessant vigils. Mere worldly cares, OF
a transient attack of disease may cause tenn
porary restlessness and disturbed sleep. But
when VIC find both these symptoms persist,
we may be sure that the patients brain is
diseased and that he is on the threshold OF
insanity.
When the final changes come, the patient
talks incoherently and is almost always
impressed with the conviction that he has
been sent on earth to perform some import
ant or awful mission. He compares himself
to the Almighty, without the slightest con-
seriousness of blasphemy, aud boasts of the
power to raise men from the dead, or to
destroy millions of men by wave of his
hand. He is mighty general, and will
review imaginary leglons and battalons. Or
he is some new and wonderful poet, compos-
ing daily scores Of verses which rhyme to a
marvel but have no vestige Of theme or a
connected relation, At periodical intervals
the brain becomes fevered to the highest
degree and a murderous or suicidal tendency
is developed. Persons in charge of violent
lunatics soon become familiar with the
symptoms of each patient, and can control