New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-06
SCHOOLS BREED INSANITY
Such Is the Criticism of an In.
diana Physician.

The Indiana Bulletin OF Charities and
Correction, issued by the State Board OF
Charities, whose president is Governor
Thomas r. Marshall. has Just appeared II
contains an advance announcement and
programme OF the annual State Conference
Of Charities 10 meet In the fall.
During the last few months three impor-
tant new societies have been organized in
Indiana. The first OF these, the Indiana
Housing Association. held its first meeting
in January. when a constitution was adopt
ed and committees were named to carry out
the plan Of the association, which is to
obtain better housing conditions generally,
and particularly TO acquaint the people OF
the state with the provisions of a bill to be
introduced al the next session OF the Legis-
lature.
The Indiana Association for the Study
and Prevention Of tuberculosis Is the sec
ond of these infant organizations, and VIII
conduct it's work along the lines followed
by other similar societies. 1t is a oranch
of the national organization. The lndlaoa
State Federation OF Organized Charities IS
the youngest OF the three. and Its purpose
is exactly what its name implies. Tine
membership consists Of secretaries OF local
societies in twenty Indiana cities
One of the most important subjects treat
ed in this bulletin is the prevention OF IN
sanity. DR.. S. Il. Smith, superintendent or
the Eastern Hospital for the Insane. at
Richmond. Ind, gives some figures show
ing the prevalence Of mental diseases
There are $500 insane persons in Indiana
or one I'm every group Of 800 of It's citizens
says DR.. Smith.
In enumeratng the causes that make TOT
insanity in all parts Of the country IL
Smith LAYS special emphasis upon the IN
nerfections Of our educational system. Inc
instruction." he says, is necessarily gwen
I'm rrolIps. and these are often TOO large
The tasks imposed are light for the preco-
c'ous but create heavy stress TOT inc
slower child. The tendency IS 10 raise the
standard OF requirement TO- tn" stronger
and moro active pupils at the expense OF
Greater stress TO the weak The attrac-
t,ons OF a higher education are Kept CON
etantlv before them in beautiful aud con
,d,cire, terms by teacher. lecturer and
,.,.,,or and the stress goes steadily on,
and this. too. through the critical perlod
of adolescence.
The need in our system OF education IT,
Of course. lUQlNlQItl Ilis'A IN N''''
nv groups based upon average meh'a' az
nhysical capacity. our educators are iuh'
alive 10 this need. and VIII In ume' 10
doubt solve the problem. Ihe adulI''h9
in recent years of the departments o' man
nal training and domestic science are noiP
fpI in relieving somewhat the stra'h -
mental effort. and should be encouT"e'''
NothinR. however, within my own l'ii'e mas
rro,nised so much as the lately lnaus '"l'i
eystem Of medical inspection OF All soh'o'
ohudren II this inspection can be maze
thorough 1t will prevent much oil inc III
sanity arising in early ne
cu,ht defects can thus be cured Dr'
sroith believes, before they nave de'e'opeu
IN the danger point. In cases "here GIN
d.or are incurably dull he advocates Il
,i.,,on,ro, ri the mental work Imposed
upon them ..,ua"
.It &C. bettor 10 At the task to tho child'
- eavs chan to urge the child to the
burden. and IT may be better 10 tra'n 'o'"'
children for Marthas TO serve AZ taple' W
Gov hawers of wood and drawers OF "a'ei,
thor than lead them into the OBLIVION u
dementia. . oorob
.,u,,, - ba continues. 'it Is idle TO search
,or the preventive Of the speclhc diseA'o
-, Insanity and remain blind to the 1hct
that Il is based upon diseases OF the oou'
orrans and inherited instability
mr. Smith does not forget to menuoh 'n'
- curc-all theories of the present age
Of fads ,.o,,,e
"IIealthisms are something OF vogue.
ord each new one boasts clientele Dc ~
largo or small We are told That mahlpuia
,to, of the muscles cures all diseases OK
oo,,, fractures of the bones that prolonged
stfcat,on Of food is a guarantee OF per
,act nutrition; that treading barefoot knee
dnen IN snow. insures longevity; that sus-
oos,ion is a specific remedy for every all
r,ent including insanity. barring only OF
ganic changes that Diseases AFTER "-'
oviet only in the Imagination anu ~
our.d nv the will: and that this OF Una.
oe,,h,rat,on OF drugs Is an infailible rehei
for all bodily Ills. The broad cam oi
,,,o,r respective adherents is never Justiiieu
Nv results, but there is no doubt soinet SOMETHING.
- GOOD in each one OF them, and Whatever
,hat NAV be. rational medicine VIII auop'
and utilize It,"