Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-10
WHY PEOPLE-GO CRAZY
Dr.. Robins of Lunacy Commit
tee Makes Report.
PSYCH0PATHIC HOSPITAL
Is What This City Needs, Committee
Thinks.
MR.. - WEST APPROVES IDEA
1t Was at His Suggestion That the
Committee Was Appointed
Some Time Ago.
R. - WEST APPROVES IDEA

DR.. William L. Robins, chairman of
committee appointed by the Commissioners
to investigate local lunacy conditions. has
made preliminary report, which declares
that present methods make 1t almost impos-
sible to secure adequate information as to
the causes of insanity in the District.
1t is pointed out by Dr. Robins that the
certificates upon which persons are COM
mitted to the insane asylum should give
ample information. instead of being con-
fined to a mere skeleton of facts, which
seems to be the case at the present time.
This is due in large part, he says. to the
fact that many of those who sign such
certificates fail to realize the Importance
of giving in detail the data requested by
the authorities of the Government Asylum
for the Insane.
The present system of committing pa
tents to ST. Elizabeths could be greatly
improved upon. DR.. Robins says, by the es-
adjustment of psychopathic hospital.
where persons suspected of insanity could
be sent for observation. Those found to be
in need of treatment for mental disorder
could then be sent to the asylum upon the
certificate of the physicians connected with
the psychopathic hospital.
Commissioner Approves.
Commissioner West is enthusiastic over
The idea of an observation hospital, as sug-
gested by DR.. Robins.
DIR. Robins presents some important data
concerning the work being done in this
country and elsewhere for the prevention
detection and treatment of insanity. Com
missioner West said today that he hopes
the work of this committee will result in
definite improvement of the methods and
conditions.
1t was because Mr.. West as Commits
sioner was called upon to sign a large
unit lantS
year that he suggested the appointment OF
a committee to look into the causes of in
sanity here and to discover, If possible. the
cause of the increase in the District in the
last ten years.
Associated with DR.. Robins are Drs. j.
C. Simpson and w. P. Compton.
Few Cases Have History"
AS very little information concerning the
various cases committed to the local in
sane asylum could be found DIR. Robins
found it almost impossible to give any good
and specific reasons for the increase of in
sanity here. Many non-residents are sent
to ST. Elizabeth every year. and seldom
can medical history of any specific case
be obtained.
Dr. Robins says that in 1896 there were
1913 commitments to the asylum from this
jurisdiction, and in 1907 361 commitments
decided increase. In 1904 there were 46T
commitments-the highest number for any
one year-and since that year there has
been slight decrease.
Discussing his psychopathic hospital sug-
gestion. DR.. Robins says that Germany has
in operation twenty-five such institutions.
with others in course of construction. or
the institution at Munich, a special report
of our Consul General Mason at Berlin
says: Among the valuable lessons which
most other nations can advantageously
learn from the experience and practice of
Germany is the scientific treatment of in
sanity In Its incipient stages as physical
and possibly durable disease.
We're Behind the Times.
Notwithstanding the rapid and deplorabe
increase of mental diseases which has fol-
lowed the stress and strain of modern bust
ness and social life, it must be admitted
that In the United States governmental
beneflcence has not progressed beyond the
elementary function of providing asylums
In which the more less hnnelessly incur