The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-03-03
LUNATlCS ON WHEELS.
How Two Asylums Use the Bicycle Co
Benefit Their Patients.

How Two Asy1ums Use the Bicycle Co
Benefit Their Patients.
One Of the most notable instances of
the efficacy of the bicycle as II remedy
for insanity is found at the Michigan
State Asylum For the Insane in Kalama-
zoo. The patients at this sylum take
daily rides on the Wheel and parties of
from five to eight lunatics, in charge of
two attendants, are likely to be met
with Oh any of the country roads run
ming out Of the city. To the uninitiated
it would seem odd, indeed, that the
regulation country highway should be
chosen for the wheeling parties in prefer
ence to the well kept roads of the town.
There is q reason, however, and very
good one it is too. The rougher the
road the more necessary does it become
for the lunatic cyclist to devote a great
deal of attention to his machine. The
result is that while riding in this way
he has no opportunity to think of the
peculiar mania which may af1lict him,-
and his mind takes on healthier tone,
his thoughts are those Of u man with
an uncloudcd brain, and he becomes for
the time being practically sane.
The Kalamazoo doctors say that they
have never yet heard of course of
treatment which causes self forgotful.
ness in a degree even approaching that
produced by the use Of the bicycle. IN
stead of moping in the asylum or taking
forced exercise about the grounds, the
lunatics who are considered fit subjects
for instruction on the wheel are taken
every week from the Kalamazoo asylum
OH their wheels to Long lake, ten miles
distant, or to one of the chain of smaller
lakes not so far from the asylum. A
plentiful lunch is taken along, and the
occasion becomes veritable picnic.
Of course Oh trips of this sort some
tires are bound to be puuctured, the
gearing is sure to get out of order and
more or less other mechanical Difficult
ties encountered The result of all this
is that the lunatic has 10 time at all to
become melancholy. The exercise, the
fresh air, the unwonted cause for
thoughtfulness on new subjects-all
contribute toward wooing the return Of
reason.
hO AoNu'' l. VI VIC luStht. III
Middletown, II. Y, is another institu
ton that considers the bicycle means
to render help to the insane The wheel
has been used at this asylum for some
months, with the most gratifying re.
suits. 1t is.found that it promotes docil.
lty among the patients, who enjoy the
excursions, and invariably induces fal
healthier condition Of the mind 1t also
acts as an incentive toward good be,
havior on the part of others who have
not been permitted to ride, the change
in their attitudes being brought about
by the sight of the keen enjoyment
which the lunatic riders seem to take il
riding.
DR.. Selden II. Talcott, medical super
intendent of this asylum, is an enthusi
asst regarding the wheel as benefit tc
persons of unsound mind. "It is, in my
est mation," he said, beyond question
that the bicycle will eventually becom,
permanent institution in every insan,
asylum. | venture to predict that with
in five years there will not be found {
1 medical man with knowledge of insani
ty and insane people who does not favo
wheeling as "a curative process. Chi
cago Chronicle.