Charlevoix county herald., 1916-10-27
The RECORD MADE
BY ALCOHOLISM
ALL HOSPITALS ARE CROWDED
WITH INSANE AND MENTAL
DETECTIVES FOR CARE.
THE FIGURES ARE STARTLING
Read the Results Found BY the Com
mission Which Made Its Report
To the Legislature.

At the legislative session Of 1918
an act was passed creating COM
mission to investigate the extent OF
.eeblemindedness, epilepsy and in
sanity in Michigan, TO determine their
causes and to suggest methods
whereby the state could deal with
.hese evils That insanity feeble
nindedness and juvenile delinquency
are closely related to alcoholism was
proved by the following extracts taken
from the printed report OF the COM
mission which was presented to the
legislature of 1915:
Could the present day direct in
Auence of alcohol and syphilis be
abolished the state would be relieved
Of the care of nearly a fourth OF the
cases of insanity now yearly admitted
20 the Michigan State Hospitals.
The beneficial effects which would
result in other directions from the
removal of these two factors alone
are impossible to more than surmise;
but without doubt there would be
tremendous lessening in future gene
rations of the insanity which develops
On the foundation of defective
nervous and mental organization such
as manic Oppressive insanity, epilepsy
and feeblemindedness.
The Commission is able In this re-
port to consider the influence of al
cohol only as it is cause or factor
in the production Of the cases of in
sanity which are admitted to the
State Hospitals for the Insane.
1t should not escape attention that
he numerous cases OF alcoholic In
oxication and delirium tremens,
which are problemes Of increasing i'm
portance in all communities of the
state, are also due to the effect OF
alcohol upon the nervous system. All
are mental disturbances due to alco-
lol and the cases of insanity admitted
% the State Hospitals give \only q
slight suggestion of its Importance in
Is relation to the health OF the in
iividuals and the state
No thorough study of its influence
could warrant any other conclusion
han that it is the most active in
iuence present in our social life for
he production of poverty, criminality
md physical and nervous degeneracy
Michigan has no institution for the
special treatment Of alcoholic habits
,r inebriety. A statute enacted by the
legislature of 1913 makes it possible
or this class to enter the State Hos
,itals for treatment, but only small
oumber have been admitted under
his act
In the vicinity Of Detroit, two large
hospitals, the Wayne County Hospital
md st. Joseph's Retreat, annually
reat a considerable number Of acute
md periodic forms of alcoholic In
:oxication. Only the more prolonged
iorms of alcoholic mental disorders
md definitely insane conditions due
70 alcohol are treated in any numbers
n the State Hospitals for the Insane.
Only exceptionally are cases of deli
'um tremens admitted.
Alcohol was the direct cause of the
insanity of $50 individuals who were
admitted to the Michigan State Hos
pitals in the year 1914. Alcoholic
insanity constituted 8.4 per cent of l.
'73 patients admitted during that
period.
The greater proportion of alcoholic
insanity comes from cities OF larger
population. Those having a popula-
ion of 10000 or more furnish 666
per cent of the cases OF insanity due
70 alcohol or drugs.
The indirect influence OF alcohol is
shown in the occurrence OF alcoholism
If more than ordinary degree among
he ancestors and families Of 80 per
cent of all cases of insanity admitted
or treatment.
The comparative frequency Of in
Ianity due to alcohol is considerably
ess in Michigan than in those states
n which the population is largely
Nentered in cities Alcohol was given
rs the sole cause In 1879 per cent of
he cases of insanity admitted to the
State Hospitals for the Insane In
Massachusetts, In 1914 and in New
York 15.1 per cent of the admissions
we're due to alcohol
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT M. BARRETT, M. d.,
Chairman,
Director of the State Psyche
pathic Hospital.
JNO. l.. BURKART, NJ D.,
Secretary,
Secretary of State Board Of