The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-04-18
BICYCLES FOR THE INSANE.

The Wheel Recon- n ended for Patients
at Several State Asylums.
One of the most notable instances of the
efficacy of the bicycle as a remedy for in
sanity, says the Chicago Chronicle, is
found at the Michigan State Asylum for
the Insane at Kalamazoo. The patients
at this asylum take daily rides ON the
wheel and parties of from five to eight
lun atics in charge OF two attendants are
likely to be met with on any of the coun-
try roads running out OF the city. To the
uninitiated it would seem cdd, indeed, that
the regulation country highway should be
chosen for the wheeling parties in prefer
ence 10 the well-kept roads Of the town.
There is a reason, however, and a very
good one it is, too. The tougher the road
the more necessary does it become for the
lunatic cyclist to devote great deal of at
tention TO his machine. The result is that
while riding in this way lie has no oppor-
tunity to think OF the peculiar mania
which may affiict him, and his mind takes
on a healthier tone, his thoughts are those
of man with an unclouded brain and he
become. for the time being, practically
sane.
The Kalamazoo doctors say that they
have never yet heard of a course OF treat
pent which causes self-iorgerfulness in a
degree even approaching that produced
by the use OIL the bicycle. Instead OF
moping in the asylum or taking forced
exercise about the grounds the lunatics
who are considered I'll subj cts for instruc-
ton on the wheel are taken every week
from the Kalamazoo asylum on the
wheels to Long Lake, ten miles distant,
or 10 one OF the chain of smaller lakes not
so far from the asylum. A plentiful
lunch is taken along, and the occasion be-.
comes verita bic picnic.
OF course on trips OF this kind some
tires are bound to be punctured, the gear
ing Is sure to get out OF order and more
or less other mechanical difficulties ell
countered. The result of ali this is that
the lunatic has no 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.
The State Asylum for the Insane at
MiddieIown, n. Y, is another institution
that considers the bicycle a means to rem
der help 10 the insane The wheel has
been used at this asylum for some months
with the most gratifying results. 1t is
found that /; promotes docil:ty among
the patients. who enjoy the excursions,
and invariably induces far healthier
condition of the mind. 1t also acts e an
incentive toward good behavior on the
part of others wAo have not been per-
mitied to ride, the change in their atti-
the keen enjoy ment which the lunatic
riders seem to take in riding.
DR.. Selden H. Talcott, medical superin-
tendent of this asylum, is all enthusiast
regarding the wheel as a benefit to per-
sons of unsound mind. 1T is, in my
estimation" he said, beyond question
that the bicycle will eventually become a
permanent institution in every insane
asylum. There is no doubt whatever that
the tendency of cycli ing by insane persons
is toward the restoration OF reason.
"Of course | do not mean to say that
every crazy person should be permitted to
ride a wheel. As & matter OF fact, cycling
should only be allowed among that class
OF patients in an asylum known as the
convalescent, and others whose mania is
not of a violent nature. l venture to pre-
dict that within five years there will not
be found medical man with knowledge
of insanity and insane people who does
not favor wheeling as curative process"