Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-06-21

Science has long classified insanity
for what it is, merely disease, but so
ciety in its treatment of the insane
has been slow to get away from the
old belief that the insane are pos
sessed of devils and hence fit sub1ects
for e%xeeration and dire p~unishments.
That this long-exploded demon
theory still turks in the back OF many
an artificial brain is proven by the
fact that there are still to be fouhd
in many insane asylums contriVances
for the treatment" of the insane that
look like relics of the Spanish lnquisl-
ton.
On the other hand the spread OF
scientific knowledge as regards lnsah-
ity is evidenced by the fact that THESE
instruments of torture are gradually
giving place to appliances for the
study and treatment of the insane
from the rational standpoint-to psy-
chical instruments of precision ana
hydropathic plants, to flowers and
music and gymnasia.
Insanity is mere mental sickness,
sickness that is alawys anchored IN
some way to physical arrangement.
Thus. fully so per cent. of all the IN
sane are insane because of senile de-
cay or syphilis; 10 per cent. at least
because of the use of alcohol. and so
on through a long list of causes-mor-
phine, cocaine, sexual p~erversion, ETC.,
all of which have their bearing on the
mind through the body.
Treatment for insanity, then, If 1t
is to be successful, must begin with
the body, must go to the root of the
matter and eradicate 1t. The idea.
treatment for insanity is that which
succeeds in diverting the mind while
1t builds up the body, which aWakens
new and healthy interest that leaves
the body free to recuperate under
proper feeding, exercise. etc. Thus
the brain and nerve centres that have
been a party to the obsession are
given rest and built up to the exclu-
sion of the vicious habit of thought.
Just now there is a strong feeling
In favor of radical reform in the way
the insane are handled by the State
before they are committed to some
State institution. Under existing
laws the unfortunate Is practically
put under arrest, is hailed before a
judge and examined as though he
were a criminal, with all the public
ity that goes with a criminal trial,
and if %adjudged insane, is taken away
like a convict.
Anyone with a tendency toward
mental arrangement, If not already
insane, would certainly be driven
crazy before the end of this barbar-
Gus process.
The remedy for this state of affairs
Is provision for voluntary and secret
submission for State treatment. just
as one would go to any hospital for
treatment for any other disease.
Frederick A. Jenning, LII. M, of
Washington, writing on this subject
in the Journal of the American Medi-
cal Association, says
1.-THE patient who Is so fortunate
as to live in a State having a volun-
tary commitment law, is enabled of
his own motion. without the knowl-
edge of an kind whatsoever, to place
himself under competent medical di-
rection and control.
IF his ailment is one that responds
readily to scientific treatment. he re-
turns in a short time to home and
business without attracting n more
attention than he would from an Or
binary vacation.
such a patient knows, THAT the
State hospital or the private institu-
ton, subject as both are to the zeal
Gus visitations of lunacy e%9ninis-
sions, will not keep him unless his
condition so requires. This realiza-
ton is a most important factor in
assisting in the upbuilding Of theaGis-
turbed mind.
Far different, indeed, is the refiec-
ton of the man who in order to be
treated has been obliged to submit