New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-28
THE CAUSE OF INSANITY.
rxprprs ASSERT THEY HAVE FOUND
THE GERM OF ACUTE MANIA.


pRs WISE AND BABcocK. OF THE ST. LAWRENCE
STATE HOSPITAL EXPECT TO REVOLT
r,oNrzE THE TREATMENT OF
THE DISEASE
p...a., Nv June N (specaD.-A series OF eH-
r.r,rsn,s has been In progress In the iaporaoo'
NJ the st. Lawrence State Hospital. at ogoeh'uu
during the last two months. the result VI -.
nronses 10 be Of vast importance IN the "o.
n, q common form Of insanity The e&po,," =. =,
h.ys resulted already in a discovery that WILL II ~
nuoaa reyo,u,,onize the treatment OF acute oe-
,,r.ous mia The greatest secrecy has peeh "'
tained regarding the work that has been prosress
ing in this largest Of the New-York state hosp"a"
for tho insane during the last few months Out .
correspondent OF The Tribune Is now ao'e " -
the Nrst authorized description Of what has peen
don. II will be given to the medical worid TOT inc
ar-t time in the July number OF Tine otate ho'-
pitaIs Bulletin" to be issued this week.
1-ha sxneriments referred to have been made with
the view of ascertaning and proving denhiteiy
that acute de1rious mania Is a germ disease in'S
49,. ha.n nroven absolutely, and the germs OF the
d,.e, 40 are now being cultivated and used 10 Demon
strate that the cure OF this disease lies III '"e "
struction of the germ that causes IT, Inc germs
have been inoculated Into raDp1ts, OF which 'he''
,s now a large colony at the hospital IN various
.,ags. ~ mania and undergoing experiments ror
me destruction Of the germ. 1t Is Impossible no"
70 say how far-reaching the results OF rhs o'scoV
erv will be- but Dr. P. VI. WISE the superintendent
Of the hospital, and DR.. Warren L. Baocock' .ho
second assistant physician. the latter OF "io w
conducted the experiments. think that II Is no"
only a question Of a short time when the treatment
OF acute deirlous mania will be completely reVo'u
tiouized as a result Of their discovery IL mas io'e
been suspected that acute delrious mahia' '
physical symptoms OF which reSemp'o Jpn
fever. inasmuch as both are attended win gree
prostration, and In the later stages VI '''e
with delirium bacterial In origin
Dr Calceran of Barcelona put FORWARD INC
theory last winter that acute delirium was Que 10
the pneumo-coccus as he found II III the huu III ~
meninges In persons dying of acute deurous iha"'a.
His results however. remained uncorroooia. Go.
the investigations made by DR.. Babcock IN the o'ae
uosntaI for the Insane al Ogdehsburg. Dr' bap-
cock described his experiments ana discovery ~
The Tribune correspondent as foiio"s'
"a natten. was frs. selected who was suHerlhs
with acute delirious mania during the s1e. "
acute delirum the patient was punctureu WIZ"
long ssplrating needle in the lumbar region Oh .ie
hact tho needle entering the subdura space al the
s,de ~ the spinal cord Anatomists nave Demon
strated that the subdural space OF the spihai cou
communicates with that OF the brain lheFeioie' ie
noyal of fluid in this region relieves brain pressure
and an analysis OF this fluid pac'er'oiosea'''
chemically will demonstrate the nature OF 'ne us
- ,roosss IN The brain. This operation, known as
.n,r,hor nuncture" Is one OF recent evolution III
surgical science and first USED IN this oou"'',
| IN casee OF acute delirium. generai pa'a'' on
| loconotor ataxa In the St Lawrence o'a' 80
| n,aI The fluid in acute del!rium was iouhu " D
| clear but contained hocculent precip'ta'e ""
,, A chemical anaylsls then made Inc
| ,.,ys,s showed that It contained great excess VI
| aIbumen thus demonstrating the ihhan''na'oi'
| nature Of the process In the menihges' - ~
| logical examination was carried out py nis' ~
tating the solids Of the fluid by the centriusa'
! chine These solids were then stained oy "rai"
90 usual IN such examinations. l discovered IN !! a.,
slides examined that the micro-coccLhs r p''.
was Ssre Allowed the to
anime the germs when were d 1 1n he Simply round
powerful lens. Ihey appeared ~ W
This germ" continued the doctor is "a speG ha
| c,use Of common croupous pneumonia anu \. n ma
been found in OF simple meningitis ana IN uue
secretons Of the m0Sn ri the
nature Of this germ In order to 40 tn,s hours
into S MU Tas0ts se Of
ing from ~ degrees ana tney oeg EnouSh OF
poU. co1 was obtained to show that the germ was
OF an infectious nature other rapD,s r a., I'M
blood of these rabbits to see II the same germ ,ouu
in acute derium CARROT be IouHo ~ npoduced
h hen thu the rerm eie in the Of
bits 1t is my intention to cultivate me ,o go the
found and demonstrate by reihocui'io' - '''
These discoveries are Of immense abs fre
gard the treatment of this disease IN re IN ta
Will be possible to treat the germ rather nh cases .S
| disease
Counter opening be made IN the skull ~, ah an
aseptic or salt solutions can then De lnJecSeo INTO ,h
| lumbar region OF the spine. thus dislntecthg tne
nfiamed mennges OF the spine ana brain ana az an
ing out at the opening In the skull ABOVE; ms WI
| be- an entirely new departure In sclentnc sureer!
| az nothing OF the kind has ever before peen al
emnted in this disease 1t has been known Tor some
time that this procedure could be done, ana II nis
| baan attempted in OF puru,ent meningitis
Further in Investigations into the bacerology, pain
| ology and new methods Of treatment IN TINS anc9
other similar diseases being actively conducted
| at the ST. Lawrence State Hospital. and good re-
| suits are already apparent In some cases FOR III
| stance lumbar puncture has been adopted as reg
MAR treatment in OF general paralysis In tnt
| third stage where the cerebral pressure Is grea
from an Increased amount OF nuid on the Draln
patients who have been bed-ridden and In a stage
Of stlipor due 10 an excessive amount Of fluid have
been punctured great quantities OF mud removeo
and the patient has gotten up the foi,owing DAY, De
come able to for himself and In many ways
greatly benefited" . :.
DIR Babcock became member OF the stan OF ths
ST Lawrence State Hospital last August. Befor'
that time he had been connected with the stars o.
the State Hospital for the Insane at Spring Grove
Md and the Blnghamton State Hospital. II
this State. He is young man. but among INSANITY
exnerts ne IS we'll and favorably known. The doctor
is extremely modest about his discovery and IN
sists that Superintendent Wise should have credi
for most OF the original scientific research made
the hospital
GALLANTRY REWARDED.
From The Philadelphia Ledger
For distinguished gaantry In ACTION at the battle
OF Mine Run, Va, November p. 1853 Professor
c. ~