The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-16
LUNACY AMONG THE TROOPS
An Investigation of Insanity in the
Philippines.

DR.. LatImer Explains That LoneH-
ness and the Climate Are Produc-
tive of Observation-Disclosures five
Cases Develop Each Month.
BALTIMORE, March 16.-Dr. c s Lat
inner. the United States insanity expert
at St EIizabeth's Hospital, Washington.
u. c, where are sent the unfortunates
who lose their reason while in the serv-
ice Of the army or navy, is visiting here
Dr. Latfmer was sent to the Philip
pines last June to investigate alarming
reports concerning the prevalence OF men
tai diseases among the troops on duty
there He returned to San Francisco, on
February I. and, after going to Wash
ington TO prepare MS report, came to
Baltimore. He is waiting for the wealth
CT to become sufficiently settled to allow
him TO visit his home in Prince George
county TO recuperate his health. In the
meantime he is taking a course of lee
lures at the College OF Physicians and
Surgeons his alma mater
DR.. Latimer talked freely of his eXpe-
riences and observations in the Far East
He said:
Last summer when certain neWSpa-
pers charged so strongly that cases of
OF all proportion 10 the number of men
there l was sent out to see how much
truth there was in the reports. l found
that the number ana character of the
cases were entirely oYerestimated- My
statistics show that there are about
twenty-five eases of insanity each month
in an army. consisting OF about 60.0e0 men.
which is about one-half of one per cent
This percentage is undoubtedly higher
than would exist under any other condi-
lions than those of an army in the field.
AN important point to be noticed in
the figures which I hare collected is that
most OF the cases-in fact, the vast ma
Jority OF them-are simple melancholia
and are easily cured. The proportion of
desperate or permanent affiicions is very
small and consists mainly Of men who
have increased the natural hardships Of
the position by too free Indulgence in al
cOhoIic drinks.
when we consider the circumstances it
is not remarkable that so many men
should become mentally unbalanced out
there. Most OF those who enlisted were
young fellows, full of enthusiasm and i'm
pressed with all the pornp and circum-
stance OF war. They expected 10 find q life
Of excitement and adventure in which they
would be constantly on the move and have
innUmerabIe opportunities 10 distinguish
themselves Instead Of having this dream
realized thousands Of them do not even get
on the firing line, but discover that the
exigencies of the occasion demand that
they should serve in small garrisous in re-
mote parts Of the islands In these places
they are confronted with conditions which
they could in no way have foreseen. They
are few in numbers situated among q hos
tile people IN climate in which they go
To bed weU and get up wet, for II they are
not wet from rain they are from perspira-
ton
The state of war prevents the regular
delivery of mail from the folks at home,
which IS a most serious matter TO Young
men and has great tendency 10 make
them brood and become melancholy. Rec
reations such as ordinarily tend TO relieve
the mind cannot be enjoyed because of the
heat, which prevents games, tramping ex-
cursiOus. and the ike. The absence of
others beside their felIow-soIdiers with
whom they could converse and associate
IS an important factor, and the same ten
dency toward moroseness and melanchoIia
Is always observable when a few men are
thrown with each other for too long a De-
Rod under conditions which do not keen
the mind occupied The natural efet of
seclUsion is heightened by the depressing
effects OF tropical climate upon those
who have been raised IL temperate or
northern zones
The reasons which ! have named and
others arising from them resulted in the
soldiers becoming depressed and many
nnaLy became victims of meianchoIia m
1t for the service As fast as the eases
developed they were brought TO me- at
Manila. where L did all for them that the
circumstances would permit NV policy
was 70 send them home as soon as nos
slble, for investigation showed that the
majority OF them were practically cured
BY the voyage 10 San Francisco and an
but few Of the others were in such a
condition that Il was not necessary 10
send them 70 St Eiizabeth's and after
snort period or treatment in the West
were ready TO be discharged as cured
The readiness with which they recuv-
ereo IS explained by the fact that to send
them nome was to remove them from al
the surroundings which had caused The
trouble, and the knowledge that they y,4ra
being sent back TO their friends had a
mentally stimulating effect and tended 10
brighten their spirits
1t was suggested that hoSDiteI fo-
the insane be established at Manila. Fut
my opinion Is strongly against sIIca
step me neat and other climatic coTdi-
IONS are so unfaVorabie that il is not
possible 10 give the patient plenty OF ex-
erclse and employ ment to divert his mind
as is done here. nor can he. after suffi-
clent Improvement, be allowed 10 go ,1Ir
upon parole and walk around for The in
surrectos are ever on the alert TO Kill eff
a stragsler, and while a crazy man might
promise TO keep within the safe
~ line you could hardly trust cen
an invalid afflicted with some other dis
ease 70 exercise proper seIf-restrafnt when
out for walk and not run into CaDey.r
/ found that IL was decidedly best 10
send the men home, and have them dis
charged. Tor II a man were 10 be lro-
HoUnced cured in Manila and BE- sem 49,,
20 the army the fact that he had once
been crazy would initiate against MIN
I-Eery time ne made a break some
thoughtless soldier would De .lDt 10 So
On. he's lunE. anyhow or You can'r
expect any better from him. He's loco
loco IS the word they use for crazy In
the army Such remarks would crate on
the nerve Of sensitive man and ne
would probably go crazy IN d short time
We never had more than TWENTY-FIVE
cases al one time. for ships leave for the
Carr!ess People