The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-07-19
BELLEVUE Las, THURSDAY JULY 197

Il
congregation of lunatics treated them
to sermon he had written for children.
Much to his surprise, he received an
indignant letter from one of his listeners
afterwards, reminding him that while
they might be insane, they were not
| idiots, and that many of them were
fully his equals in education and in
telligence.
1t is an interesting fact, recorded by
Pritchard and others, among sava@
nations mental diseases are almost tin.
known. They come forward with the
dawning of civilization, and keep pace
with the advancement of mental cul-
ture. The restraints imposed by social
order, the diversity of interests. the
pressure of universal competition, over
work, griefs anxieties and disappointed
hopes. the artificial life of cities, are
among the causes most influential
among civilized people iii the develope-
ment of insanity.
Many anecdotes are narrated to illus
trate the tact required in dealing with
lunatics. Among the inmates of an
asylum near Philadelphia was man
! who was considered perfectly harmless,
but who, having no home was allowed
to remain there, being employed to
show visitors around. The doctor went
on the roof with him one day to see
about repairing it, when the man sud.
denly turned and suggested that they
should jump down to the ground
together Immediately the doctor re-
piled: mo, don't let's do that; Any
one can jump do,0m Let's go down
and see if we can jump up." The
lunatic considered the point "well
taken.' and agreed.
1t is almost impossible to tell in many
cases whether q lunatic is cured or not.
There used to be man in Staunton,
Va, who had intermittent attacks Of
insanity. He always knew when they
were coming, and would return to the
asylum in good time for treatment.
When a wedding was announced to take
place, he would volunteer to collect
the hundred dozen eggs necessary for
the wedding cake, but always with the
proviso that he was not 'in limbo"
when the time came.
The head of a private asylum in En-
gland was in the bathroom watching
a number of lunatics bathe, when one
of them called out: Lets duck the
doctor" and they all took up the cry.
Seeing his danger, the doctor said at
once: 'All right boys, but suppose
you give cheer for him first!" and the
noise of their cheering brought the
keepers in to his rescue. The same
doctor was in room with lunatic
who by some means had possessed him
self of carving-knife. The lunatic
informed him gravely that he had been
ordained by God to cut him into little
pieces. and much as he regretted it, he
should be obliged to do it. "Very
WE'LL" said the doctor, ''of course, if
that is the case, Ishall make no attempt
to prevent you, but see your knife
needs sharpening. Allow me to fetch
a grindstone for YOU" And no objec-
ton being raised, the quick-witted doc
tor made his escape.
It is curious fact that raving
maniacs are never attacked by any
contagious disease. Even consumptive
disorders. dropsies and other chronic
maladies have disappeared on the &C
cession of violent insanity, At least
two-thirds of the inmates of insane
asylums in England are paupers; but
that probably, Is no evidence as to the
prevalence of lunacy among the poor,
because in their higher ranks of life
lunatics are frequently cared for at
home. The greatest number of recov-
cries from mental disorders occur
between the ages Of twenty-five and
thirty-five, being the period of life
when the greatest physical energy sub
sistS Ereain1 Poet