All letters regarding publication should be addressed to the . 337 337 339 339 340 341 Deficiency Appropriations for 1916-17 Appropriations for State Hospital Department for use in 1916-17...... General Statistical Information..... Census of April 1, 1917................ Summary of Operations of Bureau of Deportation... Movement of Patients in the State Hospitals During the WHAT THE STATE IS DOING FOR THE INSANE* BY MAURICE C. Ashley, M. D., Superintendent, Middletown State Homeopathic Hospital. Public thought is so crowded with momentous events at this time that one needs a stout wedge and a heavy sledge if he would succeed in forcing an opening and focusing attention to still another matter of great public importance. Mental hygiene is as essential as any other form of hygiene. Every man, woman and child should know how to live mentally, morally and physically so as to conserve his natural powers of resistance to mental disease, to overcome handicaps which inheritance, environment, or habits may have placed upon him, and to avoid doing those things which are likely to reduce his powers of resistance. It is the aim of the present State and nation-wide movement to attempt to disseminate such facts and information as will be likely to stimulate active, intelligent, and helpful interest in the subject, with the object of making for a healthier, stronger, sounder and saner people. To this end, public lectures are being given and public clinics are being held throughout this and many other States. The subject is being attacked in many ways and from various angles. *** We may profitably consider a few of the more common causes of mental disease. First. It is generally conceded that alcohol in excess, in its various forms as a beverage, does more to create the need of additional accommodations for the insane than any other one thing. Do not understand me to say that our State hospitals are filled with alcoholics as such, for this is not the case. The drug works in devious and insidious ways. The improper and excessive use of other drugs is a potent factor. Other vices and virtues carried to excess, predispose to and cause various psychoses. Excessive work, too frequent childbearing, syphilis, and other forms of disease, traumatism, senility, unrestrained religious devotion, insuf * Extracts from a paper read at a public meeting in Kingston, New York, February 9, 1917 |