Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-05
RESTRAINT ALONE KEEPS
INSANE SEEMINGLY WELL
Aenists Declare That Just as That Is Removed
Those Apparently Sane Lapse Into Old conditonebri-
ates Are Generally Hopeless.

It is rather a curious fact, and one
known to but very few people, that
there are persons confined In the
Overlook Asylum for the Insane
that are absolutely sane. And this
condition exists not only at Over
brook, but at every insane asylum in
the country. or the world for that
matter.
Now, don't get excited and Jump at
the conclusion that this is a condition
that is wrong. for it is not, as every
aienist In the country will tell you.
1t Is a condition that exists simply
because 1t could not be otherwise.
The sane persons kept in restraint
In hospitals such as Overlook are
those that in general appearance and
actions are sane, but the very re-
strafnt they are under is all that
keeps them sane. If they were out of
the hospital and away from the
medical care they receive they would
at once relapse into insanity again.
This condition is particularly true
of persons made insane through in
ceived at the hospital they are SUBJ
Ject to all sorts of delusions, some
harmless and some very dangerous.
A period of treatment in the hospital
clears up their minds and they are
perfectly normal again.
A person whose mind has been
cleared up by the treatment is not
regarded as sane person by hos
pital authorities, for the simple
reason that they are not. AS soon as
they are released from the institution,
in nine cases out OF ten--the per-
centage Is nearer 80 out of 100 cases
they at once fall back into the drink
habit, and soon return to the asylum,
as insane as ever.
For this reason while this class of
patients may be in an asylum for
months and even years. they are still
insane in the eyes of the alienists, for
they know that the same condition
only lasts while the person is under
restraint.
In some other species Of insanity
besides that caused by alcoholism
the afflicted persons are to all intents
and appearance sane for long periods
while under restraint, only to have
the insanity appear again as soon as
the restraint is removed. At the
Overlook Asylum for the Insane
there are comparatively few patients
who come under this class that
might be called sometimes" insane
-.
study given each case by the Over
brook medical staff results in many
persons being released from there
as cured who in an institution where
the patients did not receive the same
care would remain there indefinitely.
DR.. Guy Payne, the medical SUPER
intendent of the institution, is firm
believer in a home for inebriates.
something that Essex county or even
the State of New Jersey does not
possess. While alcoholism is recog-
nized as species of insanity, it is
one form of insanity that by careful
and proper treatment is believed to
be durable. although the cure in nine
tenths of the cases rests almost en-
tirely with the patient himself. If
he has the will power to keep away
from intoxicating liquors after his
system Is once free from them, the
cure will be permanent If he lacks
that will power no treatment, medi-
cal or otherwise, will aid him.
Inebriates, Dr. Payne explains. do
not properly belong in an insane asy
lum. The treatment necessary in
cases of that class differs from that
accorded person suffering from men
tai trouble due to other causes. It is
also pointed out by DIR. Payne that
there are countless hundreds OF in
stances where persons suffering from
excessive drink could be committed to
a home for inebriates, where they
could not possibly be taken into an
insane asylum for the simple reason
that a person suffering from inebriacy
is not always insane.
Furthermore, DR.. Payne points out