Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-10-17
INSANITY IS DYING
OUT ASSERTS EXPERT
From the st. Louis Republic.

'A> ~
Wasllington-!n Improved methods
OF caring for insane. scientific research,
q better knowledge of mental diseases
by physicians, more stringent mar
liage laws. better housing conditions,
and d large humanitarian, DIR. Will
government hospital for the insane.
sees within the next half century a re-
duction of insanity to u minimum.
DIR. White has given his life to "a
with the leading alienists of the
country. In an interview he told of
his hopes for the future, and cited the
Improvement in the last so years as u
basis for his optimism.
Tie story of the shipment of an in
sylvan1a, to the Dixmont asylum, at
Pittsburgh, in a rude pine box, during
this week, called to mind the methods
of so years ago.
The man became insane 20 years
ago and the family, stunning what
they considered the disgrace of having
a son in an asylum, secretcd him in
their home.
The father, clinging to the hope
that the son would some day regain
his mind, but forced to protect his
family, shackled the son and chained
him to Il wall In an obscure portion OF
the house.
On the death of the father last week
the county authorities learned of the
presence of the son. who had grown
from youth to manhood in chains,
and took charge OF him.
But the authorities knew little more
about the care of the demented than
did the family. He was placed in a
rough pine box, and accompanied by
deputy sheriffs and Il physician, taken
to Pittsburgh in Il baggage car. They
declared that the pine box method.
which was in vogue so years ago. was
the only ono known to them.
I'm no other branch of III medical
vancement made during The last so
years than in the treatment of persons
afflicted with mental disease DIR.
White said. There has been nothing
short of a revolution, and the concep-
ton of the insane man has entirely
changed.
The bowling, raving manias is not
SO common because the -provocatiOn
has been removed. Instead of the old
box shipment, when 1T becomes neces-
sary to take a patient to an asylum, he
is likely to be won over by kindly
%suasion and occupy a seat in the chair
car. Closely guarded, of course. he is.
but treated IS a human being he re-
spends with good behavior.
"A sane nan occupied is by nature
peaceful, but attack him and his usual
composure is changed in an instant,
and he becomes militant. So it is with
The insane person. Befriend him. give
him all the liberties that safely can be
given him and his behavior is good.
Put him in chains and treat him like
q wild beast and he becomes like a
wild beast.
"Once 1t was though that every de-
mented man was dangerous to the
community at large.
Then the world awoke to the reali-
zation that an insane person was one
ynyIn hn1 uf ono ftrnn 1oonn m
Philanthropy and humanitarianism
wrought the first big changes in the
treatment Of the insane. 1t began the
erection of asylums and retreats. 1t
sought the best physicians n nurses
for their care and increased the eff
fciency OF the institutions by keeping
them out of politics.
1T is also true that there are more
people confined in the asylums today
than ever before. but that is not an
argument that there is more insanity
h ever. Many people have gone to
asylums for treatment in the last few
years that would not have gone under
the old system. They themselves,
their families and friends realized the
advantage of scientific treatment.
A I have said, we allow patients a
great deal of liberty. n once In q
while one gets away. but they are
goon found and returned. No violently
insane get away. They are watched
too closely.
"With the study of mental diseases
in our medical schools a better UNDER
standing of the insane person by the
layman and more stringent marriage
laws-laws that will prevent the union
of diseased persons, whose offspring
cannot be strong mentally or physical
ly-there fs certain to be a wonderful
Improvement within the mex SO years.
even in the next 10 years.
N"Insane persons there will be always,
but the number will be reduced to q
minimum."