The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-10-15

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striking manner how closely insanity
of several types, at least, is associat-
ed with physical ill-health. The pres
ence of these definite symptoms OF
ill-health has its practical value, in
that it enables use to benefit the pa
tients by treating them directly and
by relieving them-to do good to the
disordered mind directly through the
influence of a healthy body on the
functions of the brain.
Unfortunately, large number OF
patients come to us in consequence
of mental infrmities which accom-
pany advancing years, in whom the
prospects of complete recovery are
not good, owing to the presence OF
chronic diseases and of natural de-
cay.
Mental overwork, unaccompanied
by sudden shock sustained by an aver
age man or woman in good health,
very seldom lead to mental disorders.
Instance, of courses, occur in predls-
posed people-and we might say here,
that predispositiOn, or heredity, is the
corner stone of practically all cases
of insanity-this is not surprising,
but what is more remarkable are the
calamities and oyerwork which nor
NAL adults will stand, provided they
are in good health. If, therefore, we
desire to avert insanity, our most use
full precautionary measure is to main
tain the health of the body, and if we
desire to treat it nationally when it
has developed, the first step to be TAX
en- is to re-establsh the general
health.
Excessive indulgence in alcohol,
drugs, and so-called patent medicines
is an exciting cause in a large proper
ton of cases.
Among the cases of insanity and
degeneracy it has been claimed by
some that farmers wives were more
prone to break down than other wo-
men, owing to the character of their
work and the isolation of environ
ment; also that the percentage of de-
generates and insane, in excess, came
! from the back decadent towns. We
have taken no pains to compile and
| tabulate statistics covering all of the
| admissions from the 20 northern
| counties in Vermont, since the open
/ ing of the hospital q years ago. The
/ four southern counties were not in
! cluded for the reason that most of
/ the patients from there go to the
/ Brattleboro retreat. We find that
there is positively no truth to the
claim that more farmers wives be-
come insane than those following 9th
er lines of work, in proportion to
IL. l. -, Aas~
been admitted from
Towns having from 1000 to 5000,
6S per 1000 population.
Towns having from 1000 TO 1000,
S5 per 1000 population.
Towns having from 2000 to 5000,
IL per 1000. population.
Towns and cities having over 5000
1913 per 1000 population.
This includes all classes. viz; in
sane epileptics, criminals, alcoholic,
| drug habitues and degenerates and
conclusively shows that, all things
considered, environment has little TO
do with the subject. If there is any
| difference. it is in favor Of the back
towns. as, obviously, these cases are
more generally known there and are
sent out sooner than in the more
thickly settled communities.
From the 10 northern counties
since the opening of the hospital, 2074
cases have been admitted. making 9
plus per 1000 population. OF these:-
Essex county has 2.S per 1000 po-
pulation.
Caledonia county has 90 per 1000
population.
"Chittenden county has 1917 per
1000 population,
Essex county has 2S per 100 po-
pulation
Franklin county has lis per To-,
population.
Grand Isle county has ~ per 1000
population.
"Lamoille county has 9.5 per 1000
population.
Orange county has go per 1000 po-
pulation.
ORLEANS county has 60 per 1000
population.
Washington county has 100 per
1000 population.
The question often is asked re-
| garding the relative number of ad
missions from the foreign population
as compared with those born in the
state While we have not completed
our statistic in this respect, COM
parison of admissions from few
towns and cities is very Instructive,
viz; The city of Barre has the most
cosmopolitan population of any city
or town in the state. and has sent to
the hospital SIS per 1000 of this po-
pulation, while Vergennes has 113:
Middlebury 11.2; Burlington Ill.