Evening journal., 1915-04-29
- RrRnEN 0F rHr INsANE.


NATE have over at Farnhurst weIl-managed but ex-
w pensiye institution. It is known the Delaware
state Hospital for The Insane When it was founded
years ago, the population that went into it a
suit OF emptyng the three almshouses Of their insane
inmates comparatively small Since then that
population has been growing steadily. Today il numbers
several hundred men, women and children. It costs
many thousands OF dollars year to house clohe iced
and care for those unfortunates.
The public which sympathizes deeply with IFS af-
hicted wards does not begrudgo the money. It has
natural desire however to protect itself against
necessary burdens in that direction In the fu-
ture, it is thought the European war will have ma
tcrally enlargng influence upon the populations OF
insane asylums this and other States unless the
migration authorities be very alert and prevent the
introduction into this country OF many OF those whose
minds have become disempered by injury fright grief
worrimont incident to the war
The burden of the insane with its cver-pressing need
for additional hospital service and increased mainton-
expenditures a proDiem with which every State
Legislature must erappe To prevent insanity limit
the numbers of the mentally weak and provide su-
ciont accommodation for those now with us are the
three essentials OF of the most serious questions
facing this country. immigration without doubt
is responsible a considerable portion of our insane
and mentally defective population and should be the
first factor considered in any preventative program
against the increase Of such individuals.
How far immigration is responsible for insanty's
tax-bil is revealed by sarn facts presented by
Doctor Stewart Patton of the highest authorities
insanity in this country lie declares that hreeourths
of all the insane or mentally defective immigrants in
the United States confined the public hospitals
Of Massachusetts, Rhode Island New York New Jersey
Pennsylvania and Maryland In these public nstu-
tions approximately 100000 insane persons the
number exceeding that Of all the students enrolled in
all the colleges and universities the country He fur
ther declares that il all the States had provisions
lfg In
there would be more than 100000 insane in the hospi
tails today and that if there added those in whom
mental disease exists but is unrecognized. the number
under treatment would be half a million To this vast
army of unatcs semi-lunatics, 10000 patients,
almost the full strength of regular army. added
every year.
In New York on January 1, 1870 81 PSI insane we're
the hospitals the state and these S4S1, nearly
half foreien-born whites. Expenditures for the
insane in New York one-fourth of the total
nua expenditures and still the demands made for
institutions for the eebleminded, the insane and
the epileptic.
Staggering startling dguros but if we are to believe
expert testimony and If there be truth in the tales
brought to from the waters the great hid
raging will increase this burden of the
mentally weak unless effective steps taken to meet
tho danger Accumulating evidence to every
day of the terrible effects that modern is having
upon both combatants and oncombatants. Stories of
"gibbering idiots" "recuperating shattered nerves.
"nsane from the awful of hundreds of great
guns" and 'loss Of from atrocities and hard
! ships found daily in our newspapers and have
/ become favorite subjects in magazines
The United States must protect itself against those
! who would unload such victims upon it for care
| and maintenance. While Americans naturally feel
acute sympathy for them, it cannot afford to relieve
those nations which, by their warike policies, have
produced those insane persons by permitting them to
unload them upon American taxpayers. The of
such persons should he left to the several beg
erents solution with the many economic and other
! questions that will up in tho reconstruction
period that will be the wars aftermath.