Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 7, 1902, Page 15

INSANITY AND ITS PHASES Oommissioner Tilden Gives Bome Reeults of His Long Experience. MENTAL DISEASE IS ON THE INCREASE Many C es for the Wreeking of the Human Mind and Many Ways in Which the Condi- tion 1s Detected. A young man detained at the county jall on an insanity complaint recently demanded and, of course, granted a public trial sucn proceeding is somewhat unusual in Douglas county, as ordinarily it is pre- ferred by patients and their friends that the fact of the former's detention and investi- gation be kept from the public, and there was provoked by the hearing a general dis- cussion of insanity and the insane by those about the court house Informed of the young man's case. Among those so informed was an ac- Quaintance and friend of Dr. George Tilden, for twenty-elght years insanity commis- sloner of Douglas county and famillar with A total of nearly 1,800 cases in this county. Through the friend Dr. Tilden was drawn, with considerable reluctance, into the dis- cussion, and in answering questions pro- pounded to him by those less fully informed | practically delivered a lecture that was not devold of interesting declarations and sta- tistical information. “It is true,” the doctor sald In answer o one of the querfes, “that insanity is in- creasing throughout the civilized world, and that the extremes of poverty and wealth are smong its fostering agents, with the ex- citement of accumulating and of losing money responsible for not a few cases But statistics show that the autlook is less gloomy than might be assumed, and there should be a modification of the prevalent Dotlon of the hopelessness of the affiction. Of every 100 insane persons, fitty die sooner or later during the attack; twenty make complete recovery; the other thirty make incomplete recovery, by which I mean that between subsequent recurrent attacks there | may be intervals of five, tem, fifteen and even twenty years with only ten of the thirty subjects dying during such attacks. Controlling the Disease. ‘“‘Medical science has taught its students to detect mild cases early and to treat them, often, successfully. When that Is done it 1s a virtual prevention of insanity and a matter for general congratulation Hospitals or asylums are much improved in method now, which further agalnst the spread of the affiction. Inded, there now remains little about these insti- tutions which I would criticise unless it be the plan we have in this state of removing the heads with every change of political administration. That is a great error. The man chosen to take charge of such a place should be the very ablest man available, and when chosen he should be allowed to remain there long, that in his later years he may have the benefit of the observations be made in his earlier ones. ‘‘One reason for the large per cent of in< crease in the number of cases of insanity, remarked upon by those who read the cen- Sus reports, s that these institutions are now recelving and reporting many cases that used to be hidden in attics and garrets by relatives who had a horror of the very word ‘asylum,’ and viewed the afiction 8 family disgrace not to be disclosed. An- other reason for this increase I refer to is that doctors are able to reduce acute cases to chronic, and so saye the life of the pi tient. Still another reason 1Is that the definition of insanity has been broadened %0 as to take in some of the feebleminded. Actual Increase in Number, “‘8till, there is no denying that there is &n actual increase In the number of really insane and for this there are reasons other than the excitement of our strenuous com- merclal existence. To begin with, there is the atter of heredity. Some estimates of the percent of those insane by Inheritance are as high as 75 per dent, but I am fin~ clined to belleve that it Is no more than | 40 or 50 per cent. Then as other reasons there are the use of alcohol and the preva- lence of specific diseases—both as fmpor- tant as they are lamentable. “Yet in this connection there are facts which eurprise Americans. The French, whom we accuse of a freer indulgence in sleoholic drinks are shown In the offclal tables to have a less per cent of insane than have the people of the United States. Among our ‘people there are 170 Insane in every 100,000 population. In France ratio s but 124 In every 100,000 Sweden reports 176 insane in every 100,000 popul tlon; Norway, 185; Denmark, 138; England, 199; Scotland, 257; Ireland, 317; whereas Hungary has but 81; Austria, 135; Italy, 198; Prussia, 87. Ireland and Hungary represent the high and low extremes among the civilized nations of the earth. Some American Peculiarities, “In our nation there is, too, a great deal more insanity among the forelgn-born than among the natives—perhaps twice as much. Among the native-barn there is less per cent of imsanity charged against the col- ored than against the white population—an argument, perhaps, for the don't-worry bhilosophy of the negro., As to the indl- BARBER'S ITCH. FREE SAMPLE! ECZEMA CAN BE CUREB. Call at the below named drug stores and receive a free sample of REMICK'S EC- ZEMA CURE, the great remedy for Eo. sema, Pimples, Dandruff, Sxin Eruptions l‘ntl; P:‘Iui)‘ ‘dnlf l:nk?! Iugk Illlk ding. pu- ity the blood by taking Remick's Pepsin Blood Tonic. - ENZEMA IN LONDON, ENGLAND. FROM LONDON, ENGLAND 1 have used your Remick's Eczema Cure and Remick's Pepsin Blood Tonic for treatment of a very obstinate case of ec- sema, after having consulted the very best of physiclans in this eity without success, and can conscientiously’ recommend them 1o any one of my friends aficted with this dreadful disease. I have heen afflieted with for nearly four years, and Remick's Ecsema Cure and Remick's Pepsin Blood Tonic have been the only remedies that I have been able to obtain any rellef from, after using many other preparations. i SAMUEL BARNES. M. E. E. E 10 Woodstock. Rd., London, England Sherman & MoConnell Drug Co., l6th and 16th and Chicago Sts. ul 15th and Douglas Sts. J. H. Merchant, 16th and Howard Sts C. A Melchs I;A‘"“: N‘“',“Pfl\‘llhu?lfl;hu George 8. V! cal oadway, cousch*slis, Thr operates | the | HA DAILY BEE: S vidual showing, women are more Wbt than men to develop insanity and single women more than wives. The divorced are more apt to develop It than the single and the widows more than the divbreedindeed widows are most apt of all, not excluding the widowers. Single women in the city are more subject to it than single women in the country. Perfectly accurate per cents cannot be given, however, as the manner of the application to insanity of the sclence of statistics Is defective all | over the world. “Insanity has been styled civilization, but that is not exactly fustifiable, for there has been finsanity among savage and barbarous peoples. A mad dog is affiicted with a certain kind of insanity; the saliva in his mouth doesn't hurt him until the polson in it reaches his brain. Insanity, which by the way, is not a disease, but a eymptom of disease, is as old as the race. The bible gives us a well authenticated case of homicidal mania in the history of the naked king 8aul, who, 1,000 years before Christ, at- tempted the assassination of David. And the latter furnishes further proof of our present theory that Insanity was then ex- istent and understood by having feigned at it. Remember how he ecratched the gates and spat upon his beard until King Achish of Gath dismissed him with the declaration that he was a fool “Five hundred years later Nebuchadnez- rar contributed the first recorded case of chronic mania. He wandered in the fields and ate herbs, permitting his nails and hair | a child of | to grow long. Before restored to reason and his throne he had been seven years insane—a long time, but discounted in somo latter day cases. Ajax, Hercules and Ulys- ses felgned, the poets tell us. Hamlet had one variety of insanity and feigned another variety. Degrees of Insanity. “Insanity does not always indicate the m- pairment of all facuities. A part of the brain may be healthy while another part is un- healthy. And in this perhaps is found the reason for the frequent apparent disagree- ment of lawyer and doctor in lawsuits in- volving the sanity of parties on trial. A man may be legally sane and medically in- sane. The public's idea of an insane man, generally speaking, is a wild, violent, dan- gerous persons, or else a jabbering idiot. The lawyer erects an arbitrary standard designed to protect life and property and based on the ability of the party involved to determine right from wrong. The doc- tor, conceding the propriety of protecting lite and property, reserves the right to dit- fer from the barrister to the extent of maintaining that a man may be capable of discerning between right and wrong and yet have so diseased a brain that he is not able—has not the self-control—to desist from doing the evil he recognizes. Thus while the science of law has a standard of perception as a basls upon which to work in determining insanity the science of medi- cine bases its conclusions on the healthy or the diseased condition of the brain, and that is why I say that a man may be le- gally sane and medically insane. Not Always An Excuse. “Some writers on mental diseases main- tain that when fnsanity is established by medical evidence, it should absolve from all criminal responsibility in all cases. but I cannot subscribe to that doctrine. It might be safe and just in many cases. but in oth- ers it would defeat the administration of justice. In a given case, when a doctor tes- tifies to insanity it may be that his dutles have just begun in that case, instead of ended. It may then become his duty to assist the court and jury In determining the degree of responsibility, which may be either entire or limited. After all. re- sponsibllity is not a medical question: 1t is a legal question. It might appropriately be called the philosophical or metaphysical question—and not all physicians are meta- physiclans. But Insanity s a medical ques- tion and the pliysiclan, from the nature of his dutfes, can give facts and explain them and can give a just and sound opinlon to courts and juries who must finally decide the matter.” “Well, how does a doctor determine the diseases or the healthy condition of the brain?” proposed one of Dr. Tilden's in- quisitors. *“There are varlous methods,” was the lat- ter's reply, “depending on the nature of the cases in hand. (Generally speaking, it fs done by observing the symptoms disclosed In the conversation, mannerisms and coun- tenance of the subject. When a case is brought to the attention of our board I first talk with the man's relatives. friends and neighbors concerning him, paylng par- ticular attention to any hereditary possi- bilities. Then I call on him. One visit mav be enough or in it he may disclose or be- tray nothing and more are then reauired. How to Detect Insanity. “Often I first Inquire of the patients how they have been feeling physically. In an- swering questions they may put to me I never tell them untruths as some advi: This may be justifiable In exceptional cases but T aim to gain their confidence and de- ception may be readily detected by them and long remembered, for while insanity impairs the memory nearly always, it some- times appears really to lmprove it. “After that first interview I am aot to progress more rapidly. A long conversation Qur Popular Easy ayment Plan PARTIES WITH GOOD CHARACTER AND ABILITY TO MEET THE w LY OR MONTHLY PAY CAN SECURE A PIANO WITHOUT ANY CASH WHATEVER, YOU CAN HOME AND EDUCAT w ] AYING FOR THE FROM THE FIRST TO THE LAS LAR. LS BEAUTIFY ROM PAYMENT YOUR F T DOL- SMALL MENTS us YOUR MILY ANO A Clean Sweep of A Great = Everything on Our Floors, Xmas Piano Opportunity A BONA FIDE MONEY-SAVING CHANCE NOTHING RESERVED, NEARLY 20 LIKE BUY SAVE MIDSUMMER PRE AND 00SE SEV Special Notice WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF NOTIC ERAL FACTORIES Wi THAT ON JAN. 1st PRICES ADVANCE CENT, You US MUST PAY MORE NOT NOW WHILE WH WE CAN YOU MONEY. OUR FORTUNATE ACING OF MEAVY ORDERS 1% ACCOUNTS FOR INT U ov DE [ AND SACRIFIC HA* HUNDR IANOS, AN OFFERING OF ASTOUNDING PROPORTIONS 450 Pianos and Organs--30 Different Makes SCHMOLLER & MUELLER OMAHA'S LEADING PIANO HOUSE Have Prepared a Feast of Royal Values This sale is a sale of the world’s best. money. pY any house in America. Used Organs Some good, serviceable Organs among ew Upright ghest quality, 30 s N H them are such well known makes as Estey, Mason & Hamlin, Chicago Cottage, Western Cottage, Kimball, Horace Waters, Sterling, to select from—an ideal Xmas present. usually will fatigue the brain of an insane Newman Bros., Schultz and Ithaca. Some at $18.00, $22.00, $28.00, $32.00, $44.00, otc., on payments of G50c per week. Used Squares We have about a dozen of these. all put will these. such as Hardman, Vose, JFischer, Chicker- Mueller, Molter, etc., at prices $33.00, $42.00, $50.00 to $75.00, condition. You makes in first-class many old standard among ing, Hale, like these on payments of 50c to 75¢ per week. PIANOS this sale $426 at 38.00, $300 at .82 at PIANOS— this sale $450 at PIANOS— this sale $475 at at find $2 at $400 PIANOS— at this sale PIANOS— 00 this sale at $600 at A TIMELY WARNING--- INSIDE FACTS--- Buy now—we will deliver when desired. tandard makes | Shopworn. 1 KNABE— largest size KNABE largest s KNAB um size MERSON walnut case EMERSO mahogany case EMERSON ebony case . GRAMER— walnut case STEGER oak c PIANOS this sale .. 8250 PIANOS— this sale PIANOS— this sale PIANOS— this sale PIANOS— this sale 280 .42 Not a poor piano for little or nothing, but the best produced, at the least WE SHOW MORE PIANOS than all the other Piano Houses in Omaha combined. OUR VARIETY is not exceeded SPECIAL BARGAINS Some are new — some ure slightly used or All are as good on new. ..328 1 IVERS & POND- mahogany case $289 " ooony cane <. |48 SMITH & BARNES I48 walnut case 26 281 EVERETT— oak case STEGER— walnut case JEWETT. walnut case ERBE— mahogany case HARDM mahogany case .... We huve every one just as advertised. Stools and Scarfs During this sale you can buy any stool or scart In the house at wholesale price. Elegant Piano Stools, hardwood and hand polished, $1.80, $1.95, $ Organ Stools, new style, extra braced, will go at 90c. A number of slightly used Stools for 25, 60c to $1.00. In Scarfs we shall offer about 200 at prices ranging from $1.00, $1.50, $2.00, $3.00, up to $10.00. Among these are several that retail as high as $25.00. We have a few slightly used Scarfs at 25c, b0c, 7o to $1.00. January 1st. All those contemplating the purchase of a piano should buy one before We will be compelled after January 1st, in common with all legitimate dealers, to advance prices. Through orders placed in midsummer our stock is now complete, and by virtue of close buying be- fore the raise we are able to save you money, and a nice bunch, too, if you will buy now. Schmoller & Mueller Manufacturers, Wholesale and Retail Piano Dealers, Offi d Warerooms, 1313 Farnam Faéggryagnd Warehouse, 1316 Farnam lowa Warerooms, 502 Broadway, Gouncil Biuffs. OMAHA person, causing him to become fretful and to wander in his speech, with the result that a whole train of delusions may be sud- denly loosed, as though he had lost mental control and given up his original intention to conceal his hallucinations. But T do not advise complete exhaustion. I may say. too, that an insane person, no matter how sikill- ful at concealing his delusions, often can- not deny having them, if the question be put to him pointedly and directly. “The result of each Interview In difficult cases, 1 set down in a record as soon as I return to my office and when I come to make a decision I consider them all and from them make up the report that is sent to the hospital at Lincoln before the patient. At the hospital this report fs perused by the superintendent and he de- termines if the patient is to be admitted | there. It is within his power to refuse any | or all. The law gives the poor preference over the rich at this public institution and the acute over the chronic, but the super- Intendent makes the decision as to who | A Campaign Genius Some unhonored phrase-maker, some time and somewhere dropped this chunk of strenuous wisdom: ‘‘Opportunity knocks once at every man's door.” Those who are awake and seize it materially advance in the race, while the hecdless sleep on and gain nothing. But there are others who are not only alert and awake, energetic and aggressive. This class do not wait for op- portunity to come. They go out to meet it halt way, or perhaps grapple with it in its lair and shake it for a winning. The ideal leader of this class bears the unromantic name of Lew Shank, a native and a resident of Indiana, a genius, a politician and Hoos- fer gentleman. Last fall the nomination for recorder of his home county was tendered Lew. He met it more than balf way. He went after it, belleving that a good thing was worth hustling for. It was his opportunity and he made the most of it. Then it was his genius bloomed forth and sbe4 an agreeable fragrance on the work of the campalgn. The first stroke of genius was to adver- tise for 10,000 girls “to kiss thelr sweet- hearts and ask them to vote for Lew Shank.”” The novelty of the announcement in itself was sufficient to furnish the can- didate with a large amount of advertising No sooner had the posters been distributed than the name of Lew Shank was on every- one's tongue. Young men laughed and joked on the subject to themselves, and bundreds of young women, all over the town, made the poster incident and the kissing propo- sition it involved the topic of conversation among their feminine friends. From a merely humorous incident the kissing sug- gestion ripened Into a reality. @irls in In- fanapolls were heard to whisper to each other between suppressed giggles such sen- tences as, “Will you do it?" it you will promise also?’ “All right, why Bot torm & club and get all the girls to make thelr beaux pledge themselves to vote for Mr. Shank?" “It's the very thing; and every girl must kies her sweetheart according to the request of t p Results show that 10,000 girls did respond to the plea, for Mr. Shank won out with a rousing majority and thus scored the most remarkable election victory ever recorded. Mr. Shank being a furniture dealer and auctioneer, knows the value of printers’ ink, so having decided what office he would fill he hied him to the newspaper offices aund made arrangements to have himself an- nounced in every sheet in town, in big glar- ing lines, as a candidate for county re- corder. His fellow townsmen seeing this on the first page of their dailies may have thought that ended it, but no such good luck. Did they read the locals there was Lew Shank; did they turn to the soclety news, there he was again. If in desperation they looked up advertisements they found the lines Interspersed by remarks such as these Wanted, 10,000 laboring men to suppart Lew Shank for recorder."” “Don’t forget your old friend, Lew Shank,” and 50 on, ad infinitum Meanwhile Mr. Shank was stirring up things on the street. In his store he had unpacked from its case & resplendent solid oak sideboard, and on its shining sides was suspended a large cardboard with the seduc- tive announcement that this plece of furni- ture was to be given to the person guessing the nearest to the number of votes received by the successful candidate for recorder On all the moving vans used in deliver- ing and moving furniture large canvas signs appeared bearing the legend, “Get On the Band Wagon and Vate for Lew Shank.” Theatergoers found their programs plenti- fully sprinkled with the same dulcet name. A cigar factory was subsidized and each cigar was deeply indented with the magie elght letters. Many of these cigars were given to the girls of the town to be won by their male friends by—well, in Dumerous ys. If the man were fortunate enough to receive a whole box of Haval and many Qid, he could also refresh himself by gaz- ing upon the Sherlock Holmes-like face of Mr. Shank depicted on the box lid. may come and who not. J might add also that the law expects that where familles are able to pay for the care and treatment of a member at the hospital they are ex- pected to do so, but that there has never been a collection made from Douglas county people by the state, though there have been, I think, two or three lawsuits. Oddities of the Law. “A complaint of insanity may be sworn to by anyonme, but arrest is made only when such complaint charges that the man agalnst whom it is made is dangerous to be at large. If mot so charged, the man is examined at his home and the commis- sioner recommends quiet, rest, change, travel or whatever else he belleves best, with detention and treatment as a last choice. The cost of transporting the sub- ject to the fmstitution is borne by the county, but if he be paroled at the request of relatives and then becomes violent again the cost of transporting him a sec- ond time must be borne by the one peti- The 0ffice Was Small, but the Run Was Great. Chewing gum, also, deliclously flavored with chocolate, and in the neatest of wrap- pers, appropriately worded of course, was scattered broadeast, and every school child had the name of the future recorder lit- erally on the tip of his tongue. Nor was this all. Mr. tioneer and much sought pacity. Bhould he let su Not he. At the psychological moment when his audience was moved to much laughter by his harangue and in an expansive and open-to-conviction attitude, a hired by- stander was sure to observe in stentorian tones tha recorder.” Indeed, this fact was reiterated so often that even the little dogs got to know It and were much interested in the outcome of the campaign. Especlally was this the case with a little water spaniel owned by a friend of the politician in the town, who would strut about In the most dignified manner if asked how Lew Shank would feel after the election; but when the feelings of his opponent were alluded to would appear to expire in dreadful agony. hank {s an auc- fter in this ca- Business applied to politics was the watchword of his campalgn. In addition, his big voice, hearty laugh and warm hand- shake were everywhere in evidence, and how could the Indianapolis people resist when even their morning cake of sohp greeted them cheerfully with “‘Get up early and vote for Lew Shank for recorder.’” Whether to ascribe the victory to the ¢i- ger, the chewing gum, the little water spaniel, the band wagons or the 10,000 kisses is a mooted. question in the Hoosler elty. But it is more than probable that the last method of booming bimself was re- sponsible for Lew Shank's election, as his popularity in Indianapolis among the younger soclal set was wide, and the very boldness of his request for 10,000 kisses contained an element of spiciness which ap- pealed to the hearts of his feminine ad- wirers. a chance slip? “Lew Shank 18 a candidate for | patient escapes from an asylum and returns to his home county, that county must bear the cxpense of returning him to ' the asylum, whereas if he goes anywhere else the Institution authorities will send for him at the expense of the state.” In the course of his conversation Dr. Til- den severely rebuked some features of present educational methods, saying: “The alienist, or writer on insanity, might do a very good work by ventilating the danger of competitive examination in educational institutions, where young per- sons with minds of unequal capacity and strength are set at the same tasks and encouraged so to strain themselves that the weaker ones are overtaxed and develop hysteria, chorea and other mervous discases that comstitute a foundation for mental derangement in the future.” PRATTLE OF THE YOUNGSTERS, “Gwaclous!” exclaimed small Dorothy the cow kicked the milk pail over, “just “Johnny,” said the teacher, adiressing a small pupil, “what are the five senses?’ “Nickels,” promptly replied Johuny, with an air of superior knowledge. Stranger erying for Little Girl—'Cause papa’s lost me, and I'm afraid he'll get an awful scolding if he goes home without me 1s it that the good are not always asked the Sunday school teache,r addressing thé juvenile class. ““Because,” replied a small boy, thinkin’ of the fun they ain’t havin Bobby—DIid God make that new baty, |pa? Pa—Yes, Bobby. Bobby—Say, pop, about what charge for a kid like Jimmy Little Willle Twospot was called upon to recite before his class on Friday aftornoon. | Bravely e mounted the platform. Val- fantly he thrust bis right hand up in the air as he began By that rude bridge which arched th. { _Their flag to April's breeze unfurled; Here the embattled farmers stood And shot the chutes. And then in a spasm of terror he ex- claimed: “Oh, gosh, that ain't right!’ Why, little girl, what are you does he VASELINE NO GOOD FOR HAIR, Dandruff Germ Thrives in It, as Well as in All Grease. | A well known Chicago hair specialist in- | vited the Inter Ocean reporter to come to his office and see, under a microscope, how the germ that causes dandruff thrives in vaseline. The specialist sald that all hair preparations containing grease, simply fur- nish food for the germs and help to propa- gate them. The only way to cure dandruff | 18 to destroy the germs, and the only hair | preparation that will do that is Newbro's Herpicide. “Destroy the cause, you remove the effect.” Without dandruff no falling look at ze old cow waggin’ her hiud leg!” | flood | tioning for his parole. Oddly enough, if a [ & STONE FURNITURE G0, 1I5-i17 Farnam Street ture that is needed. finest maho appropriate: ny suits, China Case, selected, bent glass ‘ends, convex legs, beaatifully finished exceptional values, at Others from $13.25 up. swell front mirror, at Others from $19.00 up nicély finished, Extension Table, tered oak, top very massive and beauti- fully finished, at Others from $.75 up. 48 " inches Holidays. live bair, no baldness. Ask for Herpicide. It is | the only destroyer of the dandrufl germ. door, Buffet or selected quartered oak, full high French legs pedestal base, quar- Square- 26.50 large 21.00 Leading Furniture House of the West. What shall I give Jor Christmas? Replace that old Sideboard, China Case or Dresser with a new, up-to-date pattern, or select some other piece of furni- We have EVERYTHING in the fur- niture line from the comfortable “Boston” Rocker to the ind suggest any of the following as ser of selected 3%-oak, 28x32 pat- 1 plate mirror, double swell front, h top, very low ch legs, at 25.00 Others at from $1.50 up. (heavy oak frame), very best combination 1 hand 33.00 ‘ Leather Couch closely tufted, steel springs bufted leather. at Others from $i7.00 up. Rocker of guaranteed or mahog- any finish, saddle seat, banister back, nicely finished 4.75 at OTHERS FROM $2.50 TO $40.00. You are invited to inspect the newest in furniture for the If desired, purchases are held for future de- Dewey & Stone Furniture Co 1115-1117 Farnam Street. CURe YUURS!‘J} Uge Big @ 100 nnnsvun FgeR A Gar alions, irritations or ulecration] ucous membr sinless, and not ge0t Or Polsonous. Sold by Drogyles,