El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-23

~ HE enormous Increase in the
spread Of insanity throughout the
United States has led those in
terested in the general welfare to
take some steps towards retarding this
great evil. The Russell Sage founda-
ton fund, devoted TO the advances Of
all departments Of social welfare, has
lately given consideration to the
spread Of insanity and is now conduct
hoped will aid in determining the
causes and the remedy for the abnOr-
nal increase in mental detectives in
America
The Awful Increase.
According to carefully prepared sta
tistics and estimates, insanity has in
creased 104 percent during the last 30
years, while the population during that
period has only increased 49 percent.
According to the reports OF the board
Of charities for the state OF New York,
there. were last year 80 800 insane per-
sons being cared for in institutions in
that state and this did not include
those being cared for in their own
homes or in private Institutions. This
Is practically equivalent to one insane
person for each $50 Of the population
Of the state.
These figures. OF course. include pa
tients who have been in the institu-
tons for years and therefore have been
enumerated a number of times. There
fore, the statement that over 10000
persons have been found insane in the
state OF New York during one year is
rather misleading. The actual number
Of new cases admitted, so far as can
be ascertained, reached 1901, which
would amount to one 1Or each 1000
sane persons in the state above Is years
Of age. This IS a grave condition, es-
pecially when there is every reason to
expect that the showing this year will
In many cases insanity may be
brought about by some physical ailment,
which II properly treated may be rem
edied, and with restored physical health
the mental health may be regained
Again, there are cases Of sudden or
acute insanity caused from some IN
usual stress OF circumstances. which
might be cured by proper treatment
in its early stages. which too often IS
not given. and thus many people be-
come permanently insane. When an
insane person is treated almost as
criminal, in that he can only be placed
in a hospital for treatment by being
committed by a court the friends Of
such an unfortunate naturally viii
have him placed in an institution as
last resort, and IN most cases that is
too late for recovery. For this reason
the need Of place designed Tor the
temporary reception Of unbalanced per
sons is at last becoming recognized and
steps towards the establishment Of such
institutions are being taken in differ
ent parts Of the country.
OIzInhOma's Advance.
Oklahoma has lately made great ad-
vance in its provision for the care OF
persons mentally afflicted. Each state
hospital has provided q psychOpathic
ward to Whicn persons laboring under
mental deluStOns may be admitted with
out any form OF commitment. and the
medical staff Of the hospital decides
upon the treatment needed Often 1t IS
only temporary and the patient recOv-
ers and reneWs his ordinary pursuits
without having the stigma OF insanity
attached to his name. All Char IS nee
essary to admit a patient TO the psy-
chOpathic ward Is an affirmative answer
to the question: rs the patient SUI
ferin9 from such a degree OF brain or
nervous disorder that would make tenn
pOrarU treatment IN a psychOparhic
hospital beneficial2' 1t is believed that
when the dread OF the stigma OF tnsani-
ty has been removed by these methods
persons suffering from severe mental
strain viii be willing to go voluntarily
to such a hospital for treatment and
that the number OF cases OF chronic in
sanity viii be materially decreased This
viii also lessen the expense OF the state
In caring for the insane, while giving
to those who require it the best scien-
ttfic trea tment
The psychopathic hospital is compar-
atively new in America, but has been
in operation for a number OF years in
the larger cities Of Europe with eX-
cellent results. A delegate to recent
conference on charities and correction,
held in Munich, described an incident
which took place during one OF the
meetings An elderly lady who had
tried several times to attract the atten-
ton Of the presiding officer. suddenly
lost her mind and tried to stab the
person in front Of her with penknlfe-
The Red Cross nurse rom the rest room
promptly took charge Of her. car
rage was called and she was taken to
the hospital, and admitted, without her
family having the humiliation OF nav
inE her turned over 10 the ponce, as
must have happened In America Be
ing interested in this method the dele
gate followed up the case and learned
that after a week the unfortunate lady
completely recovered and returned TO
her home.
Massac husetts is now erecting a psy-
chOpathic neurological hospital in BOs- I
ton, at an expense OF $500. oOO This wiz
be utilized for receiving and classify
ing patients with mental or nervous
diseases. It Is expected that this lnsti- Z
tuition viii be able to receive 1900 pa
tents The wards viii accommodate
$50. those received being promptly sent
elsewhere as soon as It is determined
what Institution IS best suited to their |
special needs.
California has lately taken action In
this direction. There is a special re-
ceptiOn ward in connection with all OF [
its hospitals, where patients can be
brought without the formality Of a
commitment All OF its state hospitals
are provided with cottages equipped !
with the best apparatus HnOwn TO the
medical profession for the trea tment Of
the insane. These insane hospitals are
no longer used as places Of detention I
for the chronic insane, but rather as
places for the treatment and cure Of
insanity. In this connection 1T should Z
be mentioned that methods Of treatment {
for insanity have made great progress
during the past few years. MeChani- I
cal restraints are seldom. if ever, used I
In severe cases the patient IS Kept in I
bed most Of the time and treated as If I
he were sick physically, rather than /
mentally
The District Of Columbia has for sew /
eral years been making an effort to 1
secure a special hospital for the recep- I
ton Of those who become suddenly un- /
balanced There seems to be q special I
need for this institution IN the national /
capital. because Of the number of 4
strangers who come and under the eX-
element Of travelling often have at |
taclzs of mental alteration. The num- /
Der Of such cases is greater in Wash /
ingtOn than in any other city OF its I
size in America. The new hospital viii I
also provide a place Of detention for /