The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-12

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had the largest ratio of insane to the
population and the ratio steadily de.
creased until it reached the smallest ra-
ito in the pioneer counties in the North.
Since then in making addresses to coun-
ty boards in relation to the erection of
county asylums for the chronic insane. I
have frequently predicted an increase Of
insane up to the number in the Eastern
States or in the British Isles. Most of
the southern counties of Wisconsin have
now reached that limit or nearly SO. and
do not seem to be gaining upon il, thus
justifying my prediction.
When the census of 1880 was publish
ed Immediately calculated the ratios of
insanity to the population, and arranged
the States and Territories geographical
ly instead of alphabetically The result
was that the largest proportion of insan-
ity was found in the New England
States, next in the Middle States, next
in the interior States, and next in the
Southern States. The exceptions were
the Pacific slope, which has special
causes for insanity, and the District of
Columbia, to which all insane United
States soldiers and sailors from any part
OF the country are sent. For the South
ern States the number of negroes will
partly account for their small ratio of
insanity. But as l also found less "a
ito OF insanity among the whites of the
South, it seemed that climate must have
something to do with it. There is less
insanity in Southern than in Northern
Europe. too. But among the Southern
States there is regular decrease in in
sanity as you go West, just as there is in
the Northern States. Florida and Maine
containing much pioneer territory, fol-
low the law of less insanity in the newer
country, although they are not West of
the older States, and are thus confrma-
tions of the law. The census of 1890
gives substantially the same results.
But it seems to show that the increase
of insanity has nearly stopped in the
older States. Seems. | say, because as
far as can be judged from the portion
yet published, the census of the insane
for 1890 does hot appear to have been
very carefully done.
New settlements are made by select
ed population, mostly young and middle
aged people of sound minds and bodies.
Southern Wisconsin was settled in the
forties, and the State was admitted to
the Union in 1S4S, 1t was the sons of
the pioneers who did the magnificent
lighting in the Civil War, and the grand
sons of the pioneers are now in middle
life. The first insane hospital was erect
ed just before the Civil War. The
causes which produce insanity have now
had time enough to work, and the State
has been generous enough to make am
pie provision for all its insane. The con-
sequence is that the southern counties
OF Wisconsin now have nearly the pro-
portion of insanity that the Eastern
States have. But northern Wisconsin
has been settled mostly within the last
fifteen years, and has less than half the
proportion OF insanity that southern
Wisconsin has.
The Eastern and Middle States, and
indeed the Atlantic Southern States
have now reached their regular ratio of
insanity, and need not expect any great
increase excer as the total population
increases. The interior and Western
States may expect considerable in
crease, especially those which are still in
process of settlement, except that Cali
fornia, which has had an abnormal ratio
of insane from special causes, need not
expect any further great increase.
1t must not be forgotten that the
greater care in guarding the insane now
adays even il it sometimes keeps in an
asylum person who could get along
outside, prevents the propagation of in
sanity, both within and without the mar
riage relation. and thus largely cuts off
the principal cause of insanity, heredity.
MADISON, WIS.