The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-03
is / CONTAGIOUS 5?
Insanity, Some People Believe,
Is Catching.
PHYSICIANS INTERESTED
DR.. Guth Gives Interesting In
terview on Subject.

Is insanity contagious? Can perfectly
normal person become mad by contact
with persons who are crazy? THESE two
questions are string the medical world
and especially the scientists who are spe-
nerves. a theory that insanity is conta-
gious has been advanced. apparently on
good grounds and with wei attested evil
dence in support. and physicians are
gravely examining the question for its
final solution.
If sane persons can catch insanity,
then the menace of mental collapse is
grave, for any one, even physician OF
nurse, who comes in contact with patients
IN hospital or private house. This was
the theory laid before DR.. Guth, superin-
tendent OF the state insane asylum at
Warren, Pa Ten hundred and seventy
insane patients are under his immediate
charge, and as he has been connected
with the institution since 1878 he has had
ample opportunity to study the question.
Dr. Guth stated that an absolutely nor
mai man, in the full possession of his
faculties, would not, in the nature of
things, become insane through association
with insane persons any more than man
devoting himself exclusively to some 9TH
er walk of life would become a monoma-
MAC ar faddist, with his life centered in
his occupation.
An exclusive devotion TO a calling is
apt to narrow mans horizon. and per-
haps arouse idiosyncrasies. he said,
hut unless there IS somewhere a tenden-
cy TO insanity, be it hereditary, a predis-
position or what not. have never heard
Of a physician absolutely free from the
faint of insanity acquiring the disease,
which is not communicable. The strain
upon nurses occasionally works upon
their nerves to such an extent that it is
advisable 10 dismiss them
DR.. Guth cited an interesting case that
once came under his observation. The
superintendent of Bloomingdale New
York, was addicted TO the use of drugs.
and Of a temperament not particularly
adapted to the WORK he was engaged in,
although he was a recognized authority.
The asylum had been undergoing severe
criticism at the hands of New York
daily, that finally succeeded in having a
a reporter committed TO the institution
The reporter remained as a patient for
some time, acumulating the data requir-
ed. and finally declared himself and an
nouneed his complete willingness to be
discharged. The superintendent however,
declared thata he was insane and could
not leave the asylum. The matter hung
fire for some time and the reporter was
finally released upon a writ of habeas
corpus.
The matter preyed upon the superin-
tendent and the publication in its expose
made things SO uncomfortable for him
that his mind gave way, and he was COM
PEELED to relinquish his position. In
few years he had recovered, apparently,
and was conducting a private sanitarium.
one day a representative of another New
York paper called on him. The old trouble
returned at once and the physician again
lost his business.
In this case. however, DR. Guth con-
tended that external causes were the re-
suit Of the alteration, and reverted to
the original contention. in closing, that
without some basis somewhere in the
physicians make UP for weakening of
the mental faculties insanity could not be
caused by simple association with those
Of diseased minds