The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-11-16
CAUSES OF INSANITY.

sicians have long held that the
most prevalent cause of insanity is
religious excitement. Equally en-
inent ministers of the gospel dis
pute the position. Recently the
controversy on this point was re-
newed in New York between DR..
Seldom A. Talcott, medical super
intendent of the Middletown State
Homeopathic Hospital for the In
sane, and Rev. Benjamin F. De-
Costa.
DIR. Taleott makes the assertion
that Religious instruction which
inspires fear in the mind of the
child is largely responsible for in
sanity" while Rev. DeCosta as
serts that Eating too much meat
is the cause of religious monoma-
nia." DIR. Talcott has had many
years experience as an insanity ex-
pert, and has looked for the causes
leading to that form of insanity
which is denoted as religious mo-
nomania, and he issues a warning
to those who think themselves tru-
~ religious. The road to the in
sane asylum some t,mes leads
through the church, says he. Chill
dren especially, he says, should
not be frightened into religion,
nor religious education, so-called,
be driven into children.
1t may seem almost sacrilege
to some misguided enthuiasts to
claim this" says the specialist,
but the application of religious
truth should be made in a simple,
clear and benign manner; other
wise the injury of profound shock,
induced by fears of the future,
may cause the budding powers of
the young to wither before the full
influence of misguided and bigoted
zeal. Religion should never be
presented in such way as to shock
young sensibilities and apprehen-
sions, nor to incite doubt, pain
and worriment in the hearts and
minds of youth. The fault of re-
ligiUus instruction is that it is often
given in such form that the shock
of fear blights the forces of grow
ing youth, and an agony of re-
morse for sin is allowed to produce
worry by day and insomnia by
night, until physical and mental
development are effectually arrest
ed" He says children should be
taught the inspiring consolation of
religion for the future; to be good
and do good for the sweet reward
that shall follow.
In commenting upon DIR. Tai
colts views, Rev. DeCOsta says:
DIR. Talcott is undoubtedly right
so far as his general statements
are concerned; but as to the facts.
that is another matter. OF course,
there is a right and a wrong way
Of teaching religion. All will
agree to that. But as to relig-
ious instruction being the cause,
| do not think it is. If you will
probe the matter, l think you will
find that the root of religious mo-
nomania is too much meat. There
is an affinity between animal food
and religious monomania. People
eat too much meat, and | think it
has come to be generally accepted
that over-indulgence in animal
food produces insanity. Disease
always goes to the weak part of
the system, and too much animal
food, it is known, produces dis
ease, just as starvation does. The
mania an insane person may devel-
op depends upon the bent Of his
mind. If interested in religion, it
produces mania on that subject.
II he is interested in politics, he
wants to kill Presidents, and there
you have it.
An exchange bulletin from Chi
cago says: 1t is reported that