Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-08
People
Are Too Dull
Psychiatrist Says That
1873 Million of Us
Are Lively
By Alton L. BIokesIee

NEW YORK.-Only about 1,000,-
900 Americans are mentally normal
free from anXieties, fears or weak
nesses-but they are dull, uninter-
esting and don't seem human, says
DR.. Earl D. Bond, prominent Phila-
delphia psychiatrist.
Some 133,0000O0, he adds go
about their daily business with "un-
necessary handicaps of nervousness"
fears, prejudiceS, over -conscien-
tiousness, over-sensitiveness or
struggles with feelings of inferiority
In this group are concentrated
talents, leadership and conscience,
he said, while many brilliant men
and women are found in a group of
about 100000 ut-and-out neu-
rotics.
Dr. Bond, professor of psychiatry,
University of Pennsylvania, and re-
search director of the Institute of
Mental Hygiene, Philadelphia, class
flied the types of mental illnesses
and their possible effects on life
expectancy, in a speech to the medi-
cal section of the American Life
Convention.
Don't Seem Human
The million at the top of the
line-the perfect ones-have no
anxiety, no fears, no prejudices, no
attractive vices, no weaknesses, he
said. But like the few completely
demented people at the other end
of the line. they are not interesting.
They don't seem human. This
group would make good life insur-
ance risks, but there are not enough
of them to make much difference.
They would all be perfect. well
rounded and equal, like string
of zeros.
THE best people are not so diff
ferent from people with. decisions
as they think they are; they are
pulled by the same great emotions
and instincts. What is learned from
one group has an application to all
groups.
Patients with mental disease are
much more honest and outspoken
about their feelings and ideas than
are more normal people. They give
us an insight with the working of
normal minds that we get nowhere
else"
Nerves VS.. Life Span
DR.. Bond said it was by no means
clear how much nervous symptoms
decrease life expectancy, but sug-
gested that insurance medical di-
rectors take interest in compiling
records including emotional factors
creating or modifying physical dis
ease.
There are about 100000 mental
cases who are or should be hos
pitalized, DR.. Bond continued. Some
are incurable, some can be returned
to full normal life. A large group
suffers from depression, but these
can be cured and many become bril-
liant leaders.
Next DR.. Bond lists half million
chronic alcoholics, many of whom
choose a slow method of suicide in
trying to escape disagreeable reali-
ties.
Other Classifcations
Next he lists 2,5O0,o people with
severe neuroses. With them, most
of the mind goes about its normal
business, often with extraordinary
abilities and brilliant results, but
one mental sector is completely IL
logical: The neurotic makes decisions
in the present because of events
of the past which have no logical
connection whatever"
Secondly are the chronic invalids
who live long They protect them
selves by retiring from life, often
to a bed existence.
Third, he continued, are the hys-
terics who develop paralysis or
pain of some kind. or memory loss,
as a protective mechanism, but
there is no reason for life to be
shortened"
Lastly is the compulsive or obses-
Sive neurotic who can live long
and unhappily" spending time
avoiding germs, subways, or side
walk cracks, or in rituals such as
constantly washing the hands.
Distributed By the Associated Pressl