The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-19

ALARMING INSANITY STATISTICS.
A recent issue of London Answers pre-
sented some very alarming statistics in
regard to the. Increase of insanity in
Great Britain. The figures given cover
the period from 1859 to 1S9S-forty- mine
years-and they show that the increase
Of lunaey has not been merely relative
with that of popula ion, but positive and
startling
To be brief, in 1859 the population of the
islands was 19,6S6,1Ol, and the number of
lunatics S6762. This gave 1867 detectives
TO each million of inhabitants, and show
ed $50 sane persons to each Iunatic.
In 1898 the population was 81, 49,, O7S, and
the number of lunatics was 101,9 72 or
3,24S unfortunates to each million Of
population. To emphasize this increase it
is only necessary to mention that the
figures of 1898 indicate only sos sane per
sons to each lunatic The table given
in Answers shows a steady increase for
each decade since 1883, with slightly
larger rate of increase in recent years.
What alarms scientific England is the
plain truth that if the same ratio of in
crease is maintained it will be matter
OF only comparatively few years be-
fore all of Great Britain shall be crazed
Is the ratio going to be maintained?
There is so little apparent ground for
announcement that British insanity ex-
perts hesitate to give a negative answer
to the question: while they are disposed
to look more closely into the situation
and its causes before abandoning hope
for Improvement. From very complete
classification of cases it would appear
that the problem is almost entirely an
industrial one, a vast majority of cases
resulting from worry and disappointment
In the various lines of business outside
| of agriculture. from occupations where
IN competition is the fiercest have gener-
| ally come the greatest number of insane
persons, and this might easily indicate
either an improper Industrial situation
from the standpoint Of the public interest
| or inadequate mental stamina in large
| number of persons who plunge into the
| maelstrom Of business, leaving agricul-
ture and other humble, but safer and
quleter occupa tons. The latter is proba-
oly the more nearly correct surmise The
industrial situation is becoming more
complex every day, and there is a con-
slant call for sharper intellects to sustain
1t. 1t must be sustained and enlarged
along the present tendencies, for that is
essential to the purposes and plans of
| the highest commercial progress. If
minds break down in the course of sus
tanning the pace set, others more capa-
bic and firm will have opportunities to
| reveal themselves, and If these cannot
stand the test, or, In other words If
| no Improvement becomes yisible in tbe
rate OF increase of insanity, there will
have to be some readjustnent that will
lessen the tendency toward Iunacy, even
| If it shall amount to a temporary halt
in industrial progress.
But there is little danger that such an
extreme need will ever show itself. Com
mercial intellects will grow stronger I'M
der training, and when the Importance of
expert ability as condition of success
is better realized there will be constant
ly better preparation of the Individual.
as well as vastly more regard for adap-
liability to given task. The human mind
is capable of much greater things than
have been accomplished in any direction,
and 1t Is not reasonable to suppose that
1t will break down completely under any
condition of human necessity. The chief
significance Of the alarming increase of
insanity in industrial Great Britain is
probably that the individuals need better
training, and have been Understanding
their own tasks and responsibilities.
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