Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-04-19
INSANITY IN SOLDIERS RANKS.
Washington Authority Contradicts
Stories of Madness in the Army.

1t may surprise some people to learn
that it is nothing remarkable for
soldiers to go insane, that they are
more inclined to do so than the ordi-
nary civilian. 1t will probably be
something of a shock to learn that no
greater percentage of the army in the
Philippines is afflicted in this manner
than of that which invaded Cuba. And,
worse still, that there are not so many
cases due to alcoholism as usually
arise in the regular army at home.
AZ a matter of fact, the number Of
insane soldiers in the Philippines is
prOportiOnately small. The violent
cases are reduced to the minimum;
few of them are permanent. The
causes are inconsistencies, infrequent
mails, a strange climate, physical
weakness, due to fever and irregular
rations when in the field, and, possibly,
too much quinine to ward off malaria.
A visit to the Government Hospital
for the Insane, otherwise known as St
Elizabeth's across the river at Ana
costa, will convince almost any one of
the truth of these statements and
will rob the previous reports of many
of their terrors.
Since July l last, when the insane
soldiers were first sent to this country,
fifty-one patients have arrived up to
February, and eleven more were
brought on from San Francisco. They
were under the charge of a sergeant
and two of them escaped from the
train. One of these was recovered and
brought to the hospital somewhat
bruised up, but the other has not so
far been captured A few more are
expected in a short time but when
one considers the size of the army in
the Philippines, the proportion will ap-
pear quite small.
'I see no reason for the cutlery that
has been raised concerning the in
sanity of the soldiers in the Philip
pines" said DR.. Latimer, who has
been one of the hospital physicians
for more than ten years. Il have seen
a great many cases of insanity among
soldiers during my stay here, and |
symptoms manifested by the troops
from the Orient and those in this
country. The wonder would be that
more do not go insane. It is hard for
the average layman to appreciate the
causes of insanity, for the reason that
he thinks that every one mentally af-
fiicted is of necessity raying
maniac.
The young men out there go a
long way from home, where letters are
few and far between. The tropical
climate is something to which they
have not become accustomed, and they
are subject to fever and become physi-
cally run down. Their rest is broken
by noises incident to campaigning and
camp life. Add to this the insects
that bother them, the jigers that
creep under the skin and cause con-
slant irritation and itching, and you
have enough to worry the average
mortal into insanity. The trouble is
due to a rundown physical condition.
They come here and are built up In
body. The mind soon RECEIVERS it's
balance. The trip on the transport
and the journey across the continent
aid them, and they are almost well
when they arrive here. We merely
look them over and examine their
cases. The average stay of patient is
about three months.
1T is possible that the excessive
use of Quinine may be factor in the
insanity OF the soldiers. They use it
in great quantities to ward off fever.
One man, sergeant, who has practi-
cally recovered, told me that he took
thirty grains three times a day. I
have heard that others have used even
more. Ninety grains of quinine day
is too much for the nervous system Of
any man. Post,