New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-14
FLATS AND INSANITY.
Nesc-Yorhc Physicians Find Life in
Former Normal.

Londoners have seen with increasing apprehen-
SIGN hugs fat and apartment houses rising in what
Was once a city OF homes and private dwellings.
but ii has remained for London newspaper to give
them solemn warning that living in fats makes
people insane, and that the rapid growth of in
sanity il London is due 10 the rapid growth of the
fat system Of living
A fashionable physician is reported have said
that London might have TO spend millions in I'M
building the hathouses she is now building. and
Dr. Forbes Winslow, another London doctor, has
described fat life species Of solitary confne-
rnsnt which produces depression and crime New
York physicians seem by means disposed TO ac-
cept these views or, at least, 10 accept them
holding good OF New-York. One of them did ad-
nit, however, that q great many Of the patients
who come under his observation and who belong
70 the poorer classes do come out Of flats.
DR. GREGoRYs OPINION
''rhree-fourths Of our patients come from fats"
said Dr. Menas S Gregory resident alienist at
Bellevue Hospital but then you must remember
t1st they are all poor persons and that the same
proportion would most likely not hold in the case
OF another class Of patients. No doubt it is true
that If there is a predisposition insanity living
n fat is one OF the things that viii tend to en-
courage IL
Mind you I don't believe that the fat causes
insanity as these London physicians assert that it
Goes; Insanity is an inherited disease. But the
apt 70 be shut IN By themselves goed ea S with hs
Inc WoTla outside, altogether too much oppor-
their defeats and hardships. If they are predis.
posed 70 melancholia, the loneliness may be one of
lions. - P-'o10' nan 10'H0
But il is absurd 10 suppose that living in a fat
VII proouce insanity where the tendency to men
tai arrangement does not already exist.
Fancy how il would be with you if YOU spent
your Gays n TWO or three small rooms with only
plank wall or the neighbors cIotheslines TO look
out upon and the creakng of the durnbwaiter and
ne cTylng OF the neighbors' children for your di-
versions II is the loneliness. the isolation that
gers On the mind. Over and over again find
out that this or that patient alone good deal
bs1ore me hnal outbreak Of insanity came
There was man brought in last week. His
wife had gone 10 Washington for two weeks and
ne was left alone in the fat and suddenly his mind
began TO leave him.
STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
tremendous struggle for life which people are en-
gagged This with alcoholism, intermarriage within
too limits and excuses OF all Sorts is re-
eponsble much OF the insanity that is not the
result OF inherited tendency. People come from
foreign countries and simple life TO this country,
Gated, strenuous civilization. The strain is too
great for system often defective. and the trouble
breaks The poor go insane often than
The well do. and foreigners more than the native
born population"
Thought Insanity was the increase in New-York
or that NewYork had more than its share Of luna
yue has had an Increase of about one hundred and
hity cases this year over last
Dr. Charles L Dana declined TO commit himself
siher way concerning the theory that fat life
Induces lunacy.
- don't believe any one knows anything about
O its effects formulated. How is any one in
Position 10 predicate this or that Of it?
FLATS NOT RESPONSIBLE.
The theory that insanity is on the increase be-
cause Of the fiat, with fits deadly monotony is not
supported by evidence in New York" said DR.. E c.
s9,tzka The man who first asserted that London