Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-12

= eral toward those so unfortunate as
be attacked by some disorder of the nina
Let a person be pronounced insane and at
once there is a tendency to SHRINK away rom
him in dread and aversion. 1t is preclSely do
though he were a criminal, guilty OF some
terrible deed for which there can be no ex-
tenuation.
AS matter of fact, in not a few Localities
the insane are treated much in the fashion
of criminals. They are dragged INTO court
to be exposed to the gaze of the curious.
They may even be confined in station cells
until court decision has been reached re-
garding them. Their own relatives 40 not
always resent as they should such brutal
treatment.
The trouble is that clear appreciation of
the true nature of insanity is quite generally
lacking People do not recognize that 1t is
as much disease as tuberculosis, influenza
or typhoid fever. Still less do they recog-
nize that, given certain predlspos1ng tactors'
it is a. disease which anybody is liable to con-
tract.
Some authorities go farther than this. One
eminent alienist declares, eve are all insane
to a certain degree" Another adds
ga person does not become insane. He mas
always been insane, and some particular rae
tor makes it apparent.
I do not indorse these extreme views They
seem to me negated by facts of everyday OBJ
seryation But I quote them to emphasize
the truth I would drive home-namely, that
between sanity and insanity there is no gulf
wider than that found between health and
any form of i'll health. and that insanity is
itself form of i'll health.
If only the masses of our people could be
brought to realize this it would not be long
before the ameliorating efforts of such Or
CARNATIONS as the national committee for
mental hygiene would everywhere be crown
ed with success.
Not merely would the public insist on
penalizing heavily any inhumanlty to the IN
sane, but there would also be far more gen.
eral resort to curative treatment, as con-
trasted with custodial care, of the insane.
AS things now stand many persons lgnor-
antly let matters drift if insanity develops IN
any member of their family. They may shlela
the stricken member, but they make no ell
fort, or next to no effort, to have MIN 1reateo
effectively.
They take it for granted that nothing can
be done, that his insanity is an affiction from
which there is absolutely no nope or escape.
But often this is far from being true-pro-
vided expert medical aid be obtained in good
season.
All over our land are hospitals where the
insane in large numbers are restored to SAN
ity These same hospitals contain other
numerous insane who cannot be made sane
again because their cases were too long left
untreated.
What forms of insanity are durable and
what are not? How should one proceed If
some relative or friend is giving indications
of insanity?
These are vitality important questions
which 1 have not the space to answer ade
quately here. But all who would have them
satisfactorily answered will do we'll to write
to the National Committee for Mental Hy
giene SO Union Square, New York City,
where illuminating literature on insanity, it's
nature, causes, and treatment may be had by
inclosing stamp for return postage.
Copyright, 1919, by the Associated News
papers)