Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-10-01


MIND WHICH INVITE IT.
From the Biennial Report on the Vermont Asylum.l
Commenting upon the liability to insanity
s like stepping upon DOGGY soil however
carefully one picks his way, he rarely escapes
Still, IL IL a territory which can
hardly be wholly avoided. The fact shown
by statistics in respect to the element OF he
redity, which enters into so large percentage
Of individual cases, Ia liable to be given un-
due weight and the conclusion Is too hastily
drawn that those born with hereditary ten
denotes, from their earliest years walk over
pitfalls or quicksands, by which they are ever
liable to be engulfed. Such conclusion,
however, cannot be accepted without much
qualification. In the discussion OF all ques-
tions of social science hobbies are ridden.
Special vices are often greatly magnihed in
their influence, both upon the individual and
the race, as the gross exaggeration OF the
evils of one in particular, by charlatans, who
reap profits from the fears and approximations
of its ubiects, we'll attests. Tue heritage OF
mankind is subject to great variations, and
there can be no question but that its DRIFT,
undirected and unmodifed, would be in many
cases towards destruction but the course of
every mans life Is to some extent In his own
hands. Not only may an Unborn tendency be
held in check, but it may often be d. Elected
from its original course, and even decided
mischefs that may have been sustained may
be repaired. Human nature is often exhibit
ed to view in its truest colors 10 q state OF in
sanity. Every psychological student has,
doubtless been astonshed in rejecting upon
this matter, and, recognizing this fact, at the
almost involuntary inhibitory power exercised
over mankind in general by those acquired
influences which are the result of educational
agencies. The safeguards OF society are
really much greater than are ordinarily real
lied. The sway exercised over the masses by
the customary oonventionalities of life bears
rule over many Maynard prompting and
holds in check very decided tendencies to
abandonment. pride, said distinguished
divine of generation ago, 'is the ruling
principle of an uusauctf-d world and, so
far from condemning it, he accredited II with
a most salutary power, in the absence OF
worthier motive We might almost venture
the assertion that one is safe 30 long ~ he is
responsive to enyironing influences, and only
in danger when he ceases to be affected by
public sentiment, by social dicia, or when he
turns within and preys upon himself. Ego
tism is usually exalted in the insane, but its
manifestations vary greatly Elevated per
sonal appreciation, or cOncet, is the most
harmless aud superficial phase Of it. It takes
its strongest aud most bsneful hold upon
person when it absorbs everything to itself
and sequestrates its rule.
1t is unfortunate to be 10 the world and not
of it, So long a. one realizes and acts in
accord With the realization that be is but an
individual among the multitude, aud that the
welfare OF the whole is the happiness of
each, we may look for healthy activities but
when this grand general fact is lost sight OF,
morbid action begins and process is set up
which is fatal to the individual. Involuton
instead of evolution then goes on, and time
weAves about him a network in which, a. a
chrysalis, lost to his fellows, he awaits the
final transformation. Every life, however
modified, is colored by its Unborn tendencies.
The sources OF happiness or misery spring
largely from the constitutional predisposi-
tions of individuals. A naturally cheerful
person sees the sunny side Of life, and finds
IN any environment a prevailing amount of
enjoyment, while one Of gloomy cast lives
among forebodings, and. az one without light,
gropes silently along life's pathways, half
fearing to tread where others have gone be-
fore him, and stunning the healthtul sun
light which at every turn beams upon him as
upon all others. Such natures are most liza
bic to become gradually morbid and to glide
slowly into the realm of delueion and melan-
choly.
In the experiences Of asylum life, not few
seem to have thus drlfted into confirmed In.
sanity. Tue early view of life may have
been a cramped one, the outlook through the
narrow window of self interest, opening out
upon very limited field OF observation, and
this hedged about by suspicion and envy.
No greater misfortune can be labored under
than that OF q childhood passed without OPP
portunities for expansion. As the years move
on, the little circle becomes the whole world,
and all outside is viewed with vague and in
correct ideas and with more or less OF dis
trust. To be mentally healthy, one must bt
largely unconscious Of self. In the human
economy the vital operations go on unoon
| sciously. There is something the matter
wheu we become aware that we have heart
or a respiratory apparatus, or stomach
| The functions of all these organs go on 81
lenty in the normal state and occasion US nc
subjective anxiety.
An individual il but member OF the grea
body Of mankind, and his functions should
| 90 as silently as those OF the single organ
that go to make up the individual organism
| There il something wrong when the individ
| ual Jars against the body polite. A healthy
organism, individual or collective, should be
largely obvious to special functions. Their
is incipient disorder always when the latte
rise into prominence and exact undue atten
ton. It is a fact well known to medical mel
| that IL il the lQluOt tuht OltobobN OoSaoloh
anxiety. grave organic disease often caus
es less apprehension than mere functiona
disorder. Not unfrequently bopefulnes
attends its whole course, while hypOohondri'
connects itself with the mer st functional dis
order. Then, too, it must be remembered
that persons born with peculiarities, and en-
cireled by unusual or abnormal influences, Il
some extent grow into harmony with theu
and adapt themselves thereto. 1t ia not al
unusual circu instance for tourists to lose thei
lives in attempting TO scale PERCEPTIONS points
| but much more seldom does such dlsAste
overtake the native mountaineer. His EARL
est steps being taken amid such dangers, b
confidently leaps from point TO point, an
measures with accuracy not only the distances
but the strength of the supports upon whicl
he ventures. Born and reared among tn
crags. he realizes not thu risks as those who
ascending toward them from the plains, grad
ually comprehend their grandeur and awfu
heights and become appalled,, da2ed, giddy
and lost in the overwhelming environment
The chief element of safety 10 the denizs 81
of this dangerous territory il their utter oh
liyiousneas to its perils Precisely in tbi
state is the individual whose life IL hedge
about with unfortunate predspOsitions-saf
while he dwells not upon this fact; safe IT b
turns not selfWsrd aud bEOods over the posi-
biities Woe betids him when be Withdraw
within himself aud shuts the door,
by the conditions or accidents OF brit
some inhRbit unstable ground Others reel
lessly or ineonaderatelY choose peTilOus path
and not unfrequently incnr greater risks
falling than those whose foundation Ii
some extent uncertain. Not every DEVON
and irregular way pursued by such eTratio nj
lures should be regarded as morbid, thong
abnormal as measured by the course of maj
kind in general and 1t should not be torgo
ten that thOss TO the manor born may tread
pa hway which might not be followed by oil
era with equal safety.
Besides the mischiefs that result from ba
start in life, there are some incident 10 an ~
wise ending OF it. II seems to be q Gherisl
ed idea with most men who are fortunate
business or professional life to anticipate
period Of Testful enjoyment. To the man {
active life, impelled onward by forces he hf
helped to create. aud often crowded by th0l
TO the point OF WEAKNESS and evaporation,
as the most natural thing TO look upon re
land freedom from such pressure as the nea
est approach to bliss aud ever and anon,
the years 20 by, he hnds himself longing an
planning for complete surrender OF all Il
activities which for a score or two OF years
least have constituted his life. But when th
is accomplished, and he sits down at his eai
to enjoy the accommodations OF his life lsbo
the situation is not what he expected Il
happiness he had pictured he does not fin
Involuntarily he sighs for his aeeustom'
routine. In his devotion to the one object