Evening star., 1897-03-18
BICYCLES FOR THE INSANE.
The Wheel Recommended for Patients
mt Several State Asylums.

The Wheel Recommended for Patients
MT Several state Asylums.
From thu Chicago Chronicle.
One of the most notable instances of the
efficacy of the bicycle as a remedy for in
sanity is found at the Michigan state asy-
lum for the insane, at Kalamazoo. The pa
tients in this asylum 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 on any of the country
roaGs running out of the city. To the un-
initiated 1t would seem odd, indeed, tha.
the regulation country highway should be
chosen for wheeling parties in preference
to the well-kept roads of the town. There
Is reason. however. and very good one
1t is, too The tougher 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
afllict him, and his mind takes on a
healthier tone, his thoughts are those of a
man with an unclouded brain and he be-
comes for the time being practically sane
The kalamazoo doctors say that they
have never yet heard of course of treat
ment which causes self-forgetfuIness in a
degree even approaching that produced by
the use OF the bicycle. Instead of moplng
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 on the wheels to Long
Lake, ten miles distant, or to one of the
chain of smaller lakes not so far from TIE
asylum. A plentiful lunch Is taken along
ana the occasion becomes a veritabie
picnic.
OF course on trips of this kind some tires
are pound to be punctured, the gearing is
sure to get out of order and more or less
other mechanical difficulties encountered
The result of all this is that the lunatic has
no time at all to become melancholy The
exercise, the fresh air, the unwonted cause
Tor thoughtfulness on new subjects all
contribute toward wooing the return of
reason.
The state asylum for the insane at Mid
oletowh. N. y, is another institution that
considers the bicycle a means to render
help TO the insane. The wheel has been
used at this asylum for some months. with
the most gratifying results. 1t is found
mat 1t promotes docility among the pa
tients, who enjoy the excursions, and in
Variably induces far healthier condition
or the mind. 1t also acts as an incentive
toward good behavior on the part of others
VINO nave not been permitted to ride the
change in their attitudes being broupbt
about by the sight of the keen endowment
which the lunatic riders seem to take in
riding.
DIR. Selden H. Talcott. medical sunerir-
tendent of the asylum, is an enthusiast re-.
garding the wheel benefit to persons
OF unsound mind. 1T is. in my estima-
tion,' he said, beyond question that the
bicycle will eventually become a perman-
ent institution in every insane asylum.
There is no doubt whatever that the tend
ency of cycling by insane persons is toward
the restoration of, reason. or course 1 do
not mean to say that every crazy person
should be permitted to ride the wheel, AS
a matter of fact, cycling should only be all
lowed among that class of patients in an
asylum known as the convalescent ana
others whose mania is not of a violent ma
fure. venture to predict that within five
years there will not be found q medical
man with knowledge of insanity and in
sane people who does not favor wheeljnp
as a curative process"