Evening star., 1950-01-04

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keep alive the ever-changing history OF
Washington, but consideration should be
given to those for whom these markers
mean nothing but inconvenience and un-
slightly display. WILLIAM A. NUTTY.
Readers Are Critical ~
OF Some Psychiatrfsts
To the Editor Of The Star:
In her letter of December 20, Mrs. Frances
Townsend Trammell, differs with Mr.. NC
Lemore on the usefulness of psychiatrists." ;"
Psychiatry is the name given to medical
study and treatment for disorders OF the
mind Psychiatry has been so played up
by skillful, unremitting propaganda in the
newspapers. books. magazines, on the RADIO
in schools and elsewhere that there has
developed a craze for psychiatry which, I
believe has become one of the principal
factors in bringing about an alarming in
crease in insanity.
The psychiatrist can discover something
mentally wrong with anybody Except him
SELF If it will pay him to do so. Most
persons have phobias of one sort or another.
Statistics indicate that 16 per cent Of a
representative group Of people fear the
dark-nyctophobia Another is per cent
are afraid of thunder and lightning-ker-
aunophobia and astrapophobia. Some II
ing and crossing phyrophobia:
10 per cent suffer from lophobia-dread
of crowds; 10 per cent from claustrophobia-
dread of closed-in places; 10 per cent from
cynophobia-dread Of dogs; 10 per cent
ailuraphobia- dread of cats; per cent OF
neutrality-suspicious.; per cent have
taphophobia-fea Of being buried alive:
per cent ergasiophobia- Of work; and
per cent siderodromophobia Of rail-
ways.
To me it seems that modern psychiatry
has reached the height of the irrational and
absurd Many honest and in every way
respected, competent and reliable phys
clans resent the methods and implications
of depriving citizens of their liberty with
out due process Of law. But as long as the
psychiatrists themselves do not clean house
and as long as they resist all legislation which
seeks to protect and safeguard citizens from
exploitation. the entire profession will ind
itself condemned at the bar OF public opinion.
The sins of q few will be reason for
bringing about reforms, not because OF the
Is or more per cent who are honest and
sincere, but because Of the number who are
unscrupulous in their handling Of human
beings. The psychiatric profession has self
sacrificing, noble, heroic men, men whom
the world delights to honor and respect, but
how about these "derelicts" who use the
cloak of q noble profession to hide their
cowardice, under-handed methods and greed?
Taking q bird's-eye view Of the masses
today. one simply concludes we all are nuts.
If you are little batty, be happy: 1t
may be genius GEORGE NEWBERRY.
To the Editor Of The Star:
In her letter of December 30. Mrs. Frances
Townsend Trammell, discusses the usefulness
Of pSychiatriSts. May submit the following
paragraph taken from an editorial from
Hollands magazine: For the conscientious
researcher, interested from the humanitarian
stand, we have the highest regard, but this
line Of endeavor has attracted group OF
alienists whose services on expert testimony
are always available to the highest bidder.
"This situation arises, In all probability,
from the fact that In few other professions,
II any, can mistakes be CLOSED over ct so
little cost to the blunderer. An engineer Is
subject to check by other experts. and can
be discharged; and II his mistake Is serious
enough he may be ruined professionally. An
editor is subject to the libel laws. But q
doctor Is accountable to nothing but his
own conscience and the purported ethics Of
the profession -. but with the intense
degree Of commercialization that prevades
most Of medicine today, and with the errors
that result constantly from it paid for by
the victims. the public is coming to feel that
medical ethics now are more aimed at and
designed for the protection Of the doctor
and his purse"
MRS. HELENE E. FRIEDMAN.
Sees Neglect Of Insane
A Heartless Crime
TO the Editor OF The Star:
I read with great interest the article in
your paper headed: Many dIs In Mental
Hospitals Forgotten by Families" It Is al
most impossible to believe such things
happen In q civilized country. but truth Is
stranger than fiction and truth is concep-
tion Of facts that cannot be deprecated by
any human argument
Since insanity is not pleasant subject.
there is desire to forget those confined
In mental hospitals. With the insane that