davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1922-02-19
Remarkable Results at Trenton Hospital,
Where Ratio OF Cures Has Been Increased
Through Removal of Defective Teeth and Ton
sils and Other Sources of Infection
By ARTHUR CHAPMAN

uess and gave no evidence of mental trouble
until 1917, when friends noticed that he was
acting in a peculiar manner. He was taken
to the State Hospital at Trenton for treat
ment and four crowned molars were extract
Cd. Soon after this he lost his apprehensions
ana depression and rapidly became normal.
ne was advised to have his tonsils removed.
ouc insisted that he was all right and would
attend TO that some time" In the press of
recent business worries he broke down again
and was brought back to the hospital. His
tonslls were removed and he has again been
discharged, apparently in normal mental
health. Very few such occurrences have been
observed. hewever, among the patients dis
charged from Trenton
New-York tribune., 1922-02-19

One remarkable feature about the work at
Trenton has been the interest manifested bv
the patients themselves. The stigma Of insan-
lty has been removed. Patients talk freely
about their own cases and send afflicted friends
TO the institution for treatment. mental
weight is lifted from the patient. it has been
ascertaned, when he gets the idea that his all
ment IS purely physical and not something
winch he can control through exercise Of will
power Under the old idea when a patient has
shown signs of mental breakdown he has been
given to understand that he can control the
situation hlmself-that he should "brace up"
and take matters in his own hands
Dr. Cotton has been known for his achieve
ments not only as medical director of the New
New-York tribune., 1922-02-19

Jersey State Hospital but for his work as
lecturer in psyche pathology at Princeton Uni
verslty and director Of the psychiatric clinic
for correctional institutions Of New jersey.
lie took charge Of the Trenton State Hospital
IN 1907, and at the start eliminated over seven
hundred pieces Of restraining apparatus from
the institution, no patient since that time hay
Ing been put in restraint for any cause. Dr.
Cotton had carried on research in Munich IN
1905 and 1909 which Convinced him that insan-
lty was brain disease and not mind disease
tie began Investigations along that line AT
"rsC the lnVestigatlons at Trenton were con-
cerhea with secretions, but brought no result.
oue "hen the treatment for infection began.
sood results were obtained from the start. Az
'he WORK progressed professional and public in
0erest grew accordingly, and Dr. Cotton delv
ered series Of lectures on the subject 81
princeton which have been brought out in book
form by the Princeton University Press. In
the introduction to his book Dr. Cotton Saws:
he writer considers himself extremely for
tunate III having spent his early professional
ll1e under the inspiring guidance of Adolf
meyer and Stewart Patton. From them. in
great degree, has sprung the initiative neces-
ssry during the last twenty years for the con-
nnued investigation Of the subjects herein dis
cussed. 10 kraeplin and Akheilner he is in
deoeed tor the opportunity to study the subject
from the anatomical as we'll as clinical stand
point, which has furnished the necessary
groundwork for later investigations. More VA
Gently he has obtained help and scientific data
from the pioneer work Of Billings. Barker.
hastings, Rosenow, King, Draper. Rehfuss
satterlee, Holman, winslow, Dochez, Upson
and others in the medical profession, and from
Ihoma, Gf'eves and others among the dents,
profe$sion."
frosn the view that certain mental disor-
ders Gun occur Independent Of any changes in
the bnain, DR.. Cotton dissents at the outset
he says: THAT such conception is errone-
Gus can be demonstrated by the entire lack
OK SUCCESS in such treatment Of this tvne Of
disease in the last fifty years, during which
time the mental picture has been subjected to
the closest analysis and every form Of psychic
treatment has been tried and proved useless
investigations in certain types Of INSANITY
have shown conclusivey that disturbance in
the anatomical structure Of tho brain accom-
panles the mental symptoms With these
known facts as basis, one might IS well in
quire why the other types, which formerly
have been designated as functional and Of
unknown origin, should be considered 50 en-
drcly different from the types which investi~
New-York tribune., 1922-02-19
SCIENCE NOW AIDS TIN TNSANF

where such follow-up work is practicable
Thus, out of $50 discharged cases in 1918 ali
arc now located except fifty. In the case Of
the men all these discharged cases are back
at their work, supporting families or filling
whatever positions in society they may have
TILED when they became insane.
These figures concerning the DISCHARGED
cases from the Trenton Hospital for thu Yn-
sane take on their real meaning when reduced
TO percentage. 1t is estimated that there are
81 per cent of what is known as 'tspontaneous''
cures in insanity. That is, cures which hap
pen from no known cause In three vears at
the Trenton institution the percentage Of dis
charges to admissions has been raised 60 70
per cent. In other words the Trenton dis
charges have nearly doubled Since 1913 there
mas been no increase in INDECENT population
IN tact, the decrease, pointed out, has been
a great saving to the state
incidentally, it is interesting to note that
the alcSholic cases in the Trenton State Hos.
pltal for the Insane havo decreased from q
per cent to per cent. This is due, in the
opinion Of DR.. Cotton, to the working Of pyohi
oition. The majority OF alcoholic cases re-
ceived at the hospital were workmen. Such
men were accustomed to spending their
wages at the saloon. Now that the saloon is
gone, and liquor is expensive, the alcoholic
cases OF insanity have shown sudden de-
crease.
According TO the theory on which che worl;
at Trenton is carried out, there may be one
or more OF dozen possible physical causes
Tor the insanity cases that come Up for dag
nosis and treatment. Through tho x,ray and
archaeological research, experts are put at
Uork to find out what the cause may be in each
case. The general theory pursued is thst in
sanity has some definite physical cause. This
upsets the theory Of heredity. Also it dis
poses OF the idea that such things az grief
domestic troubles and the whole host Of other
mental Affections known generally as worry
can bring about insanity Of themselves. It is
admitted that such things may play large
part in bringing on insanity, but there must
be some physical reason for the actual break
down. 1t is figured that at least 20 per cent
OF the cases admitted at Trenton for treat
nent are due to bad teeth and tonsils.
Not all the cures at Trenton have proved
to be permanent, but the occurrences that have
come under observation have been due. it is
pointed out, to failure on the part of the
patients to take some precautionary measure
which has been advised. A case in point han
pened recently, when q contractor who had
been discharged as cured was returned as a
case. The man had been successful in bua;-
New-York tribune., 1922-02-19

brought out OH the balcony of coffee house
Wall Street, where he was shown large
and detArmined-looking crowd which gave
every indication Of having sworn of tea for
life. Just to show the captain that there was
nothing personal in the affair, either regarding
him OF George III, the crowd all united in
singing God Save the King" then the captain
was escorted to his ship, put on board with
his tea and gent home amid the ringing Of bells
and the firing Of guns.
In the case Of the ship London the cargo
Of tea was broken into and spilled overheard,
for the captain had sworn he had no tea
aboard and apparently thc falsehood had irked
the people who later were TO have President
about whom a myth later was to originate
that he couldn't tell lie
These two accounts should prove why it ig
true Of New York, as we'll as Of Boston, that
TO this very day tea is never served at their
tea dances.
Bostons is the honor Of starting the Com
mittecs Correspondence, those Eevou-
tionary means Of liaison, but when they all got
writing it was New York that came through
with the letter that was so clever it was read
to everybody in the room. Since that day it
has been mentioned only by few of the his
tories. This was the letter written by John
Jay in the old Merchants' Coffee House, which
stood on the southeast corner Of Wall and
Water streets. It was this letter which
brought about the first Congress Of the Colo
nies. Duo credit has not been, but should be,
given to New York.
The letter, addressed to the Committee Of
Correspondence in Boston, dated from New
York, May 90, 1774, signed by Isaac Low,
chairman, for the New York committee, con-
sisting Of Alexander Mcbouga, James Duane
and John Jay. Paul Revere Che did some Of
his riding in New York; was the courier who
delivered it. The letter, which was .unearthed
in the historical files Of the New York Public
Library by Abram Wakoman and Wilberforce
LANES, follows:
''Thc alarming measures Of the British Par
lament relative to your ancient and respect
able Town, which has SO long been the Sea.
of Freedom fills the Inhabitants OF this City
with inexpressible Concern; as Sister Colony
suffering in Defence Of the Rights Of America
we consider your Injuries as common Cause
10 the Redress Of which it is equally our Duty
and our Interest to contribute But what
ought to be done in Situation 50 truly crit
cal, while it employs the anxious Thoughts of
every generous Mind, is very hard to be de-
termin'd. Our Citizens have thought it neces-
sary to appoint large Committee consisting
of 1ifty-one Persons TO correspond with our
Sister Colonies on this and every other Matter
Of publick Moment: and at ten O'Clock this
Forenoon we've first assembled Your
Letter enclosing the Vote of the Town of Bos-
ton. and the Letter Of your Committee of Cor
respondence were Immediately taken into Con
sideraton. While we think you justly en-
titled to the Thanks Of your Sister Colonies
for asking their Advice on a Case OF such
New-York tribune., 1922-02-19

bearing ships bound for the former port we're
delayed by storm. Whcn on April is, 177d.
the tea ship Nancy. Captain Lockycr, pre-
pared to slip into New York Harbor and dis
charge her cargo, she was noted to have lost
her mlzzenmast and anchor and sprung her
mantopmast. The pilots refused to bring
her any further than the Hook. There the
Sons OF Liberty paid visit and notified Cap
tain Lockyer of the opposition Of the people
to the tea tax measure. The captain was
New-York tribune., 1922-02-19
the publication of a book en-
titled '"rhe Defective Delinquent and
Il Insane" by Dr. Henry A. Cotton. med

T~HROUGH the publication of book en-
titled 1.-The Defective Delinquent and
Il Insane" by Dr. Henry A. Cotton, med
ical director Of the New Jersey State
Hospital at Trenton, the attention of the medi-
cal and dental professions and the public in
general has been directed to the remarkable
results being secured at that institution.
The work at the State Hospital at Trenton
has been known, in general way, in the last
three years The basis Of the work has been
ascertaining the relation Of focal infections
TO the causation, treatment and prevention Of
insanity. Instead of merely receiving patients
for detention, depending on spontaneous cure,
it is the policy at the Trenton State Hospital
TO institute dagnostic survey on the theory
that insanity is largely caused by infections
which perhaps can be reached and remcdied.
The teeth and tonsils have enlisted the par
,icular attention Of DR.. Cotton and his asso-
ciates. Other physical causes may lead to in
|, sectlon. rcacting upon the brain, but the first
procedure after the admission Of 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 iii mental condition which
usually take place after the removal Of the
tonslls and infected teeth, comparatively little
attention Is paid now to the usual psycho~
analytical report at the time Of the patients
admission Instead Of an exhaustive report
Of ten or twelve typewritten pages, regarding
tho patients mental symptoms, only brief re-
ports OF page or two are now made for the
reason, 1t Is pointed out, that the mental con.
ditions change so rapidly after the preliminary
hospital treatment that moro detailed reports
are vaIueless
IS little more than receiving station. At
Trenton it is hospital In actual fact as we'll
as in name. There are three buildings, three
operating rooms and twelve technicians at
Trenton. The Legislature allows $4,000 q
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, by the reduction of tho insane
population. 1t is figured that the hospital
population is 325 less than it would have been
under old conditions-a saving Of $4,000 a
year to the state.
Owing to the success Of the hospital plan at
Trenton, it is prophesied that the time is not
Tar distant when insane patients will be taken
'or treatment in general hospitals-which
reatn1ent they cannot secure under present
onditions
Since 1913 there have been discharged from
he Trenton Hospital as cured one thousand
ases. After a patient has been thus dis
harged, the hospital authorities do not lose
rack of him or her. Social service field work
~ keep track Of all cases after discharre.
New-York tribune., 1922-02-19

cation has shown to bear ou- the law int
function is dependent upon structure. Success
in treatment and prevention Of this large
group of mental disorders depends upon ths
establishment Of definite relation betwes,
the mental symptoms and pathological condi-
rlons IN the brain tissue, and. while this may
be difficult to demonstrate conclusively sufi-
Gent data are at hand to prove that such re-
latlon does exist and that, when the abnormal
brain conditions are corrected, the abnorma
mental symptoms disappear"
Characterizing the doctrine of hereditary
transmission of mental diseases as very un-
stable from a scientific standpoint, Dr.. CottoS
says:
The doctrine Of heredity applied 10 me
field of mental disorders has been detrimental
and destructive. Not only have the individuals
directly concerned suffered great hardSnlps'
but others as we'll For example. children hay
ing a parent mentally affected have hesitateo
to marry because of a possible talnt. ano
addition have been terrified at the prospect o.
some day developing the same condition.
Furthermore, it has eXerted a pernlclous IN
huence on both the study and treatment o.
mental disorders. For if We believe firmly III
these doctrines Of heredty and the inherited
constitution. which means in a broader sense
that in certain cases mental disease is ine'-.
liable. and that nothing can be done 10 prevent
or cure it, then evidently it would be futile te
try to arrest the disease or search for methods
OF relief except along eugenic lines. 1t canno'
be denied that such has been the attitude OF
psychiatrists in general, and when everything
is blamed on heredity this fatalism assumes
the role of cloak to hide our ignorance ano
stif1e initiative in the investigation of causa'
ton looking to prevention and relief. foftV
nately, we are in position to-day to show saS
the doctrine of heredity as applied to mentss'
disorders is not in harmony with modern BIO
logical knowledge and is, therefore. obsoes
cent"
DR.. Cotton emphasizes the statement thas>
nothing can be done for chronic patients
Elimination Of infection, to be effective III az
resting mental systems, he says, must Deg''
early. THE reason for this is that the BRAN
tissue has probably become permanently sFs
fected as result of the ong-standing toxeInls'3
and no repair is possible even with the elm.
ination Of the original infection"
In summing up the work of the State Hosp
tai at Trenton, DR.. Cotton says: "It should o
stated at the outset that We have never, eltne
in contributions to medical literature or IN an
nual reports. made any claims as to 'cuI'ns
patients by the extraction of teeth. The m''
vestigations have been concerned with the az
lection of abnormal physical conditions exiss',
ing in the psychotic individual and with mesa-
DDS for the elimination Of the same.
New-York tribune., 1922-02-19
BY FAIRFAX DOWNEY

aud 10, ITO, occurred a riot OH Golden Hill.
covering the intersection Of William and John
streets, during which a number were badly
wounded. The Sons of Liberty were successful
IN driving of the soldiers and protecting the
pole This was the so-callcd Battle Of Golden
H'lF-thc first boodshed of the Revolution
Which antcdated the famous Boston Massacre
oy more than six weeks"
The New York tea parties took place later
laan the Boston Tea Party because the tea
New-York tribune., 1922-02-19
THE CRADLE OF LIBERTY UPSET

tories from the reading Of which you might
gather that:
Boston had the only Tea Party.
Boston had the only Massacre.
Massachusetts always took the lead among
the colonies in forming the new government.
Faneuil Hall did all the cradling of liberty.
New England was the battle-ground Of the
Revolution.
And SO forth.
While as matter Of historical fact, it was
this way:
The New York tea party was great deal
more extensive than the Boston affair, and,
while it was not masquerade, it Was more IN
the community spirit.
The New York massacre antedated the Bos-
ton massacre
The letter suggesting the formation Of a
Continental Congress was sent by New York
70 Boston.
The Merchants Coffee House Of New York,
far more than Fareuil Hall, had need Of an
$. r. O. sign for famous events
New York furnished SO per cent Of its in
habitants as troops; Massachusetts,. "a per
cent. In New York were fought ninety-two
battles, as against fourteen in Massachusetts,
And so forth.
Let these facts, SO restricted in histories be
proclaimed with all the freedom Of the press
which, by the way, was established in New
York in 1885, at the trial Of John Peter
Zenger. printer.
To begin a little in advance Of the Rovolu-
ton, call up what mental images you retain
from your study of history on the subject Of
Indian warfare After the recollection Of that
evergreen occasion on which Pocahontas bid
hearts over the club bid Of Powhatan, saving
the life Of Captain John Smith. do you not
call up in your memory that New England
exchange of gifts in which the Indians for
warded rattlcsnake skin stuffed with arrows
and the Pilgrim Fathers returned donation
OF powder and bullets under same cover and
there wasn't any war?
Is that quite II fair emphasi. when the
worlds greatest war path, the hundred miles
between the head of Lake Champlain and A.
bany, is New York's? Along that trail ragged
the fierce conflicts Of the French and Indian
War, which Is called one Of the indirect causes
Of the Revolution. The bill for that war. sent
to the colonies in the form Of that taxation
which without representation is tyranny, re-
suited in the tax uprisings in which Massa-
chusetts and New York led
I'm New York society called Sons of
Liberty composed Of many Of our hest citi-
zenS, was formed about 1854, devoted to the
cause Of liberty" says "rhe Need Of q His
tory OF New York" "a controversy aros.
between the soldiers stationed in the city and
The citizens over the right OF establishing
Liberty Pole on the Common (now City Hall
Park}, the Sons Of Liberty espousine the
cause Of the citizens. Between 1766 and s770
numerous liberty poles were erected, only to
be cut down by the soldiers. On January Is
New-York tribune., 1922-02-19

New York City.-Large and valuable
DEPOSITS of American History of the
Revolutionary Period have been discov-
cred in this vicinity; in fact, the finds
are statewide. Previously it had been
the general impression that New Eng
land possessed the only extensive and
important field.
~ UGH dispatch might emanate from
these parts almost any time now It
~ would represent no special occasion Of
illuminative research, no methodical IN
covering Of facts (although both of these have
taken place. much as it would indicate the
gradual dawning Of the knowledge that New
York was the stage for most Of the acts. cpl
sodes and "big moments" in the drama of the
Revolutionary War. host of facts, which
nave been chroniced but little perused, may
be narshaled to prove that Clio, setting down
The story OF the revolt of the American Colo
nies against His Majesty George III, wrote
most often under New York, not a New
England, date line
The historical rights of New York. so long
unasserted, found worthy defenders the other
day in state chapter of the Daughters Of the
American Revolution. The women of Ironde-
Guoit Chapter, Of Rochester. heard plea for
the recognition OF the part the New York col
ony played in the Revolution from Miss Bertha
Coleman, regent of Monroe County Chapter
Brockport
Miss Coleman named many men and events
OF historic interest which, she said, had been
almost ignored by historians. It was the New
York colony. she pointed out, which first re-
belled against the Stamp Act imposed By Eng
land. A great deal has been made in history
Of the Battle Of Bunker Hill, she said but
nevertheless it cannot be called decisive, and
it struggle of an hour in time compared
to the long battle Of Saratoga Springs. that
continued for days.
Seventeen Revolutionary battles (ths est-
mate is most conservative were fought in this
state, but you hardly find q child in the
seventh and eighth grades who has been taught
this Miss Coleman said. eve get most of
our history of the Revolution from New Eng
land How long are we Daughters Of the
American Revolution to see New York State
showed into the background? The historians
whom have mentioned are from Brown Uni
versity, Harvard, etc, and only one is from,
Columbia, and he is 4 New England man. We
must wake up and blow our own buglo loud
and long until we get our school officials and
our college men to give New York State what
1t dcserves.'
Indeed, the historical muse has compare
lively seldom been interpreted az filing her
spatches from New York, to Judge from the
writings Of many of her scribes. So much
history is written from reference to other his
tories tha. the errors and omissions Of ono
chronjcler appear in the works of his sue
cessora. There is insufficient consultation Of
original sources and contemporary documents,
savants of research will tell you. Such re-
nearch seems to have been more or less of q
minus quantity in the making Of various his