The Honesdale citizen. [volume] (Honesdale, Pa.) 1873-1908, 1908-07-02

Gus Life on Children and viii Seek
Out ineipient cases-Free Preven-
tive Treatment to Be Given.
The gift by Henry Phipps, the steel
magnate Of I1ttsburg, Of 100000 to
Johns Hopkins university for the study
Of insanity and for the more careful
treatment OF insane patients will prob
ably have the effect OF starting a
wholesale crusade against insanity, ac-
cording TO the opinion recently eX-
pressed to a Washington correspond
ent Of the New York Times 10y Dr.
William A. White, superintendent ~
the Government Hospital Epr the In
sane at Washington. Tins eEpsade,
which Mr.. Phlpps large donattgn has
made possible. VIII not rest content
with the establishment OF a regular
clinic In connection with the univer
sity hospital As explained 10y Dr
White, the diagnosis Of insanity is nj
ready on a sci nt.fc basis. as much 81
as other branc. eS of medicine. The
radical departure that will now lie in-
augurated will be In seeking our cases
Of incipitnt Insanity and submitting
the sufferers to treatment OF n pre-
ventive nature.
The public schools will lie thorough
ly o'erha uled for this purpose. Just
rs now the school Is used as a central
point for forcing the children to un-
dergo vaccination, 50 the next few
years. said Br. White. will see the
schools used as rallying point against
the'tirst germs Of insanity.
rs formerly specified in the deed Of
git. the lequest will be utilized IN
establishing an additional ward ut
Johns Hopklns university. There sIc.
cial treatment will be provided for the Z
patients In the earlier stages of insan- I
ity.
The next step which is contemplated
IA accord with the general plan Of tie
gift = To- 60 back 10 the causes Of H.
sanity. Here nothing could be accom-
piiShcd without recourse to the publ,
schools. Not only will the patients il
ieed Of treatment for the early stages
If mental disease lie supplied from the
schools. free treatment l-cing Offered
the PARENTS of afflicted children, but t.
u certain extent the schools themselyr3
vii! become clinics on a larger sca''
than would I've possible In any hosI,i
tai
Here the effects OF nervous diseas
and their gradual growth into moe
serious cases Of mental disturban
viii be watched. and careful SELF
tive process will lie made possible
the officers IN charge of the wor,.
Children vino show signs Of und,r
morb' 'dness or shyness, who have Ia
come high strung from efforts t.
sur7ass their classmates In their stud
les, will come under the direct atteu-
tion of trained medical experts.
Under tris new system il viii he
stfds - r.rTUcf :. --'isss'- ~
lfeAussiY Y1iiSz1n the young Tie III!
= versal criticiVh b that has been direc:e
~, public SCHOOLS for undnly forciI :.
| children into prsliature study Of La
in, Greek and = 4ihematics has alread.
directed the q tntion of scientists i"
] this quarter.
The erection " the new ward at thr
hospital Will make II possible for cases
that warrant it-and the experts IN
tend to take W. the treatment Of ease
as soon as the signs are definitely din -
nosed-to lie brought at once under
systematic treatment.
Since the treatment Will be free. pa
tients may be induced to take ii whp
otherwise would bc set down ns mere
ly queer and allowed 10 get along 10y
themselves. This phase Of the crusade
Is expected 10 put an enormous anonIt
Of data concerning the disease at the
command Of medical men.
| The field opened up in the schools
by this bequest is al enormous one,
and the authorities do not expect To
get 1t thoroughly systenatized for sew
eral years.
The method 10 be pursued in this
second phase Of the crusade will con
sist in all the possible ways Of popu
larizing the results of scientific inveSt-
CATION. Every effort will be made 10
interest parents in the subject, and III
| formation for the use Of teachers aud
nurses will be scattered broadcast
Under this head plans are already
beis-y formulated for IL series of public
lect on the symptoms Of insanity,
the treatment Of the disease and the
methods Of preventing the growth of
morbid or abnormal tendencies IN chill
dren. These lectures as time goes olI
will assume III. proportions Of "chau
tauquas of health" and a kn"wlcdEc
Of the earlier forms Of mental weak
ness VIII b. as generally known aud
| discussed In homes As arr. Islp brliuar.
run of clIildrcn's sickness,s.