The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-07-12
BASEBALL CURE FOR INSANE
Treatment Is Not Altogether New
Expert Says It Quickens Sluggish
Brains and Wits.

Baseball dope, the batting averages,
league standings, vital statistics and
the rest of the assorted, f1rst-aid-to.
the-cur1ous information, is now being
put to practical use in curing back
ward minds and incorrigible students
IN the Newton Technical high school,
Boston.
However, the use of baseball for the
treatment of ailing minds is not alto
gether new, for DR.. w. o. Krohn. for
mer professor of Psychology at tho
University of Illinois, and head ply
stefan at the Kankakee asylum. as
serts that baseball was used most ben
et1cially while he was at the state in.
stitution and he had as an assistant
Frank Pfeffer, who pitched for the
Cubs last year and this year is with
the Boston Nationals.
DR.. Krohn Is firm believer in the
use of baseball as treatment for the
Insane, but says that it is especially
valuable in quickening dull wits and
speeding the sluggish brain into &C.
tivity.
you might say without departing
from the literal truth that baseball
makes the insane sane and the sane
insane" said the doctor. AT least
the sane often give manifestations of
violent insanity while the insane seem
rational while under the influence of
baseball"
The new curative baseball scheme
became effective when it was found
that baseball was something which, II
properly applied, instilled new in
terest into the fading intellects Of the
unfortunates. 1t made smiles of in
telligence come on their faces. Their
listless eyes frightened for moment,
apathy was dispelled, the half-open
mouths closed-all at the mention Of
Hans Wagner's batting average and
its comparison to Lajoie's cunning.
DR.. Krohn Is an all-around heavy
weight expert in the psychological
lore, and talks interestingly of his ex-
perience with the inmates of the state
institution.
In Kankakee there are men lu.
natics who sit from day to day and
don't move a muscle or think
thought" said the doctor. They don't
live; they merely endure like piece
of furniture. Come up behind group
of them and whisper to them, How
about little game of ball and you'll
see change that is surprising"
DR.. Krohn told of the successful
teams that had been organized from
the material found in the asylum.
They'll take their positions in the
field when the game is called. man
who is in for believing himself to be
the missing link is pitcher. Another
whose ailment results from imagining
himself complete Egyptian dynasty
Is catcher. The first baseman is the
same sad fool you will see at other
times, walking around with his head
thrown back. He is balancing his
hose for fear it might fall off his face
If he didn't. And so with the rest of
Them Crazier than a quilt.
And the fans. They're still crazy.
only In a conventional way for tho
time being.
1.-THE first ball is thrown. It's hit.
The batter runs to first base. His
mind is as clear as looking glass.
1.-THE whole thing is only case Of
making the person occupy himself
with something that is Interesting to
him and baseball is one Of the very
few things that can interest the in
sane.
with the same idea in mind, fac
ulties Of schools for backward and in.
corrigible students have stimulated the
feeble minded by making them employ
their time working at something they
liked, and the faculties learned that
there was nothing as generally popu-
lar as baseball DOPE"
Bresnahan 10 Popular,
Roger Bresnahan Is having one
large season Of 1t. He can be mayor
of St. Louis If he can finish the sea-
IL tn Al,l~