The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-14
Is INSANITY CATCHINGs
New York Scientist Advances G
Startling Theory.

Startling Theory.
There Is no doubt that insanity is in
fictitious. II a person whose mind is
not robust Is thrown constantly into
the presence Of another whose minds is
masterful, but unbalanced, he is likely in
time to partake of his companions aber-
ration. You have often noticed dare
say, that If one man puts up his umbrel-
la a number of others nearby are likely
to put up theirs also, although no rain
may be falling. Imitativeness Of that
sort is evidence of negative mentality
"a mind which is likely to accept its
opinions from others. Such a person
thrown constantly into the society of an
insane person is likely in course Of time
to acquire insanity.
1t Is a matter Of common knowledge
that the impulses causing such ordinary
automatic movements as that Of yawning,
laughing or sneezing are psychically
transmitted from one person to another.
To go a step farther, we find that st. VI
tus' dance Is communicated by this same
mysterious process. Mysteries and hys-
terical commissions, too, are communicate
ed In this manner, and 1t is not an I'M
common thing to see such impulses car
ried from person to person in girls
boarding schools until a large number Of
pupils are simultaneously affected.
1t is commonly known that man and
grow to resemble each other, and it Is
equally well known that the expression
of the face is nodded by the habits Of
thought. But to this end 1t is necessary
that one mind should be positive and the
other negative-for, of course, If they diff
fer radically the resemblance will not ex-
ist.
Under the influence Of long-continued
mental exercise the brain undergoes a
distinct anatomical change, increasing In
some parts and diminishing In others.
1t is well known that in cases of paranoia
there is a distinct effectiveness In the con-
formation of the brain, and if a robust
though faulty mentality dominates weak
er mentality, so as to create in it a con-
inuously abnormal line of thought. the
brain SO affected will eventually be chang
ed and unbalanced much as the expression
of the face is changed in the manner have
described.
There are many cases on record In which
the insanity of a husband has been follow
ed by the insanity of wife, and an insane
convict not infrequently transmits his in
sanity to his companion
Let II be remembered that a man may be
a paranoiac and yet not be insane as in
sanity is commonly understood. Some of
the most brilliant men in the world have
been paranoiacs and the disease has mani
tested itself only in some mild eccentricity.
But had one of those men been shut up
for year with two or three other parano-
iacs he would probably have quickly acquir-
ed their insanity.
The influence of very robust paranoiacal
minds over weaker persons was shown in
the middle ages during the religious crazes
of that time, and again, only ten years ago
In Russia, when a man arose near Kieff
who insisted that he was Christ. He had
delusions Of sight. hearing and smell. He
could hear the voices of the Apostles. see
the gates of heaven and smell the roses Of
paradise. So strong was this mans indivi-
duality that he transmitted these hallucina-
tions to thousands of others. who thought
that they could hear. see and smell tho
same things.
This was genuine insanity. Had his In
duence been continuous large numbers Of