The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-16
WHY INSANITY is
ON THE INCREASE
Professor Herbert w. Hart Ascribes
1t to the Lack of Phos-
pilates in Food.

In "A recent issue of the New York
World, Professor Herbert w. Hart.
the eminent alienist. had an interesting
article giving his reasons why insan-
ity is on the increase. His text was
the suicide of a man. Fritz Brunke
by name, who, at fifty, claimed to
have outlived his usefulness. With
reference to this incident Professor
Hart wrote:
The reason why he came to this
conclusion was because his brain
or part of the brain--like that of all
suicides. lacked the nourishment that
was necessary to its normal action.
There are millions Of so-called Christ
ians whose brains are starved by the
lack of phosphates in their food to
such an extent that the superior or
gans that should control the mind and
body do not act at all. As I told the
medical men at the School Of Medicine,
in Forty-third street, some years ago,
when called upon by the president to
speak upon the subject of the rela-
tion of food to insanity, if the skulls
of a number Of middle-aged men were
opened more than 80 per cent would
contain from % to 80 per cent. of
watery serum instead of brain matter.
The cause? The lack of brain form
ing material in their daily food. The
case of Fritz Brunke is the same as
those Of other suicides, who may take
different forms of ending their lives,
but the primary cause is the same, and
that is the abnormally constituted
food which is deprived of the nerve
~ nj
sential to the normal action Of the
brain, more especially the organs that
control the mental action.
PROPER THOUGHT a RARITY.
To the same cause can be traced the
lack of proper thought and the preva-
lent lack of common sense which
leads to false notions. fads and
idlosyncrasies. which in turn tend to
morbditv of body and mind, that
leads to insanity and premature death
If not suicide. 1t is n deplorable fact
that insanity is increasing at the rate
of 600 per cent. while the increase in
population is only 100 per cent And
yet nothing is being done to prevent
it. Medical specialists who ought to
be engaged in devising means to pre-
vent its increase are more interested
| in large fees they obtain for simply
| declaring a person insane, and so long
as doctors thrive on the sickness and
disease of the community so long
will they be Indifferent. There Is only
| one remedy, and that is to pass a law
making it q penal offence to mil
wheat or any other cereal, by a pro.
| cess of sitting and dressing by the aid
liof superflne silk or other boiling cloths
| which removes the brain and nerve.
| forming phosphates, for want of which
| properties the working classes, who
| depend so much on bread for nourish-
! ment, are half starved. They DOM
know what healthy life is; therefore
| they consider life is not worth the liv.
! ing. But it would be- if nominally con.
/ stituted bread and other foods wer,
| procurable."
| 1t is an interesting circumstance thaI
this theory of Professor Hart ha,
| been long anticipated by DR.. d. b
| Hand of this city, who four years age
was led by it TO undertake the expert
ments that have since come to a heaC
in the brand of condensed milk. Will
| phosphates and hypophosphites, tht
| vital part Of the wheat, added, whcl
| bears his name, and which is RAPIDLY
| winning recognition as a food Of ex
ceptiOnal merit.