The herald., 1896-06-09

Alice FIuck was committed to Highland
In Judge Yorks court, who had been
paroled from the Illinois asylum at
Elgin only four weeks ago. and had been
at once sent to California. The following
day man named McNab was COM
mitted in Judge York's court who had
come direct from New York, in fact he
was insane when he got off the train,
and had to be taken into custody. These
cases are only few Of the many, and
mention them because they happen to
be fresh in my memory"
''Is there no remedy for this?'
There should be, of course, but I do
not feel competent to suggest anything.
These people are insane when they come
here, and common humanity, to say
nothing of protecting our own citizens,
demands that they be taken care of"
rs insanity on the increase, as gen.
eral proposition"
sanity was rapidly on the increase in the
United States before the civil war. Dur
Ing that great struggle the rate decreased
to a marked degree Since the war the
rate has shown steady and rapid in
crease. But this increase is not confined
to the United States alone; 1t Is general
all over the civilized world. There are
now 100000 insane persons in England
and Wales, 16,6sD In ireland, 13,S00 in
Scotland, ar about the same proportion
holds good in continental Europe. As
to the causes they a.'e numerous, but
the three greatest are the keen compe-
tition in the struggle for ,Dlivelihood, in
temperance ana the increase Of syphil-
lis"
I'm your opinion, is insanity durable" ?"
Eyes. to certain extent. Insanity is
now regarded as a disease, rather than a
curse of special infliction sent by Divine
Providence, and In consequence the
treatment OF the insane has entirely
changed during the last half century.
Instead Of confining insane patients like
Wild beasts, the modern method Is to
restrain the patient as little as possible
consistent with safety, to Keep them
from all Irritating influences and give
them such medical treatment as their
Individual cases require. This system is
we'll demonstrated at Ghecl. in Belgium,
where the government has 100 insane
patients boarded out among 800 peasant
families. The government pays frame
per day for each patient, and the system
Is found to work very well, as the pa
ttents do much of the outdoor work. and
the percentage of recoveres is very en-
couraging. This same system Is also be-
Ing tried in Scotland, and. to- limited
extent, In the United States. the state of
Massachusetts having about $50 of its in
sane cared for in this manner
III yOdT OplHlOHb are tHc pTeSeHt laws
for the commitment of the insane salts
factory?"
mo, they are not In this connection
would like 10 call attention to the ad-
dress of DIR. Brainerd. delivered at the
commencement exercises of the medical
college Friday night. There should be
some radical changes. AS it is now, the
same machinery has to be set in motion
to commit an insane patient to the asy-
luns as to SEND criminal to the periiten-
tiary. AS long as this is so there will
always be stigma attached to sending
patient to the asylum which will have
the effect of keeping people from going
to the asylum until the last moment,
when the chances Of recovery are very
much reduced. Then some means should
be devised to prevent insane patients
from being thrown into the Jail like COM
mon criminals, and in the care of the
female insane only women keepers
should be employed. These are a few of
the reforms I would suggest. Now, in
conclusion, let me say Just one word in
regard to. our climate. So far from be-
ing conducive to insanity, Just the con-
trary Is the case. Our low altitude, with
its equable temperature, is decidedly
beneficial for all nervous or mental dis
eases. fact which has been abundantly
proven by the complete cure of persons.
from the high attitudes of Colorado and
other states with their nervous systems
completely shattered"
All prices OF wall paper greatly reduced.
A. A. Ecks kstrom 32A Sotth Shrinfy atrpaf.