Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-28
HOW TO AVOID INSANITY.
Practical Hints From a Doctor of Dt
vinity and Law.

Practical Hints From q Doctor OF DT
vfnity and Law.
Rev Dr. James NJ Buckley, In the Century.
Anxiety should be systematically antago-
nized by philosophy, religion or change OK
subjects of thought. The effect of worry
and suspense In driving men wild Is con-
stantly seen In the business world, directly
and by contrast. for bankruptcy is often
followed by comparative mental repose.
Hence authorities affirm that uncertainty
and anxiety are far more liable to lead to
mental arrangement than the assurance OF
disaster.
AS anxiety is a foe to clear thinking. It
is better for one approaching crisis to re-
sort to indirect methods of dissipating it,
such as conversation. the reading OF an ao-
sorbing book, violent physical exercise or
the use of tools with which one would cut
himself If he did not give his entire atten-
ton to their use. Similar means also con-
tribute to sound sleep.
Subjects Of thought should be frequently
changed Neither fanaticism nor insanity
from mental causes will be liable to de-
velop when the mind is not constantly held
upon one problem, probability. possibility
or perpeXlty. 49,,
Surroundings lost their power to with
draw the mind from care and fear, so from
time to time the scene should be changed
Those who postpone travel for several
years often find that they have lost the ca
pacity of enjoyment; care Is their courier,
and they return unrefreshed. A frequent
vacation of two three days In a month
would in many cases be more beneflclat
than thirty-siX days of leisure or change
consecutively each year.
The observance of one day in seven by q
complete change In subjects of thought, and
the suspension of modes of activity re-
uuired for six days. would be philosophical
even though it had no basis in religion IN
the first French revolution the attempt was
made to have n holiday once in t1ve days,
and again once in ten. The intervals were
too frequent under the first plan and did
not recur often enough under the second.
Hence those who hated the system which
enforced the Sabbath were fain to return
to 1t.
The superintendent of one of the largest
HOSPITALS for the insane declares that nine
teen out of twenty of the business and pro-
fessional men who come under his care
have been in the habit of carrying business
on their minds for seven days IN each ana
every week.
Exaggerated sensitiveness is a foe to hap
piness and the direct source OF melancholy.
In Its earliest stages 1t Is amenabie TO sell
treatment. Many restoration to happiness
has occurred by the revelation to ones
self that by undue sensltiveness he has
been making life intolerable to himself and
to his friends.
Never except in an emergency. should
any one stake all he has upon one thing.
Caesar aut nihil is usually ndhil. and II Gaze
sar, 1t Is often only another form OF nlhil.
In great emergencies men are often not |
content to walt. Because they know not
what to do, they do they know not what.
Many become insane for want Of occupa-
ton; they inherit wealth. and with 1t
straight Jacket Of conventionalities In which
they are compelled to spend their lives.
This Is especially the case with women,
who generally unlike men similarly situat.
ed, cannot travel by sea or land, or employ
their energies in hunting. fishing. or athletics.
Mem who retire from business voluntarily
or because Of advancing years. withous
modes of mental occupation are prone to
melancholy. Some fear poverty while in
the midst of riches; others are out of joint
with the times; others develop strange &c
centric.ties, illustrating the proverb, Give
an old mill nothing else to grind and 1t
will grind flint" A habit Of reading, an in
terest in science, active connection with
some systemat!zed philanthropy. pro-
found and practical sympathy with some
religious cult" will postpone the date OF
the advent OF senility.