The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-10
AS TO INSANITY.
Impression that Lunacy Is Increasing
Shown to BE Erroneous.
New York Medical Record.

New York Medical Record.
Public opinion has decided that this is a
neurotic age, and that insanity is ever on
the increase. This general Impression, how
ever appears to be erroneous, and the
trouble IS probably more relative than ac-
tual. Yet that there is an increase can
hardly be denied. A hot. and bitter discus
sion has been prevailing on the subject for
many wears in Great Britain and still con-
tinues with undminished vigor. The luna-
cy departments there hold that the increase
is only apparent, while those taking the
opposite view contend that the increase is
only too real.
Regarding the question from a statistical
point of view alone, the conclusion arrived
at by most persons would be that the latter
are right but as an old-time Glasgow pro-
fessor was in the habit of telling his class,
Statistics are like sausages; 1T all depends
on the old woman who makes them" In
the Westminster Review for May is a slash
ing article attacking the arguments of the
lunacy commissioners which they bring for
ward in support of their contention that the
increase is only apparent. The writer of
this article says that there is real, SUBJ
stantial and progressive increase, and backs
up his words with figures In 1862 in Eng
land there were POP lunatics in every 10000
of population; in 1895 there were S.l5. In 1859
10000 of the population; in 1896 there were
3.39.
Figures so startling as these will take a
great deal of explaining away, but to
large extent they are misleading. Statistics
in lunacy must be dealt with very broadly
and cautiously One reason for the great
increase in the population Of hospitals for
the insane is the fact that lunaticsf are
looked upon with different eyes than form
erly In the early part Of the century in
sanity was regarded with horror of scorn,
and with little feeling of pity or sympathy.
The truth that it was a disease possible OF
cure had not entered mems minds An
asylum was a prison, the inmates of which
were treated more harshly than criminals;
now that asylums are recognized as hosId-
tails they contain inmates who formerly
were not counted &c lunatcs. The advance
in England in the number of the insane has
been almost wholly in the pauper class. and
is doubtless due to the improved accommo-
dation and treatment and the consequent
enhanced appreciation of the benefits of be-
ing an inmate of a hospital. This state OF
affairs applies also to hospitals in this coun-
try The accumulation of chronic cases Is
another fruitful cause of increase. and It
must not be overlooked that the accumula-
ton of chronic cases is inevitable at a hos
ptal for the insane as differing from
general hospital, because at any insane
asylum ell the incurables, or nearly all,
have to be kept as permanent patients:
Under the modern system. too. the rate OF
mortality is very much less.
When all that IS to be said has been said
to minimize as much as possible this in
crease, 1t is useless 10 pretend that there
has been no real increase whatever. IL IS
certainly not SO great statistics without
necessary explanation and the alarmists
would lead us to suppose; still the fact that
there is some increase IS more or less SELF
evident.