Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-28

WASHINGTON. December 25.-The
amazing number OF ncurotics and
psychopathS encountered In the armies
OF this war havo demonstrated the
tremendous need OF the mental clinic
in our civil life. In almost every city
In this country there arc eye. car and
throat clinics. dental clinics and ortho-
pcdic clinics. The city hospitals main-
tain free wards for all such cases. But
IL la only within the last few years
that few cities have established mem
tai Gispensaric' where people could 20
and be treated free OF charge for men
tai diseases.
In Now York. Boston. Baltimore. Ann
Arhor. Micn., and several other cities
mental diSpensarics have been Intro
duced with encouraging success: In
fc% other cities hospitals have estab-
lishci free mental wards. but the in
stances arc all too few. In every COM
munity there arc many persons who
are in need Of mental treatment. just
as others arc in need OF throat treat
mcnt, but there is no provision for
! them. Nerve specialists there are
plenty. but nerve specialist is tho
one type OF medical man who rarely
undertakes phiianthropic work--not
that he Is unwilling. but somehow pco-
pie do not look for nerve diseases
among poor.
Yet moro neurotics, moron5, psyche
paths and fccble-mindcd persons arc TO
be found among tho poorer classes than
anywhere else. The American Society
OF Mental Hygiene recently made a
study OF the inmates of several Amcri-
can prisons and established the fact
that with few exceptions. the criminal
Is mentally defective. Most drug ad-
diets. Migrants irresponsible and de-
iinquents moreover. arc victims Of
mental disorders. And, while these
types are not peculiar to the poorer
classes. they are most prolific under
poor economic conditions. Here, where
the struggle for existence Is hardest.
where the strain is always felt and
mans personality is in constant con-
fict with his environment, Is the great
need for the mental clinic.
VIII Not Admit Defect.
One difficulty lies in the way OF the
mental clinic. however. which does not
affect other clinics. That is tho diff
dcncc most people feel towards ad-
hitting any mental inirmity. About
his sore throat or his hay fever or his
lumbaso man will talk TO you for
hours. but let II once be suggested that
II is his personality which needs =
ltttlc treatment and he cnergetically
rises to his own defense. Thus II hap
pens that patients arc usually brought
! TO the mental dispensary. and not at
tracted there. A mother brings her
small son at the suggestion Of an
officer OF the Juvenile Court; a woman
is sent TO the dispcnsary by her ply
stefan; still other cases are brought by
social workers.
Often, too. person has no suspicion
whatever that he is suffering from
mental trouble. His symptoms may be
anything from headaches to hallucina-
tons indigestion Is frequently caused
b. mental excitement instead OF un-
conEental food. Blindness and deaf
ness. palsies and even paralysis may
be symptoms OF mental disorder Just
as much as hystcria. hypochondra and
tantruns. 4 music teacher for years
used to have vomiting spells regularly.
! every Saturday night. She tried all in
digestion remedies TO no avail. Then
she happened to como under the OBJ
serfation OF psychiatrist. Il friend
or the family. lie discovered that on
saturdays this young woman taught
pupils in widely separated parts of the
cry. that she was constantly running
TO catch cars. and worrying over pos
sioic delays in her appointments. By
evening her nerves were keyed to such
! pitch that nausea was the result.
He explained the matter 10 the young
wonan's family, and got them to per.
suade her TO give up these Saturday
pupils for a couple Of months and to
spend her Saturday afternoons In the
gymnasium of the local 7 W. G.. A.
This prescription was successful where
all the indigestion remedies had failed.
! Mind sad BODY Allied.
| on the other hand. organic distur-