The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-15
CAUSES OF INSANITY.
Two Noted Physicians Give Opinions
on the Subject.

New York, Nov. 15-"RelIgious in
struction which inspires fear in the
mind Of children is largely responsible
for insanity" declares DR.. Sheldon H.
Ta1cott, medical superintendent of the
Middletown State Homeopathic hospital
for the insane. speaking for the physi-
clans.
Eating too much meat is the cause
Of religious monomania," declares the
Rev. Benjamin F. DeCoSta- speaking
for theologians.
It is not at all unlikely that the TWEEN
ty-seVenth annual report of the Middle
town institution, which report has just
been published by DR.. Talcott, will stir
the men of the cloth considerably. DR..
Talcott, in his many years experience
as an insane expert, has looked for the
cause leading to that form of insanity
which is denoted as religious monOma-
MIA, and in his report he issues a warn
ing to those who think themselves truly
religious. The road to an insane asy-
luTn, declares the physician, sometimes
leads through a church. Children, eS-
peciaIly, he says, should not be fright
ened into religion, nor a religious edu-
cation, so-ca1led, be driven into chill
dren.
TT may seem almost a sacrilege to
some misguided enthusiasts to claim
this says the specialist, but the ap-
plicatton OF religious truth should be
made in a simple, direct, clear and be-
nign manner; otherwise the injury of
profound shock, induced by fears of the
future, may cause the budding powers
of the young to wither before the fun
influence Of misguided and bigoted re-
HgiOuS zeal"
Religion continues DR.. Talcott in
his report, never should be presented
in such a way as to shock young Sensi-
bilities and approximations, nor to incite
doubt, pain or WOrriment in the hearts
and minds of youth.
1.-THE fault of religious instruction is
t. ,--4rr l.,
the shock of fear bIights the force of
growing youth, and an agony of remorse
for sin is allowed to produce worry by
day and an insomnia by night, until
physical and mental development is eff
fectually arrested
Then the doctor Of medicine tells the
doctors of divinity how religious in
struction should be impaired.
"Of religion" he says, teach the
children chiefly its inspiring consolation
for the future. Present religion to the
young in the form of a new command
ment, a glorious inspiration to do good
and be good"
These extracts from DR.. TaIcott's re-
port were shown to the Rev. Benjamin
F. DeCoSta last evening, and he was re-
quested to give his opinion regarding
them.
IT do not see anything In the state
ments to excite any comment" replied
Mr.. DeCosta- ''Dr. Talcott is undoubt-
eddy right 50 far as his general state
ments are concerned, but as to the
facts, that is another matter. OF course,
there is a right and wrong way to
teach religion. All will agree to that.
But as to religious instruction being
the cause. I do not think it is. If you
will probe the matter I think you will
find that the root of religious monornan-
ia is too much meat"
Then 1t is your belief" I querfed,
that there is an affinity between ami
NAL food and religious monomania? p
Most certainly 1 do. People eat too
- Il hos -
be generally accepted that overindulg-
ence in animal food produces insanity.
Disease always goes to the weak part
of the system, and too much animal
food, it is well known, produces disease,
Just as much as starvation does. The
mania an insane person may develop
depends upon the bent of his bend. II
interested in religion, it produces ma
MIA on that subject. If he is interested
in politics, he wants to kill presidents,
and there you have it."