Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-03-28
PREVENTION OF INSANITY.
An Interesting Consideration of the Sub
iect by Eminent Authority.

An Interesting Consideration of the Sub
.iect by Eminent Authority.
The amazing amount of insanity existing
in California, us shown by our overtlowing
aSylms and the demand upon the Legis-
lature for doubling up the present capacity
of the institutions provided for these untor
Inmates, makes the following careful con-
sideration, by Doctor Selden II. Talcott,
Superintendent of the asylum at Middle
town. New York, of the question as to the
method of prevention of this malady of
prime interest at this time lie SAYS:
\ consideration of the causes which pro-
ducc insanity leads naturally to the con-
clu-ion that MANY OF them are ayoidablc.
and that insanity may be prevented BY the
same time we are obliged to remember that
some OF the causes which induce mental
disturbance are Unborn, 0r predisposed, and
therefore, in many instances, life continu
Inc Aside from inherited, and therefore
to certain extent unavoidable causes Of
insanity, we find that excess Of every pos
Sibie form and variety in living, acting Or
thinking tends 10 the production Of insau-
itv. Moderation is therefore the essence Of
prevention.
Developing and maintaining physical
health, checking and restraining the i'm
pulses of ambition, and cultivating spirit
OF satisfaction with moderate achievements
will do more than all Things else to pre-
vent the development and increase of in
sanity in the new world. Just here we
may he permitted 10 state that one of the
chief, vet almost unnoticed, causes of in
sanity Is a disappointed ambition. This
cause finds little place in statistical tables,
but it exists, nevertheless. There is no
country in the world where the possible
titles OF rising to eminence, 10 fame, and 10
fortune are so broad, bright and encourage
ing a. in this favored land and vet, there
is no country in the world more replete
with the broken wrecks Of disappointed
ambition than this. We meet such wrecks
in every street and thoroughfare OF tho
great cities all along the highways and
bvways Of the country They flock about
the tables of the money changers in Wall
street, and they hover like flies in the
neighborhood OF every office or position Of
honor or trust.
\ reasonable ambition is necessary FOR
the accomplishment of every noble task.
That ambition Is unwise unholy and I'M
approved by God when under its effects
the Young break down and wear out pre-
maturelv, and when under its sweeping
shock they become disgruntled wrecks
which even the gentle ministrations of an
insane asylum cannot possibly repair.
Moderate ambition viii lead to ripe
achievement; excessive ambition is worse
than the battie-path Of glory, fer it leads
but to the grave direct, while the former
drags Its victims through years Of weary
suffering before the rest OF the tomb is
yuuchsafed to their tired bones.
The present system of education, u
pra.tieed in our public schools and acadt-
mies. should he modified and reformed.
There should be mere freedom, more fresh
air. more sunlight and more fun, and less
,.Is~. confinement 70 hard benches and
harder study. Especially -hould girls be
restrained from excessive study until the
normal functions # life nave been safely
and f,dlv established EGutation proper
should begin when the boys and girls have
passed the sixteenth miie-rost III life
Ia addition to the dangers of excessive
menta. strain which beset the yeung in our
present hotbeds OF learning, we find a
Leading and growing tendency to excess in
social pleasures We find that the days
are passed in exhausting study, and the
nights too often given over to unrestrained
social enjoyment Business and pleasure
should ALWAYS find a happy and harmoni-
Gus combination IN our daily lives; but
the amounts of each should be very much
reduced in the daily round Of the average
Young American. Excessive athletic
sports are likewise dangerous, and produce
disastrous consequences upon both the
i = 81,
requisites Tor the prevention of insanity Is
to secure nightly an abundance Of refresh
ing and recupcrating sleep. Very few
young and growing people can live safely
I'll less than eight hours sleep in every
tvca.y-ioar.
The family physician should warn
parents against the dangers of unwise ed
ucation. and especially should they urge
them 20 guard and restrain those OF preco-
eious tendencies. The youth Of our land
should lie trained after the fashion OF the
Pcr.ians who taught their sons TO ride
maenihcently ON horseback, to shoot with
accuracy, and to always speak the truth
and when these accomplishments were ac-
CURED they left them 10 peruSe their mem
tai wsk IN the manner best suited TO their
individual tastes. If subjected to such
methods, even the ungaiEly in body, and
those who are rrcdisposcd to work into
giraffe conditions Of mind, would finally
develop into approximate symmetry and
usefulness. To win the prize of sound
body and Lealthful mind, and to keep
them both IL health, should be the high
est ambition. To acquire such for useful
ness on earth, one has bat to study and
initiate the lives Of such men as Chmcc-
Ter Kent, Sir Walter Scott and Adam
Clarke. If people would adopt these
measures Of prevention, there would he far
les OF business engroSsment, far less Of
aspiration for wealth and power which can
never he gained, far less of disappointed
ambition, and fewer candidates for asylum
wards.