The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-14
TIE MENTAL APTITUDE OF THE
REFORjIER,

Pope's idea was that 1.-THE proper
study of mankind is man" He has
always been an enigma, and particu-
larly when he differs in any striking
way from the common run of his
kind. There is special interest there
fore. in the contribution OF "fsy
chiatristn to the New York sun on
and coming at this time of great un-
rest 1t affords the basis for the serious
study of the present day sensation
mongers and influential disturbers of
The public peace. who have succeeded
by their "dreary and empty plati-
tudes," their speeches which echo the
most silly utterances of the French
Revolution in exciting the lowest
instinct of the mob"
TT is not difficult" says the sun
correspondent. ito realize that most
OF these noisy people are more or less
unbalanced: and some Of them suffer
from a well known psychosis known
as paranoia. one division of which is
paranoia- refornatoria The basis of
paranoia is the psychopathic temper
ament, which as rule is inherited
What an alienist knows as psy-
chopath is an individual of Defective
organization who differs from the
average of his fellows by reason OF a
conspicuous amount of mental in
stability and by the expression of |
sccentricities. and who under the in
iuence of adequate causes invites the
development Of certain wen recog-
lized insanities, the most important
Of which is that form marked by COM
oarative though not real conservation
of many of the normal mental oper-
ations. with delusions These false
beliefs are limited and vary from
oaranoid changes to well marked de-
lusionaf states, usually of suspicion
persecution and''consnracy Again
the dominant Element may be an in
sane vanity or elation, with actual
decisions of power and grandeur-and
sometimes violence"
krafft Ebing. of Vienna, an eminent
German neurological, author of nu-
merous books and monographs on
nervous aid mental diseases, speaks of
that form Of paranoia which is con-
ccrned with "brilliam deeds as moot
artist, discoverer social retormer
founder of new religions etc; and
says.
IN proportion to the N ..tal endow-
neht their IDEAS are silly, absurd or
they are original and at FIRST sir.ht
surprising, and in spite OF all pers
versity and want of harmony in The
mental capabilities, they give evidence
OIL certain mental powers. Thus II
may happen that the public, devoid OF
good Judgment, may take the 1ndt-
Nidual for genius, just as on the
other hand geniuses are taken for
iools. They come forth IN times
OF excitement as discoveries of new
social and political systems for the
saving OF society or the founders of
ideal states or the orlginators of new
religious sects, etc III Is interestinc IN
observe how at such times a FOO,
makes not ten but a thousand FOOLS
how whole sections of the people ara
infected by the originality and eccen-
1tricities of such crazy den1agogues
attracted by the fanatic zeal, founded
'-ti'7ttiite'' ON iidIluclnalonS, and their
deiusions of grandeur, and through
their original weak minded peryer-
sions and want of logic they regard
the manifestations OF sound thinIiins.
rs YeSations created by their on
ponefts; as manifestations OF ioalousy
or rivairy Nor of fear of their remarl,.
alie talents, In the asylum these ma
fients continue to elaborate their
paranoiac IDEAS of reform: they i've
only for themselves and for their
dreams Of the future, awaiting the mo.
ment when these shall be realized, In
the course Of years the personality Is
often transformed into an Individuality
quite demented. and evidences OF con.
fusion and mental debility become ap-
parent"
The sun correspondent adds TO his
dissection of these paranoiacs such
further manifestations OF their dis
temper as intolerance Of eatab.
l!shed authority, Especially Il they
think it lnterferes or even is not In
harmopy win their own eEtrayagant
ideas, yituperation ana general intefn-.
perance OF speech, disorderly
hight OF Ideas even about the
most trivial subject" grandiogel