The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-08-25
TYPES OF INSANITY.
Some Forms That Ara, ,DeXelopdng
In Modern Y1aoo.


At tAo Post Graduate Medical School
Of New York few days ago = we'll
known professoe ofnezvoRssnd mental
diseases, who testified as an expert In
. murder trial, delivered lecture on
insanity in it's relation to homicide.
The various types OF. insanity, said
he, all breed homicides, but some more
than others. His classification Of the
various forms OF insanity, says the Sun
OF that city, was as follows, and any
phase Of mental Disorder, he said,
would be found to at under one head
or the other: Mania, melancholia, de-
mentia, paranoia, and paresis-'
The victims OF melancholia are most
subject to homicide or suicidal out
nrealcs:: Psretics are least to be feared
Melancholia is often the result OF
some bodily ailment, or disappointed
ambition may cause this morbid and
dangerous state of mind.
Insane homicidal outbreaks could
not occur in perfectly healthy persons.
They might be apparently sane, and
be suddenly seized with. m irresistible
impulse to kill some one or to commit
suicide, but there must be = ground
work OF melancholia or some other
unhealthy mental state to incite the
passion.
Doctors now declare" !" the professor
continued, ''that there is No such thing
q emotional insanity. Ibetieve the
word was not used at all during the
Fitzgerald trial, and doubt if any ex-
pert would take the stand and testify
that such . condition as emotional In
sanity ever exists"
'Paranoia" is . word Of such wide
application that it may be worn out in
the endeavor to make II cover the thou
sand and one varieties of mild and ex-
plosive cranks. s.sG -
''Paranoia is . very good word to
use," said the professor to the young
doctors, "as it enables you to classify
your cranky acquaintanoes. Mono
mania is the older name tor the same
peculiarities. The condition often
manifests itself by q fear OF going to
some particular place, by dread OF
crossing street, or similar eccentrici-
ties The subject is usually possessed
of single delusion; perhaps has an ex-
aggerated idea Of his own greatness, or
Is about to convulse the world by .
wonderful invention. There is fire.
quently, too, some physical popularity
-as bad-shaped head or peculiarly
shaped ears or deformity of the jaws
The professor grouped the paranoiacs
together under several heads-paranoia
religiosa, the crank who talks and
thinks Of nothing but religion; par
anoia inventoria, the victim of which is
full of foolish schemes, crank OF the
Col. Sellers type; paranoia itigosa, or
litigious paranoiacs, who are forever
bringing suits in the courts, frequently
for the most trivial causes.
''Cranks OF this kind" said the pro-
fessor, ''are, believe, more numerous
in Europe than in the United States,
though the west produces good many
In one notable instance whole county
was engaged in fight over turkey in
which few dollars were at stake.
'Under the head Of paranoia re-
formatoria come a more obnoxious
class Of monomaniacs-political offend
ers, anarchists, and bomb throwers,
who are convinced thnt only BY the
murder of q few crowned heads,
princes, presidents, senator's and mil.
lionaires and the destruction of prop
erty can the existing state OF affairs be
changed for the better"
Guiteau the professor mentioned a
one of the extraordinary cases Of
homicidal paranoia. Prendergast, the
murderer of Mayor Harrison. was an
other. kS
From s'mania'' all types Of insanity
may develop. Excitability and q
generally happy, careless frame o.
mind characterize this phase of lunacy
though the mental state of the victim.
runs the whole gamut of emotions
Homicidal and suicidal outbursts are
frequent.
Paretics are generally harmless
'.Paresis is . production OF noderr
civilization" said the professor. 81
don't know OF : happier lot Of people
than are Che paretics for time. 1Theh
imagination is exceedingly vivid. They
have boundless wealth, in their owl
minds. or have q remarkable invention
which they are about to give theworld
This blissful state of things continues
for awhile, then the patient becomes
apathetic, rarely dangerous"
Regarding the responsibility OF thu
insane, the professor believed that par
anoiacs should be punished for thei1
crimea. The anarchist mononnaaiael
of the Guiteau stripe are very unpleas
ant people to have about. and h
thinks a few Of them should be hanged
sfhe cAhers ocked up or ex1ed =
II hope some time, " said he, ITO set
them al corralled and transported 4
.. distant sea island, where; they Cal
communicate with the rest Of the worlt
but once year. They should have NJ
rum or tobaceo. TAey should be fet
on 1ruits and vegetables, ana theJ
shouad not u allowed . bred, aat
thug bsrgradually ysextrninased. hi
colonization Of paranoiacs may be
scheme Of the future"
sunV1aa.