Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-29
TREATMENT OF THE INSANE.
Interesting Papers Read at the Evening See
sion Of the Medical Superintendents.

Interesting Papers Read at the Evening ses-
sion Of the Medical Superintendent.
At the session Of the Association Of Medical
superintendents Of American Hospitals for the
Insane at the Arlington last evening three in
teresting papers were read.
There were number Of ladies present at this
evening session. The first paper read was by
DIR. C. X. Clarke of Kingston. Ont, on "a case
Of lethargy." He said that such typical cases
were very rare and incomplete in their history
Typically, DR.. t. Wesley Mills compared them
to the state Of Information in animals; this case
he referred to was unique, as complete details
were obtained. The patient was of a neurotic
family, with very early marriage and much
trouble The Characteristic conditions began
when she was twenty-one years old, and since
that time there were periods of health
and disease with stupor, lasting for forty
years, winch. judging from the state
ments OF the family, might be compared
of seven years Of wakefulness, after which she
passed into this lethargic condition. thirteen
years ago, which condition lasted tin death.
She was somewhat rational at first but this
gradually changed, though in the day time she
appeared better than at night. She spoke only
once in nine years, and once it was proved
she got out OF bed. She once tasted fifteen
days When the first accurate medical exami-
nation was made. In 1880, some of her muscles
were rigid. some relaxed. There was but
slight reflex action; she could be aroused, but
protested Her weight was only sixty pounds,
the pulse rapid, respirations variable and the
temperature almost always subnormal. Just
before she died she tried to speak, seemed in
pain, but manifested no consciousness and got
out OF bed The post norton showed great
enaciation, with a tuborculous lung and sac
culated stomach, but the brain was perfectly
normal.
THE COTTAGE PLAN:oF BUILDINGS.
DIR. A X. Moulton Of Boston, Mass, read
paper on "a New Departure in Massachusetts -
1t was to the effect that Massachusetts, was
overcrowded with her 1000 insane and she had
attempted to relieve this congestion and to
abolish the evil of placing the pauper insane in
the state aims houses by erecting new hospi-
!al at melville for 900 patients Of the chronic
lnelgent insane class on the cottage plan at a
cost OF not more than $500 for each inmate.
ms would mark great advance or the old
style OF hospital architecture, which was even
today followed in some places. The plan was
to place the laundry, electric light plant and
suen business buildings In the center, sur
rounded by the Offices and wards for patients,
with divisions suitable for different classes of
inmates. with the sleeping apartments on the
second floor, the specially new feature of the
village being the separation of the medical
oineers from each other, each one being placed
where he could exercise the most control at
night.
DR.. Tobey of Toledo and Dr. Clark of To-
ronto gave their Endorsement to this cottage
plan, stating that their hospitals SO constructed
gave perfect satisfaction.
The third paper of the evening, 'On the In
crease and Prevention of Insanity" was read
only by title. as the author, DR.. o. Evarts of
Ohio, was absent
BRAIN DEaESERAcY.
The last paper, by DR.. James Y. Searey, presi-
dent Of the board of trustees of the state
asylum Of Alabama, was called brain De-
generacy."
He noticed particularly that the brain was
improved by exercise and degenerated in idle
ness. Hence education must be encouraged
and maintained. All men were not equal,
neither socially, nor intellectually for heredity
plays great part in brain capacity, and as the
test OF success was by competition so COMPETE
tlon should be maintained, not destroyed. The
pest legacy was good brain; the best stimu-
lus, competition, TILL the brain acquired its
highest Development in an instructive ethical
sense. independent from its intellect strength
But all men moved up or down. The study of
this society was upon those that moved down
CIVILIZATION Is distinct from savagery in that it
has higher types of intellect and calls its lowest
types lunatics and puts them in asylums-that
class that had lost its ability to compete and to
judge officially. This lack Of strength and lack
OF frlction-that is, idleness-and brain poisons
were the causes OF insanity. Under brain poi
sons came nicotine and alcohol. Alcohol de-
stroyed sensation, it fastened degeneration and
kills. man might feel better, only because
sensation was dulled-he felt less. But alcohol
would make Of a man an acute dement, or a
maniac. The highest type of brain could re-
sist the temptation of alcohol, but to save the
ordinary or weakened brain the alcohol must
be denied 1t and the brain continuously edu-
Gated toward competition and ethical compre-
hension- Weakness. idleness and alcohol were
the causes Of brain degeneration.
The paper was appiauded, but as no discus
SION was had the society adjourned till this
morning at 10 o'clock.