The Penn's Grove record., 1922-02-24
CURES AT STATE HOSPITAL
New Methods of Treatment Have Re
leased Many From Mental Ills

pa NHE1@A - 6Nhh N~~ $500
teen millions of dollars with which to
rebuild the institutions for the Defec-
tive, Delinquent and Insane. 1t was
voted down.
The Legislatures have been very
general in caring for the detectives.
In 1907, DIR. Henry A. Cotton took
charge of the State Hospital at Tren-
ton. His new methods of treatments
have resulted in the most wonderful
cures and prohibition has reduced the
number of alcoholic cases greatly.
There have been many reports gone
out telling of the wonderful results
from removing defective teeth and
t~onsils.
DR.. Cotton has tabulated in a book
entitled defective, Delinquent and
Insane the results of surgical work
done.
Fewer Alcoholic Victims
DR.. Cotton says:
incidentally, it is interesting to
note that the alcoholic cases in the
Trenton State Hospital for the Insane
have decreased from q per cent to 2
per cent. This is due, in the opinion
of DR.. Cotton, to the working OF pro-
hibition. The majority of alcoholic
cases received at the hospital e
workmen. Such men were accustomed
to spending their wages at the saloon.
Now that the saloon is gone, and Ii
quor is expensive, the alcoholic cases
of insanity have shown a sudden de-
a
Removal of Teeth and TOnsils
He further says:
The teeth and tonsils have enlisted
the particular attention of DR.. Cotton
and his associates. Other physical
causes may lead to infection, reacting
upon the brain, but the first procedure
after the admission of a patient at
Trenton is the removal of infected
teeth and tonsils. The results of
these simple operations in many cases
are amazing. Because of the rapid
changes in mental condition which
usually take place after the removal
of the tonsils and infected teeth, COM
paratively little attention is paid to
the usual psychoanalytical report at
the time of the patients admission.
Instead of an exhaustive report of ten
or twelve typewriter pages, regard
ing the patients mental symptoms,
OIlN DIItl ItpO1Jo VI R&SC VI WV
are now made, for the reason, it is
pointed out, that the mental condl-
tions change so rapidly after the pre-
liminary hospital treatment that more
detailed reports are valueless.
The average State hospital for the
insane is little more than a receiving
station. At Trenton it is a hospital IN
actual fact as well as in name. There
are three buildings, three operating
rooms and twelve technicians at Ireno
ton. The Legislature allows $25,0O0
a year for the purchase of needed
surgical and medical equipment and
supplies. This cost has been made up
many times over, it is pointed out,
bv the reduction of the insane popu-
lation. 1t is figured that the hospital
nopulation is 1926 less than it would
have been under old conditions
saving of $4,000 a year to the state;
Owing to the success of the hospital
plan at Trenton, it is prophesled tnat
the time is not far distant when IN
sane patients will be taken for treat
ment in general hospitals-whch
treatment they cannot secure nae
present conditions. r.
Since 1918 there have been DIS
charged from the Trenton Hospital as
cnIed one thousand cases. After a
natient has been thus discharged, the
bospital authorities do not lose track
of him or her. Social service field
workers keep track of all cases after
discharge. where such follow-up Work
is practicable. Thus, out of 800 dis
charged cases in 1918 all are now 10
Gated except fifty. In the case OF the
men all discharged cases are pack
at their work, supporting families or
filing whatever positions in society
NAV have filled when they be-
came insane.
These figures concerning the dls-
charged cases from the Trenton Hos
pital for the Insane take on thelr e a
meaning when reduced to percentage
It is estimated that there are 81 per
cent of what is known as "spontane-
ous' cures in insanity. That is, cures
which happened from no known cause
In three a at the Trenton ipstltu-
ton the percentage of discharges to
admission has been raised to 70 per
cent. In other words, the Trenton
discharges have nearly doubled. Since
1918 there has been no increase In IN
0lRGlG DODuldIlOls III l&NSs NN -
crease. as pointed out, has been a
great saving to the State.
According to the theory on which
the work at Trenton is carried out,
there may be one or more of a dozen
possible physical causes for the IN
sanity cases that come UP Tor dag
nosis and treatment. Through the x
ray and archaeological research, eX-
perts are put at work to find out what
the u may be in each case. The
general theory pursued is that insan-
ity has some definite physical cause.
This upsets the theory of heredity.
Also it disposes of the idea that such
things as grief, domestic troubles and
the whole host of other mental afflic-
tions known generally as worry can
bring about insanity of themselves. 1t
is admitted that such things may play
a large part in bringing on insanity,
but there must be some physical rea-
son for the actual breakdown. It is