A WORLD OF MADNESS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 124, 12 October 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

A WORLD OF MADNESS

DR. FORBES WLNSLOW'S (HUM PROPHECY.

THE INCREASE IX LUNACY. To the statement by Dr. Mott, at the Eugenics Congress, that the increase in lunacy is more apparent than real, Dr. Forbes Winslow, in an interview with a representative of the Pall Mall Gazette, gave an absolute denial.

"I base my views," he said, "'on practical experience and knowledge obtained during the last forty-five years in my investigations in various parts of the world. Wherever I have investigated the subject I have found that the increase is most real. Lunacy progresses uninterruptedly, and the only goal to be reached is a world of madness in the net very distant future.

"Dr. Motts bases his figures and conclusions mainly on the study of the pauper class of London. Although there is more crime, lunacy and drink in London than in any other city in the whole universe, I should be the last to take the statistics of insanity from London in order to base an opinion on the matter, or to let it lead one to believe, in face of the true facts of the case, that the increase of lunacy is an apparent and not a real one. ONE LUNATIC IN EVERY 275.

"In 1859 there was one lunatic in every 536 of the population. To-day there is one in every 275. In France 60 years ago there was one insane person in every 750 of the population. To-day there is one in every 300. In Switzerland, where I made an official investigation last year, I also found a very alarming increase. "The increase last year in England was the highest for a decade. It was 2604, as opposed to the average increase for the last ten years of 2521. The question is one of vital importance, not only to the 1 present generation, but to generations still unborn. '

"From the point of view of comparison, the increase of population has nothing to do with the increase of insanity. In England the cities, taken in the order in which insanity is most prevalent, are London, Bath, Bristol and Brighton. In Bournemouth there is less insanity than in any other town.. Why, I do not know, except that Bournemouth is an exceptionally healthy place. "Among the uncivilised races of the world insanity is generally an unknown quantity. Where, on the other hand, competition is great, where gigantic mental efforts have to be made to keep up with the course of events, and where temptation is thrown in the way of mankind, its increase is very real."

THE INCREASE OF DRINK. "Why is it increasing?" Dr. Forbes Winslow was asked.

"The chief statistical cause," he replied, "is the increase of drink. Twentyfive per cent, of all the lunacy in the world is caused by drink, and more than twenty-five per cent, in London." "But I thought we had become a more sober nation," it was remarked.

"That is a popular delusion; nothing could be more fallacious. Every day I am brought face to face with the appalling fact. We are drinking very much more.

"Other causes of insanity are heredity and injudicious marriages. Those who have been insane once should not be allowed to marry. ' "Further, to check this mental degeneration there should be immediate legislation for the compulsory confinement of habitual drunkards; and"half-way houses should be established where those suffering from acute, but curable insanity could be placed instead of being incarcerated in lunatic asylums." Dr. Forbes Winslow has a book now in the press on "The Insanity of Passion and Crime," with chapters, among others, on the tragedy of passion, of irresponsibility, of mental obscurity, of heredity, and of criminal abnormality, illustrated with a remarkable series of photographs, including one of a man who suffered from the hallucination that he was a squirrell.