The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-20

ton would be yes, although 1t calls
for certain criticism as to the use OF
the word insanity. Insanity, in my es-
timarion, is not a medical term at all.
The mind is subject TO various dis
eases When such diseases are OF a
nature or degree as 20 render the in
dividual united to live in the COM
nuniry, either because OF danger to
himself or to others-when. in other
words. the community is unwilling to
put up with him any longer--ne Is by
that community segregated to the con-
fines of an institution. The process of
this segregation Is a legal process. 1t
is legal process to determine sanity.
Sanity, in the meaning OF this process.
Is fitness to live in the community;
insanity the opposite. The physician
secs the preAence OF mental disease, the
lawyer fixes the legal status Nat
vrally as civilization advances ii be-
comes more and more complex. and.
therefore. the difficulties OF given an
dividual getting along in the COM
munhy become greater and greater.
and. therefore. again departures from
the normal Of less and less extent be-
come matters which may lead to ones
commitment as insane
SReef FoctOr IN Ma0AeS0.
Which do you regard as the more
dangerous factor IN insanity to-day,
exciting or predisposing causes?''
The general tendency to-day is to
believe that the more important fac
tors in the production Of mental dis
ease are those that are resident in the
individual or the pred1spostng.'
"A noted albenist lately named
wine. women. worry and work as the
chief exciting causes. Do you agree
with him.
NO. that Is a good example of aIht-
Grafton: that's all"
How can the chief exciting and
be ehminaaed8"
The subject OF mental hygiene is
an extensive one. Preventive medi-
cine as applied to mental disorders has
its most difficult problem and Its most
complex. In the main, q mere inten-
sive scientific study Of the various men
tai diseases in order to determine
more accurately the various factors
that are At work in their production
and development Is an essential pre-
condition"
Are not improved methods Of living
any N tAcoc Sd0SCS lHAt
may be increastng?"
Improved methods OF living. SO fav
az improved sanitary conditions are
concerned. undoubtedly materially d.
minish the number Of cases Of insanity
due to causes Of an infectious. toxic
and exhaustive character"
Are there any sex differences In
modern tendencies toward insanity:
Does the rate Of increase seem t. be
greater among men or women"
THE percentage Of insanity in the
two sexes is practically equal"
Race Suicide and insanity.
Does not the general decrease In
the size Of families tend toward reliev-
ing women Of worries which lay the
foundation for insanityT
That IL too complex a question to
be answered categorically. The pres
ence OF children in a family that 10
becomes q source OF
drain which the mother particularly to
Ill fitted TO maintain The actual ell
oioxy OF the mental breakdown under
SUD, circumstances has largely to dc
with exhaustive work and poor nu-
TRITON. which, Of course. In such an
instance Is localized about the pres
ence OF the child. OF course the pres
ence Of the child IL merely incidental.
Such causes might we'll produce actuaI
disease for other reasons than the
mere fact that there were too many