Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1883 — Increase of Insanity. [ARTICLE]

Increase of Insanity.

One of the most recondite subjects which have puzzled the modern scientist aS well as medical man is the increase of insanity. It has been noted in Massachusetts that as asylums for the insane are multiplied more than enough inmates are found for them. From this it is there now argued by many that insanity grows in proportion to the increase in the means for its treatment. Long since, Malthus asserted that foundling hospitals and poor-houses only promote the evils which they are created to subdue. Indeed, since his day, in many countries society has acted to a considerable extent upon the theory of Malthus. In England and Ireland foundling hospitals are not as distinct features of the present civilization as they formerly were, while many distinguished French writers are of the opinion that the foundling hospitals of Paris are made to pander to some of the grossest vices of that city. It is a puzzle at the present day how it was that Rome was able to do without either poor-houses, foundling hospitals or insane asylums. As respects insanity, the fact that among the ancients it was looked upon as a species of inspiration, and thus that the insane were under special, divine,protection, may help to account for the absence of institutions for their proper care apart from their families and friends. However this may be, the fact remains that the growth of insanity in modern times is much greater proportionally than the growth of population. Another important fact is that in countries in which life is more energetic and active, and even in which education receives its highest comparative development, insanity will be found to be most abnormally developed. Thus the relative frequency of congenital and acquired insanity in various countries is shown in the following table, taken from Koch’s “Statistics of Insanity” in Wurtemburg, which gives the number of idiots to 100 lunatics: Country. No. Country. No. Prussialsß France 66 Bavarials4 Denmark 58 Saxonyl62 Sweden 22 Austria 53 Norway 65 Hungaryl4o Ergland and Wales.. 74 Canton of Berne. ...119 Scotland 68 America 79ilreland 69 From this table it will appear that the tendency to congenital insanity is greatest in those countries in which existence is most strained and in which at the same time education is carried to the very highest possible plane.— Chicago Daily News. •