The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-10-29
PARETIC DEMENTIA.
GROWING FREQUENCY OF BRAIN
DISEASE IN AMERICAN CITIES. ..

Experts in Insanity Not willing to Talk
-Panicx ns Factors In the Production
Of Brain Troubles ationalities Most
Adected--Cures.
The recen, deaths of John Mccullough,
the actor. and George Zsbold, theatrical
manager together with the prostration of
Bar,ity Carl;.hell. Joseph Dion and other
well-known men, AMI the rapid recruit
ing miscellaneous army Of "cranks," have
directed the attention. OF the public to
what is ito them) u comparatively new
form OF insanity. This disease is more or
| less correctly termed "paresis," general
parsti-," general paralysis" progressive
patalys;s, )" "pace.ic dementa," "softening
of the BRAIN" and Strain wasting"
| The EXPERTS in insanity are very unwill-
ing to talk on the subject. limiting, with
the usual professional delicacy, TINT It
would not be "regular.' The three great
est names in the United States in connec-
ton with nervous and mental disorders
are Dirt. E. G. Spitzka, William Ham.
mond and E. G. Seguin. The last named
! 10 now in Europe. The other gentlemen
willingly furnish few figures from their
private practice, supply little general
information Of the subject, ard refer the
inquirer to their published works for fur
ther particulars As the figures of the
experts themselves differ very greatly, az
the asylum statistics are not accepted by
them on account Of alleged ignorant and
faulty classification Of patients, and as
the treatises consist principally of cita-
lions from foreign authors and technical
terms. the lay seeker after knowledge Is
almost dtsheartened at the outset
ONLY MILDLY ECCENTRIC.
MANY man confined in an ASYLUM or
under private treatment to-day" said DR..
spitzka, "would have been considered
only mildly eccentric thirty years ago.
The fellows who used to 20 wild on the
Pacific coast in 1S49.5O, and be told Off
by Judge Lynch, were in many cases pa
retic dement's. The same is true of some
OF the cowboys of to-day. It is not that
the number Of cases of insanity has in
creased out OF proportion to our increase
OF population, but that watchfulness and
proper classification have brought the
total up to surprisingly large figure.
Inc intense mental struggle for existence
IN America has, undoubtedly swelled the
ranks of paretic dement's. The panic Of
1873 developed large number OF cases
among the upper classes, as did the
crash of 1888, but matters seem to be
ABOUT at standstill now. Hook, how
ever, for further increase of paretic de.
mentta among the lower classes owing to
the late strikes"
Does paretic disease ever occur among
womens" ,~
at undoubtedly does. although certain
eminent alienists maintain the contrary. |
Inc proportion of females to males IL |
AOOuf IN fn1,
hve. In group Of hfty-eight paretio de-
ments found but one female. Out of a |
total OF l2l deaths of paretic dement's on |
blackwell island, nine were of females. |
1ou see women are not subjected to the |
same intense mental strain as men. Bar |
ring alcoholic and physical excuses as |
causes, the disease seems to attach itself /
10 women only when they pursue voca.
tions wherein they are brought into &C.
tive mental competition with men,"
What nationalities in tho United States
are most numerously afflicted with this
"The Anglo-Saxons constitute q little
over u per cent. of tho whole number at
lected; Celts II per cent, Germans about
II per cent, Hebrews 10 per cent, and ne
groes per cent. The Scandinavians.
Outch, Scotch, Italians and Sclavs have
= larger proportion of their insane anon.
6he parettc dement's than the nationa lities
represented by larg-r numbers."
APLEAsURE.sEEKER's DISEASE.
Faresis Is peculiarly rich, intellectual
or pleasures seeking mans disease. In
sucn IL Is usually taken in hand by q phy-
slclan IN It's earlier stages, and its progress
ls retarded Tor years perhaps In many
cases rem1sstops and apparent recoyeries
ot rev years duration have been ef-
lected, While poor people are less liable
70 attack by it, their cases are almost
hopeless when the symptoms become pro-
aounced, and their decline into the grayh
e very rapid. They are not able to pay a
'kuled physician to treat them in the ear
ler stages, and therefore run ignorautly
u large until an explosion occurs when
Iney are summarily thrust into an asylum {
Shere they must take such treatment III {
,hey can get The order of frequency Of .
occurrence Is rs follows: Males of the up-
'er ciasses' males of the lower classes,
females of the lower classes, FEMALES ~
The upper classes.
Another feature is that the disease ia ,
Usually developed when the patient is be-
'ween 80 and 40 years of age. About IS is q
me !. most common period. 1t is possible at +
me age OF 20, rare at IS, rare ut 60. and al. G
most unheard of at 70. This tendency to t
tr1ke men down in their prime Of man
1000, and In the very midst of xloriou.
YORK and achievements, is one of the sa..
that has fascinated public '
s>~"'AS ;
AS to the durability of the disease. even '
snen taken In its earliest stages, opinions O
. neurologtsts and alienists differ diame.
f1ca!ly: One class of specialists maintain
nay a IL mas been and can be cured; while