The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-12-04
URGES CARE FOR
MENTAL DISEASE
DIR. Adams in Article IL
Years Old Urges Psy-
chiatric Ward.
NO IMPROVEMENT MADE

WnGLnor or nOL hSAOSnd HGGub d
psychopathic ward in the hospital is
no longer mooted question, but is
decided by the very eloquent condi-
tions which obtain here, or In any
community the size of Kenosha which
has made no provision for the care of
psychopathic cases.
In an article written seventeen
years ago by DR.. G. F. Adams, M. d.,
and published in "The Medical For
UNI" for May, 19075the conditions of
the state in provision for mental cas-
es was clearly oltlined. In recent
address before the Community Service
Council, DR.. Adams showed that the
significant thing about the article was
that it showed no improvement today
over the situation of which it told
Care of mental invalids has not chang
ed greatly in nearly two score of
years, even in so progressive state as
Wisconsin.
DR.. Adams article was as follows:
'The whole history Of modern hos
pitfalls and the whole trend of philan-
thropic efforts to cure diseases have
Of late years been in the direction of
providing for the poor every means of
treatment for diseases of every class.
In regard to mental diseases, it is in
the early and incipient stage that it
is most durable, and every case of
mental disease has an early and in
cipient stage. During that stage 1t is
not case of technical legal insanity,
but condition where you are requir
ed to make. the patient realize that
there is something wrong with him.
In the early stage is where the bad
brain habit is formed.
at must be admitted that men on
the point of insanity add daily to the
risk Of what we may call the organ
ization of the morbid process, and ev-
cry day adds to the difficulty of get
ting the case off the morbid and on
to the normal mode Of working. Rich
and poor alike are afflicted with men,
tai arrangements. The rich can and
do have means and places where early
treatment can be obtained. The poor
cannot at present. This does not APP
ply to any other class of diseases.
Mental disease is the most pitiable of
all. To allow such mental SYMPTOMS
to run to such degree Of disturb
ance that they can be officially COM
mitted, and become technically insane,
seems a cruel neglect, as we'll as an
expensive dereliction of duty on the
part of society. For the man SO af-
flicted ceases to be a producer, and
becomes an incurable.
Place Insane in Jail.
'The sentimental side Of this ques-
ton is one that will appeal to most
people. Heretofore, if person de-
veloped acute insanity, he or she is
usually arrested by the police, charg-
ed with insanity, and lodged in jail
to await examination and commitment
papers from the judge. The thought
that a relative or friend was behind
bars in penal institution is suffici-
emit to cause many to criticize the lack
Of proper place to detain the pros
pective and unfortunate patient.
''No adequate provision exists at
present for the right treatment of the
early stages of such diseases as have
mental disorders for their chief symp-
toms, or for the slighter or more
transient insanities among the class
who come to our general hospitals for
advice and treatment.
''We shall have to turn to the gen
eral hospital for relief.
Firstly: Anyone may go to seek
advice at general hospital, or to be
treated in one, without losing any Of
his self respect, injuring his prospects
in life, or going counter to any spe-
cial prejudice in his mind.
Secondly: The treatment of this
class of disease-I attach enormous
Importance to this argument--wouId
educate our poorer population, and
indeed the whole population, into en-
PERTAINING the belief that mental dis
ease is on plane with other classes
Of disease, and that it in no way i'm
plies shame or repulsion. If this edu
cation could take place to any degree,
it would sweeten / fedse, taihssoteto
it would sweeten life to every family
in which mental disease has occurred,
and that would probably comprise ev-
cry fourth or fifth family connection
in the land. Beside, it would dimin-
ish one Of the most poignant terrors
in the lives of those who have suffered
from the disease. or fear it's occur
ence. The absence of this prejudice
and fear would of itself greatly aid
recovery"