The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-05
Emotional Insanity.

| Emotional Insanity.
kind-hearted correspondent has ven
tured to enter a gentle protest against thu
recent condemnation of Pallessen, thu
wife murderer. Our correspondent sug
gests that the man must have bseI
suffering from some terrible strain which
made him morally irresponsible. and ex-
presses the opinion that the average man
| when out Of work for long period, and
subjected to wearing and continual anx-
iety. is often Seized with an irresistible
desire to give vent to pent up feelings by
striking some one terrible blow"
Precisely: and that is the very reason
| why people should not be allowed to give
vent to their feelings in this way, with
impunity. Probably two-thirds of the ordi-
nary people in this country, not degener-
ates or criminals. have at some time or
ether had murder in their hearts: ana
very often 1t has been with fairly good ex-
| cuse. When a man has been cheated out
Of all he possessed by some one in whom
| he has trusted. when his wife has de-
serted him for another man, or when he
| feels himself absolutely in the power o.
an INSCRIPTIONS and cruel person. he Is
| very apt to want to murder somebody, and
all history shows that when he can do this
without being condemned by the moral
sense of the community, he generally does
it On the other hand, when he knows
that If he yields to this sudden and violent
temptation, he will have to stand the
ignominy of public trial. bring disgrace
on all who are dear to him. and perhaps
suffer the death Of a criminal. the thought
generally has a SOLDERING influence upon
him. and he does not commit the murder.
The lifelong understanding Of the conse-
quences attaching to murder makes the
average man cautious about getting into
murderous state CT mind If he can pos
sibly help it. The habit of mind engen
dered by observation and experience has
much to do with self-control. and the citi-
zens Of country where Justice is admin
istered with absolute certainty and Impair
TALLY are apt to be cool-blooded.
OF course, a man who has been through
extraordinary suffering and privation some
times does have his mind unhinged. espe-
cially If he happens to be of sensitive and
easily depressed temperament If lie is sub
ject to morbid melancholia he will COM
nit suicide; il he is simply undisciplined
and hysterical. he may kill somebody else.
In both cases it is rather important TO
prevent such tragic outcome of affairs, II
possible. II would be we'll. of course. il
no suffering and privation existed in such
degree as to unbalance a mans nina;
$ha oh
ment of violent deeds, committed while in
a condition of emotional insanity, should
be severe and certain. An ounce OF pre-
vention is worth pound of cure. and while
a man Is not responsible for what he does
when he is emotionally insane, he Is. in
at least seventy-five per cent Of such cases.
responsible for allowing himself to get into
that state of mind.
There is misery enough in the world. as
everyone possessed of ordinary intelli-
gence knows, to break the nerve and upset |
the faculties of most sensitive men: but |
dwelling on ones personal troabies makes |
them no lighter. 1t cannot be too foroibly |
impressed upon the mind Of the average |
person that there is absolutely no merit |
in being miserable. Some people, from q
morbid idea of conscientiousness. are
prone to condemn those who take life
easily" though many persons Of what Is
called a cheerful temperament suffer as
much as the melancholy. but do not slow
it. Morbidness is not religion; grimness
is not fortitude, and refusal to enjoy simple
pleasures is not a sign OF strength OF
mind. Many sensitive and considerations
persons seem to think that they ought to
worry over coming events. over Eossib e
poverty, or their own i'll health. or the
'uture Of their children. or some other evil
which worry will not hinder one iota- They
are taking the straight road to suicide.
others are always on the lookout for
sights and unkindness, and excuse their
Jealous disposition on the ground that
hey have strong affections. They some
lines worry themselves into the state Of
mind which makes the emotiona'iy insane
murderer For this sort of thing severity
S the only tonic. II is hysteria, rIre and
simple, and to excuse ii on the plea OF in
sanity is only to encourage evil results.
where the schoolgirls were attacked with
curious nervous disease, which looked
ike the effect of witchcraft. Great special
SITS could make nothing of it. Finally a
hrewd physician issued an order that the
lext victim should be taken out into the
and drenched with cold water
rom u hose. The ailment disappeared