The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-03-23
INSANITY.
n Interesting Paper On its History and
Proper Treatment.
matter.

Il interesting faper On lts history anu
Proper Treatment.
The following interesting paper was
read before the last meeting of the
Economic association of Austin by DR..
White of our State insane asylum:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the American
| Economic Association:
/ deem it no small compliment to
have been invited to present paper
before this society, composed, as it is,
of such learned and scientific men,
and must confess that it was with
many misgivings that l accepted the
invitation. l can only indulge the
tiatteripg hope that what 1 say may
be of interest to you.
If the time at my disposal would
permit of it detailed account OF
the various laws which have been en-
acted in different countries looking to
the care and maintenance of the in.
sane would be of some interest and
would serve to show the sympathy
that has been excited in the public
mind in their behalf. These laws,
themselves, have been the means OF
deepening and extending that sym.
pathy.
In order, however, to properly APP
preciate the Announcements aud i'm
prOvements made in the care of the
insane it is necessary to present linn
tied history of these advancements
and improvements together with de.
soription of the condition OF
the insane at the different
periods. Just in proportion as the
human race has arisen from ignorance
and moral depreciation, and felt the
humanizing influence of science, so
has the opinions and beliefs i'm regard
to the care of the insane improved.
Intelligence and morality go hand in
hand, and as the ages roll by higher
planes are slowly but certainly
reached. This advancement is no
more clearly marked in any direction
than in the care of the weaker MEM
bers of our fellow beings who fall by
the wayside.
Only o. few centuries ago
the insane were considered
as possessed of devils on account
of some voluntary sins they had
committed. They were scourged and
confined in dungeons reeking with
filth and disease. 1t was the belief
that only u supernatural power could
remove these demons and restore the
unfortunates to the possession of rea-
son. They were chained to stone
floors and fed through small windows;
it was as rare for the midday sun to
penetrate those dark and gloomy
dungeons as it was for ray of reason
to return to the chambers of the minds
of the victims who are confined
therein.
No treatment was attempted, for
insanity was not considered disease,
but curse, over which the power of
man had no influence. 1t was of di-
vine origin and only supernatural
power could relieve it by casting out
the devils with which the victims are
possessed. AS the shades of SUPPOSE
ton have been forced back and out
by the dazzling rays of science, and
reason has assumed full sway, these
beliefs have been dissipated as the
miasmatic vapors of an African night
are dispelled by the rays of the morn
ing sun. Man with all his frailties,
infirmities and faults on the one hand
and all of his good and noble qualities
on the other, is now considered the
legitimate victim of his ancestors in
fiuenced to certain degree by his en-
vironment; no supernatural power is
now held responsible for his faults or
given credit for his goodness.
Henry Maudsley. one of the fore
most thinkers of the age, as said that
"no man, were he able to attempt it,
can escape the tyranny of his own Or
ganization." Certain qualities and
traits are bequeathed to every man by
his ancestry. These qualities and
traits, however, are capable of being
restrained or advanced by his educa.
cation and training during the forma-
tive period of his life. All thi1 know
ledge, the result of scientific investi-
cation, has improved, modified and
humanized the care of the insane.
When insanity was robbed of the
supernatural, when the visions OF
devils and demons were dispelled, a
destructive blow was given to the
cruel and neglectful treatment which
this unfortunate class had heretofore
suffered at the hands of their fellow
beings. Kindness supplanted cruelty,
comfortable and well ventilated rooms
took the rlace of damp, noisome dun
geons, comfortable beds replaced cold
slabs of stone, and it became possible
for reason to once more assume the