The morning news., 1892-02-06
Insanity Among Negroes.

Editor of the Morning NetCS: That in
sanity IS fesrfully on the increase, both
among whites and negroes, there can be no
question My eye happened to fall upon an
article in the New York Medical Journal
which should attract attention. The Ques-
tlon may be asked in the beginning, why so
much insanity? We answer, too much
whisky and too much vice among the peo-
ple. As the body is abused so the mind
feels the effects.
The total number of insane persons
treated in public and private asylums for
the year 1889 was 81 ,535, while during the
wear 1881 there were ST. .205. an increase in
nine years of Al $3.50, or 1888 per cent.
There is food for thought. Nothing is said
of asylums for inebrlates, and there were
thousands of inebriates in asylums. Drunk
enness and insanity are near related. A
diseased stomach will create or produce a
diseased mind. and that diseased
mind will soon become chronic,
But our business at this writing is with the
negro. The New York Medical Journal
has the following: "From 1880 to 1890 the
negro population of Virginia increased only
1.46 per cent, according to census report,
while the number of insane negroes in 1890
was double that Of 1880. In 1860 there was
only l insane negro to every $500 of the
population, while now there is nearly / to
every SUO. III Tue WulI6 TdCe Cne pTOpOr-
ton is to 625."
What is true Of Virginia is equally true
of all the old slave statos. The causes which
lead to 50 much insanity among the negroes
since the war have been numerous. Saws
the Journal: "Alcohol, vices, excesses In
vicious habits, burden of support, mind
worry, violations Of rules of health and by
gine, Ideness. religious excitement and
the cares of a family In short, abuse of
AAl l., Iz;.-
lis work fast and sure. Negro women. drink
as freely as the men and the deaJh report
goes TO show how rapidly the negro is dying
In the cities.
Pbysologically speaking, the negro is not
like the white man. His bones are more
calcareous, bis blood Is different in color
and makeup. His type is marked and disI
tinct. so much SO, that one who handles
skulls or bones can tell a negro's from a
white mans the moment it is seen. Nature
writes its positive laws in everything it
does. But fanatics wrapped up in ssnti-
ment will not reason; bigotry is mentally
blind, and theorists, with their vagaries
dream on aud stumble over facts and
truths
There are more crazy negroes in the luna
tic asylum in Georgia to-day than there
were in the whole south in 1860. Why
Because freedom does not sit naturally upon
them, and liberty, with ne-
gro means self-aUuse. Indifference,
ldleness and licentiousness in its broadest
meaning. Not that the negro will not work
for work he must or starve; but give him
the least encouragement to idleness and hC
will loaf as naturally as child will play
When the Yamacraw fire occurred few
years ego and free feeding was given out
negroes quit work in the country to come
to the city to be fed. AS to the city negroes
they were thick around the soup pots.
That there are some good, thrifty negroes
no ore disputes; they have character, and il
Is seen in their actions and their daily labor
But give the average negro liquor anC
church meetings, AID his spirituous anc
spiritual man is in its glory: he wants bu
httle else, and works just enough to get tina
little else. With him it Is an unpleasant
necessity, but nevertheless a necessity.
am speaking of the present and rising
generation, who are not over so years o.
age. r. M. o,
Who said Hoods Sarsaparillaw Thou