Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 162, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1911 — BASEBALL CURE FOR INSANE [ARTICLE]

BASEBALL CURE FOR INSANE

Treatment Is Not Altogether NewExpert Says It Quickens Sluggish Brains and Wits. Baseban dope, the batting averages, league standings, vital statistics and the rest of the assorted, flrst-aid-to-the-curibus information, is now being put to practical use in curing backward minds and incorrigible students In the Newton Technical high school, Boston. , However, thd use of baseball for the treatment of ailing minds is not altogether new, for Dr. W. O. Krohn, former professor* of psychology at the University of Illinois, and head physician at the Kankakee asylum, asserts that baseball was used most beneficially while he was at the state institution and he had as an aslstant Frank Pfeffer, who pitched for the Cubs last year and this year is with the Boston Nationals. Dr. Krbhn is a firm believer in the use of baseball as a treatment for the insane, but sdys that it is especially valuable in quickening dull wits and speeding the sluggish brain into activity. “You might say without departing from the literal truth that baseball makes the insane sake and *the sane insane,*’ said the doctor. “At least the sane often give manifestations of violent insanity while the insane seem rational while under the influence of baseball.” ( The new curative baseball scheme became effective when it was found that baseball was something which, if properly applied, instilled a new interest into the fading Intellects of the unfortunates. It made smiles of intelligence come on their faces. Their listless eyes brightened for a moment, apathy was dispelled, the half-open mouths closed—all at the mention of Hans Wagner’s batting average and its comparison to Lajoie’s cunning. Dr. Krohn is an all-around heavyweight expert in the psychological lore, and talks interestingly of his experience with the inmates of the state institution.. ' v

“In Kankakee there are men lunatics who sit from day to day and don’t move a muscle or think a thought,” said the doctor. "They don’t live; they merely endure like a piece of furniture. Come up behind a group of them and whisper to them, ‘How about a little game of ball.’ and you’ll see a change that is surprising.” Dr. Krohn told of the successful teams that had been organized from the material found in the asylum. "They’ll take their positions in the field when the game is called. A man who is in for believing himself to be the missing link is pitcher. Another whose ailment results from imagining himself a complete Egyptian dynasty Is catcher. The first baseman is the same sad fool you will see at other times, walking around with his head thrown back. He Is balancing his nose for fear it might fall off his face' if he didn’t. And so with the rest of them. Crazier than a quilt.

“And the fans. They’re still crazy, only in a conventional way for the time being. “The first ball Is thrown. It’s hit The batter runs to first base. His mind is as clear as a looking glass. “The whole thing is only a case of making the person occupy himself with something that is interesting to him and baseball is one of the very few things that can interest the insane. “With the same idea in mind, faculties of pchools for backward and incorrigible students have stimulated the feeble minded by making them employ their time working at something they liked, and the faculties learned that there was nothing as generally popular as baseball dope:”