The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-02-21
EngIand's Big Investment
d i'm Insane Asylums
CAUSES OF INSANITY
Haste and RcstIessncss cf MoGrri
Life II Strong FactUr---2J ! "r
Cent. Due to EcrCdity--]trcnuoS
ity Of BODY and Mind Beneficiary
Prescribed in Some Cases.

Lord Rosebery, In presiding az
Lord Lieutenant of the County OF
Linllthgow at the opening OF an asy-
lum for the insane at Bangour, in
stituted at considerable expense by
the city OF Edinburgh, delivered an
address which calls for more than
passing attention, says the Plttsbnrg
Gazette.
He remarked that a sum OF no
less than s150,000,0 has been In
vested In these public asylums for
the insane in the United Kingdom,
which he has described as tombs for
intellectually dead. He added that
S15.000,000 was spent annually for
their maintainence, but pointed out
that all this enormous amount OF
money is expended by the nation. not
for those for whom 1t can have any
hope In the future, but for those
who represent their waste and de-
cay-ln short, that 1t was of all pub
lie investments the most unproduc-
tive.
Lord Rosebery did not condemn
this expenditure as extravagant. nor
did he intimate that the lot OF the
insane should be rendered more
cruel by the diminishment OF their
comforts. But he argued that some
steps should be taken to arrest the
altogether phenomenal increase OF
insanity. During the last fifty yeara,
while the population of the United
Kingdom has increased by rs per
cent. the number OF lunatics had
augmented by 230 per cent.
With regard to the causes of this
growth of lunacy. which is by no
means confined to England. but
which extends to all the civilized
countries, he was unable to speak
with any degree of assurance. and
save for the fact that @ per cent. OF
insanity is medically ascribed to he
redity, he was compelled to rest let
himself to the expression of opinions
OF his own.
Thus Lord Rosebery is inclined to
attribute much of the spread of de-
mentia to the haste and restlessness
of our modern twentieth century
life, which show themselves In an
entire absence of repose and in the.
Development of perfect mania for
spc ID, not only whore motors are
concerned, but also in steamship and
railroad travel
To this many will be disposed to
take exception. In no country of the
void is hurry developed to such a
decree as in the United States. Yet
statistics so to show that the ratio
of insanity to the population is not
In any sense larger, but, on the con-
| trary, rather smaller than that
among many European nations,
where more leisurely ways and meth
DDS prevail.
II people are kept so busy here In
America that they have but little
time for thought and quiet rehec-
ton, they likewise have no time to
brood upon the subject OF their real
or imaginary wrongs and miseries,
and the result is that we find here
much less of that morbid introspec-
tion which when allowed free rein
too frequently devcloIS into mona
mania
Strenuosity of mind and body are
to such degree regarded by the
leading alienists as beneficial In
cases of diseases of the mind that we
find them endeavoring to cure Queen
Sophia OF Sweden of her religious
melancholia by compelling her to
perform the most arduous kind Of
housework and Of gardening, while
chess, the most intellectually absorb
Ing or games. was prescribed with
some success for the late sovereign,
Prince Of Lippe. who spent the
greater part of HIS reign under re-
stratnt. Leisure exists to much
greater extent In the Old World than
In America, whore everybody Is led
by necessity, by heredity and by GUS
tom, to labor for the sake OF fame or
OF wealth. Where leisure is applied
to philanthropy, to study, etc, 1t
ceases to be leisure But when not
thus employed it becomes idieness,
and the latter is one of the chief pro-
moters of insanity.
There is one remark, however. OF
Lord Rosebery with which everyone
That is the public Is willing to de-
vote such enormous sums of money
to Inc housing and the care Of the
Intellectually dead 1t should not be
so careless with regard to the hous-
Ing of the Intellectually llving-that
is to say, of the sane poor.
Whereas, lunatics who can be of no
further use whatsoever to the com.
munity, and who are destined to re-
main forever a totally unproductive
Investment of capital, are provided
not only with greater comforts but
likewise with the most up-to-date,
commodious and even luxurious habi-
tations, regardless of cost, the labor
inS clases-that is to say, useful citl-
zens and their children, who are des-
tined to become factors In the ma
TONS prosperity-are permitted to
live among the most appalling sur
rOundiugs In frightful tenements