The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-04-08

DR.. Williams, Will be the introduc-
ton OF changed attitude toward the
mentally diseased and the extension
thru the state of the activities of the
psychological clinic, now active in
Louisville.
"This clinic" said DIR. Williams,
should be supported and developed.
The public should be educated to
bring its problems to the clinic, and
similar clinics should be organized
thruout the state"
Many Can he Cured.
The Mentla Hygiene Society should
be center of education, according TO
DR.. Williams.
There is just as much supersti-
ton about insanity in Kentucky as
elsewhere, If nothing else could be
done for the mentally sick we would
be justified in making them physical
ly comfortable and isolating them.
hut this is not the case. Insanity is
a disease like any other disease.
There Is not one type of mental di-
sease, but there are many. These
diseases have their causes, run their
course, respond to treatment and in
a number of cases recovery. Not only
do they recover, but they may be pre-
vented. 1t has been estimated that
so per cent Of the people who go to
hospitals for mental diseases need
not have gone If they had been prop
erly handled in time. The Kentucky
Society OF Mental Hygiene, by in
forming judges, courts, legislatures
and school teachers as to the proper
methods OF proceeding in these cases
can do the state a great service. But
It may as well be realized here and
now that not a great deal of good
can be accomplished until those in
authority. dealing with the insane.
come to have a different idea about
these people. As long as the judge
thinks so much time for such an Of
Tense you can not go far"
The close connection between crime
and mental disease was emphasized
by DR.. Williams. who described the
psychiatric clinic formed five years
ago at Sing Sing. This clinic has
since been responsible for the new
Sing Sing which is now being built,
with a permanent psychiatric clinic
as one of its chief features. While
the experimental clinic was at work
It examined for two years every pris-
oner committed to Sing Sing. AS a
result of these examinations IL was
reported that SO per cent of the
prisoners examined could DC CLASH
fled in terms of psychiaty.
Money Is Wasted.
"Among the repeaters" said DR..
Williams, mental diseases were nu-
merous. Men of middle age were
found who Tad spent mere time in
r. ison than cut and tn;s because OF
mental sick ess. Now. when You
consider that Il costs the state OF
New York 81 500 to convict felon,
yc,. can see what silly way of pro-
cscding 1t is to continue TO convict
over and over again offenders who
will always ne offenders. All Of this
money coult fave been saved II there
mad been some one to ascertain the
Lbtal cond on of these prisoners
when they we've first committed. "
On the basis of the work of the Ma
tional Committee for Mental Hygiene
the whole treatment Of criminals In
New York has been reversed. All
prisoners convicted of felony Will
from now on be sent Immediately to
the psychiatric clinic, where they
will be thoroly examined.
"Their cases will be discussed, not
from the point of view of the crimi-
nal, but of the individual" said Dr.
Williams. Mental hygiene must
comprehend the whole personality.
we must not only ask what kind OF
body and mind this person has got
but what has his past been and what
can we do for his future. Sentence
should be pronounced according to