The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1912. MENTAL DISEASE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 25, 23 September 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1912. MENTAL DISEASE.

LAW AND ORDER.

The annual report to Parliament on the Mental Hospitals of the Dominion shows that the number of patients under control at the .beginning of the year was 3670 (males 2160, females 1510), and at the end of the twelve months it had increased by 86 (males 60 and females 26). Concerning these disquieting figures the report remarks that whereas the increase in the male patients to the number of 60 was slightly in excess of the. proportional increase of males in the general population, the addition of 26 female patients was slightly below the proportional increase of females in the general population, with the total result that the increase of .mentally defective persons was proportional to the increase in the general population. It was hardly to be expected that the report could give much indication as to means of avoiding insanity or lessening the percentage of victims to mental disease. Certainly we are told that less strenuous and more natural lives should be led and that methods of mental development and subsequent employment should be adjusted to age and individual capacity. Among the most common causes of insanity are the following, in proportions per cent.:

Males. Females. Tl. 1911 Heredity ... 13.30 17.81 15.17 Critical periods 21.29 25.31 22.96 Alcohol ... 15.74 4.38 11.03 Mental stress ... 7.99 10.00 8.82 Congenital Mental Deficiency ... 5.76 12.50 8.56 Disease of Ner-

vous System 7.32 G. 25 6.87 It is with reference to the great number who inherit mental weakness that the report is especially sad reading, for we are told that after using all possible means to prevent mental stress and such causes bringing about a break-down that "there would always remain those so inherently unstable in mind that they would succumb to a much reduced ratio of stress, individuals who may be said to be predestined to insanity, and those who are mentally deficient at birth. To modify the environment is to consider the individual, to prevent the propagation of the unfit benefits the race; but the solution of that

problem is still to be sought. The partial solutions suggested by the knowledge at our disposal are by no means simple; but to say, therefore, that it is impossible to stem the tide of social degeneracy, which has overwhelmed former civilisations, the superficial likeness notwithstanding, is to express a pessimism which in unjustified. No one nin fail to observe the public interest wlrch is being aroused on this subject, thanks largely to Ihi! work of the Eugenics Educa-

Lion Society, and once that interest is foeussed and becomes a conviction ; popular ideal will be created which will influence the selection of the parents of the succeeding generation much as religious and social distinctions do at present." The question is one of the most difficult of the day to dc.d with, hut it will have to he seriously faced, and we believe that the next few years will see an awakening of civilised peoples to the fact that mental and some other diseases can only be checked by making propagation impossible in those unfortunately .affected. In the State of California steps in this direction have hcen taken already.

Dealing with the recent bombastic "manifesto" of the Federation of La-' hour, the Christchurch 'Tress" expresses itself as glad to see the Government intends to stand firm on the s : de of law, and goes on to say: •Ministers must do so, or cease to he worthy of the position they hold. When .an attempt is being made by a small section to shake the foundations on which society, is built, the rest of the country must come to the rescue, and wo have not the least doubt the Government has an overwhelming body of public opinion supporting its determination to uphold the law. As for a general strike being possible, the thing is absurd. The great mass of orderly, level-headed workers will never allow themselves to bo led into such a welter of folly and misery by the irresponsible bunglers who have made such a deplora.ble mess of things at Waihi. The Federation manifesto says truly enough that "a strike lost is a blow to all who toil." We would go further and say that it is a blow to the whole community. But it is a foregone conclusion that any further strike promoted by the Federation of Labour would be lost within a week. The reason is because the co?n-moh-sense, and the spirit of fairplay of practically the whole community would be against it from the outset.