INSANITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1549, 19 September 1912, Page 4

INSANITY.

HOPE OF THE EUGENIST. The annual report on the mental hospitals of tho Dominion by Dr. Frank Hay, Inspector-General of Mental Defectives, was presented to tho Honso of Representatives yesterday afternoon by tho Minister in charge (tho Hon. K. Heitton Rhodes). The report shows that the number of patients tinder control of tho Department at December 31 was 3<5G, an increase of Bfi over tho number ■ at tho bee-inning of tho year. Tho average increase during the former five years was 111.0, tho figures for ,the most and tho least favourable years_ being 31 and 171 respectively. Tho increase of the year being at tho rate of ono in 28G was proportional to the increase in the general population. The general tendency is, however, shown by an analysis of the statistics towards an increase in occurring insanity slightly in excess of Ihe increase in population.

The causation of insanity is discussed in t-lio report. Dr. JTay remarks tlint "the parlinl solution? suggested liy the knowledge at our disposal are by nn menus simple. lm( lo snv Uial it it, impns. siblp to _ftpm 11m tide of social degenoracv which has overwhelmed former civilisations is to express u pessimism which is unjustified. Xo ono ran fail to observe the public interest which is- being aroused in this subject, thank' largclv lo il'm work of the Eugenics Education Society, and once that interest is fecussed and' becomes a conviction, a. popular ideal will bp created which will influence the' selcc. Hon of the parents of the succeeding generation much n« religious and social distinctions do at present."