The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-11-03

tune. his position. his family, his re
putation, even in his self-respect."
II Is wei known to psychiatrists
that stress and strain operate most
heaViiy IN breaking down nervous sta
uiiity. Inc more civilized we become
the more insane we have. and the
same is true of all diseases in general
IL IS not the increased intelligence
itseiI coexistent with advanced civili-
Zatlon that tends toward nerve ex-
naustion; IT is the wear and tear Of
nerve tissue involved in the struggle
Tor existence together with the rein
ing OF n nervous system which
makes the mechanism more delicate
and thus more susceptible to prostra-
ton.
In 1890 the insane in New York
state hospitals and almshouses num-
pered l6'0O6, while in 1910 the num-
per had jumped to 32,65S. In twen-
ty years time there was an increase of
over lO4 per cent. During the same
period the increase of population was |
only 81 per cent. Unfortunately. we
nave no similar statistics concerning
IeeDlemlnedneSS, but it is believed by
many that this is also on the increase.
Some observers hold tina the most
frequent causative factor in the pro
duction of feebleminded children is a
morbid heredity. Tredgold states tina
IN his inquiries "Over so per cent. of
persons suffering from the severer
grades of amentia (mental deficiency
were the descendants of pronounced
homeopathic stock. In GA per cent. the
incredibly was in the form Of insanity
or epilepsy: while in 10 per cent. it
consisted of a marked family tendency
to paralysis, celebral hemOrrhages or
various neurOSeS and ~psychoses Gin
sanities)."
He further cites the indings of
Beach and Shuttleworth that "insani-
ty, epilepsy and allied neuroses were
we'll marked in the ancestors of AZ per
cent. of the patients they examined;
but DR.. Caldicott considers tina 70 to
IS per cent. have homeopathic antece-
dents. In America a commission ap-
pointed by the Legislature Of Connec-
ticut found homeopathic heredity to be
the u~ndoubted cause in 43 per cent
In Germany Koch came to the con-
clusion that it ~accounted for 60 per
cent. Of cases. In Switzerland (can
ION of Bern) the ensus of 1898 show
. ed that heredlty was present in SIS pei
cent. of idiots; while in Norway Lud-
: Wig Dahl found it to occur in 80 pei
7 cent. Of cases."
Generally speaking we may say that
I in all diseases there are two c%ausative
v and a precipitating cause. The French
. Revolution may be paralleled. Thu
: underlying cause was the oppression
= of the b~ourgeoiSie by the mobiles fol
: several centuries; the precipitatin
cause was the storming Of the Bastile
In paresis, for example, %popularl.
known as s%oftening of the brain, tn
q underlying fundamental cause is
e certain so-called blood disease. Will
n the factors which may bring tn
n symptoms Of paresis to the fore, preci
plate them, are mental stress an
anxiety. alcoholism, and the like. !
# person may have the BLOOD diseas
err very s%trikingly serious malady
az simply because the p~recipitatin
causes are avoided.
"A Thus much can be done in the wa
,e Of prevention in mental hygiene nc
Is only in the present generation, bu
x w more especially for those to To-
low. EugenicS has a place in cor
as trolling hereditary factors. but legis
10 lation will not do it. What is neces
Il sary is the wider dissemination {
IS knowledge of these matters. MOI
in scientific study and a rational an
III healthy public opinion.
o.. Excellent beginnings have alread
vn been made. The clearing house f
is mental detectives at the Postcard,
ar ate Hospital is doing fine work
of examining, advising, properly dlspo
ing of cases, and in research. Colun
nm bia University through its extensie
is courses gives an opportunity to a
NJ those interested to study these and a
as lied subjects from scientific points
view.
ies But much good work will be u
to done by the present crisis. n
cd ton. deprivation, worry. lnancl
he stress, impoverishment. excitement, {
at already are following and will CO
he tinue to follow in the wake Of t
All struggle. The majority Of the me
virile will be either killed or disable
the women at home will suffer unto
~ hardship Of every kind. What "
cir n result OF tue ~al
est STANDPOINT VI sant
mr.. and nervous diseases
is Legrand ou Sauie ~ 80. a,
les. ninety-tWO cnlluIcu l