Evening star., 1933-01-05
BY ]. C. NIELSEN. NJ. d.

By the Associated Press.
NORFOLK, Nebr.. January 5.-Chief-
1y in America, the medical profession
believes that mental disorders are
brought about by environmental in
f1uences. Therefore, it is logical to as
sumo that factors which influence the
human being through environment can
be utilized by hospitals in the successful
treatment of mental disorders.
These activities may fall in agricul-
tural, horticultural. mechanical. indus
trial, social, entertaining, vocational or
religious lines. Not any Of these activ-
tiles will serve as a cure ALL" and
neither do believe that the assistance
which beauty treatments certainly do
give US, in some cases serve as a cure.
but are merely a valuable aid along
with other activities in certain stages
of the disease
Experience has shown us that women,
especially, like pretty clothes and gay
| colors. There are probably very few
women who do not, at some time or
other, and most of them regularly, use
the beauty parlor in normal life.
Stimulates Native Traits.
In the chromosomes of the feNilized
egg cell certain native traits are laid
down. These native traits may be
modified through life. THUS there is a
native tendency to overcome obstacles,
to dominate over things and people.
One modification of this trait is self
assertion and self-reliance. These fun
damental psychological factors can be
stimulated, modified and strengthened,
in women especially, by the aid of
treatments which vel improve the
patients appearance.
II you ask a patient who has recov-
cred from her psycnosis what our
beauty parlor at the Norfolk State Hos
pital has done for her, she will inva-
riably reply, 1T has helped me to keep
looking presehtabie; it has helped me
to keep my pride and self-respect, and
it gave me desire to live and gradu-
ally enabled me to attain happiness
and contentment"
Another native trait is gregarious-
ness, tendency to get together and
90 something. Therefore, anything
which tends to increase loneliness, to
prevent social functions and co-opera- =
ton among groups of people is con-
ficting with this native trait.
The patient senses in some measure
these factors, and it is therefore essen
tial that We produce a patient who in
appearance cannot be distinguished
from the normal individual, and who
feels that she can hold her own even
in the presence of the curiosity-seek-
ing public.
Create Hopeful Spirit.
Our attendant says that she has OBJ
served depressed patients enter the
beauty parlor with no expression, as
though they had no interest, entirely
unaware Of their personal appearance.
but a soothing shampoo, a marcel, a
facial massage and makeup would
produce smile, and in front of the
mirror they would begin to take notice
OF themselves and frequently remark
about how much younger they looked.
Repeated treatments of this kind
create a spirit of hopefulness and hap
piness, essential to the recovery of the
patient
An elaborate equipment for a beauty
parlor is not at all necessary in an
institution for mental disorders. Sim
plicity is to be preferred With an
equipment costing less than $500, an
operator and two assistants treat more
than 200 patients a month at our
hospital.