The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-27
WHEN INSANITY Is CONTAGIOUS.
Continuous Association With Luna~
ties Dangerous 60 weak Minds.

Continuous Association with Luna.
tic. Dangerous 20 Weak Minds.
Insanity Is contagious. Statistics show
that one person our Of every eight tn
trusted with the care of tie insane become
crazy.
A week ago two cases OF this sort came
under the notice or the authorities at the
Detention Hospital In Chicago. Mrs Annie
l.. Human, a nurse and an exceptionally
intellectual woman, became insane rom
being constantly in contact with aemented
patients. The other was case or
mother and daughter named Fannon. The
daughter undertook to care for her mother
81 home. and in few weeks was herself
. maniac.
Experts differ as to whether association
with the insane brings on a diseased uiefi-
tai STATE. independent OF natural degen-
crate tendencies. or whether II merely
makes manifest a weakness which might
never became apparent under other
and daughter sent from Chicago
TO Kankakee last week was ap-
pareatly a plain Instance of COM
munieated insanity. The mother II grow
ing old and some months ago developed
chronic meiancholla~ 1t Is believed that
her Insanity dated hack a considerable
time. but that II had aot been apparent on
account Of ;;s comparatively mid form,
she suddenly grew worse. became violent
and difficult to control. The daughter de-
termlned that she would not allow her
mother to he taken to n State Institution.
Her days and nights were spent in watch
ing ard caring for her mother. and every
moment she was subjected TO an intense
nervous strain. In a few weeks she was
afflicted with melaneholia. the same form
OF insanity as that with which her mother
Is afflicted
A few years ago a peculiar case also
came before the authorities at the Deien-
tson hospital. A Sweie was afflicted with
Authorizations of sight and hearing. Voices
whispered In his ear continually. He mag
!ned be saw tho Christ and the Virgin
Mary. In time his wife accepted his de-
lusions and came 10 see the visions her
self.
DIR. James O. Herman, Chicago's we'll
known expert. defines this form OF disease
an true communicated insanity. II differs
essentially from the mors widely recog-
nixsd epidemic ana endemic insanity.
communicated" or transformed" In
sanity has been recognized and studied Tor
about thirty years In every insane hospi-
tai IN the world conducted on modern lines
the attendants ara watched BY physicians
almost "a carefully a. the patients they
attend. Once year they are examined for
disorder In Germany attendants on the
insane are forced to rest every SIX weeks,
and ara not permitted 10 take charge Of the
same patient for any long period OF time.
Two reasons arc given for this. One 10
that the strain Of the insane Is an Intense
nervous strain. Nothing 30 wears uron
the nerves an continual association with
iunaiics In nearly every case there ~
considerable danger. 4 nurse must De
constantly on the alert against surprise.
Even the most 6ociie llnatic may suddenly
develop violent symptoms. endangertag the
nfe Of himself and the attendant.
Rut the most curious sDd interesting
phase from a scientific standpoint. IN the
ROVER which the insane often have Of Inn
posing their ,ieiusaons upon others. Many
insane people have wonderfully fprceful
and acute minds ABIDE from their particu-
lar st@lassons. They often possess tndiyi-
Qualities OF the strongest sort. Such luna
ties are capable OF thrusting their delu-
sons upon their weaker associates, or upon
a mind weakened ny nervous affections. II
has f,asset, almost into truessm that 'ge-
MUS IL akin TO insanity. Chicago Inter
Ocean.