RT Journal
T1 THe spread of insanity.
JF Journal of the American Medical Association
JO Journal of the American Medical Association
YR 1899
FD May 27
VO XXXII
IS 21
SP 1187
OP 1187
DO 10.1001/jama.1899.02450480051020
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1899.02450480051020
AB At the recent meeting of the Nebraska State Medical Society, a lengthy debate occurred on the spread of insanity and how to prevent it. The conclusions were that the great increase in modern times was due to "hereditary causes, the discharge from asylums of half-cured patients left free to propagate their kind; the fostering care of Christian institutions; the effect on immature minds of dwelling on the doubts raised by dogmatic Christianity, and the cramming of young minds by modern educational methods." These are propositions that fall in with popular notions, but whether they are all equally correct is another question. Heredity is more effective now than formerly, only in a secondary way; if there are more insane now than there were, there are more to transmit their defect. Its importance, therefore, depends on the existence of other factors causing the increase. Undoubtedly there are many imperfectly-cured patients discharged, but