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 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 S 
 
 6 
 
*l 
 
 I 
 
 I-Jc 
 
b 15 
 
 HEREDITY, 
 
 WORRY & INTEMPERANCE, 
 
 AS CAUSES or INSANITY 
 
 ]3V 
 
 1)AXII:L CLARK, AI.D., 
 
 Mr.DK.Ai. sri'KKix ii;niii:ni ui' asVmm iok nil-; insam:, thronio, 
 i:\-rKi,siiii;N r oi i in; Mi'.nrcAi, curNcii., 
 
 I„\AMIN1:R in CIIICMIMKV KiR IIIK ( OII.KCK 0|- lilVMCIANS ANll srKCKONS 
 
 01 (iNl'ARln, 
 
 AND KXAMINKR IN OIIS ri-Vl'KICS ANll MKIIK'AI. JTR I^I'RT llKNi:!-; I'OR IIIK 
 I-NIVKRSITY OK I'CIIOJNI'O. 
 
 REI'iaXTED J'KOM OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. 
 
 TOROXTO: 
 PRIXrKU BV C. lU.ACRliTl' ROlllXSOX, 5 JCJRDAX STRKK 
 
 1880. 
 
 ill 
 
 K-Jk. 
 
 .-^.^-iji ' Cj:u^^..*iA,j 
 
 ..ui*!^:. 
 
 .■ j-.u m'-. i m 
 
 ■^i 
 
f i 
 
 f 
 
 I'; 
 
 h 
 
 , y. 
 
f 
 
 HEREDITY, 
 
 WORRY AND INTEMPERANCE, 
 
 '[{ 
 
 AS CAUSES OF INSANITY. 
 
 HkHEDITAUY TaIXT, WdltUY FROM OVKIi-WOHIv, 
 
 Intkmpeuance. 
 
 Theuk wi'iv a'lmittod into tlie Toronto Asylum iluring the 
 otlicial yeiir 1S77, 232 parioiits; into London Asylum, 129, — 
 total yUl. Returns shew that of that number there were twenty- 
 seven cases said to have become insane " from domestic trouble, 
 adverse circumstances ami mental anxiety." lntem[)erance in 
 drink is said to have added twelve to the nuniljer. 'J'hose who 
 had inherited temlencies with any otlicr ascertained cause in com- 
 bination (including the coni^enital) were the large number of 122. 
 Unknown causes make up a large proportion ot" the remainder in 
 the returns of this and succeeding years. In 1877 out of ihe 
 large number of 232 admissions into Toronto Asylum no causes 
 were assigned in 128 cases, and in 1878, out of 18!) cases, no 
 causes in Gl cases. In London Asylum out of 214 admitted in 
 1878, 1(32 were classed under the head of " unknown causes." In 
 
 11 
 
 i 
 
 J|. 
 
 iMBMMMaanB 
 
 JEJ- 
 
// 
 
 4 
 
 HEREOITV, WdRHY yVND INTKMi'KUANCF., 
 
 Kinirstiin Asylnin, out of 107 admissions 2!) were tlius cl.assifiod. 
 
 IIiv Clii' otfii-ial year of IST'S tlic adinissioiiN into tlir tlircf aliovc 
 
 iui»nti<Mic-il Asylums ucn', rcspcctivi'ly, IS!), ilt, 107, — total, ")10. 
 
 (OM rhis iiaml)cr io is fair to infer tliat a majority of tliosc rc- 
 
 ttmi'iicil miller the lieadini;' of " unknown causes " wore afflicted 
 
 wi.Tih herediry. If there were no apparent cause to those wlm 
 
 tiiir.^c observed mental alierrati<Mi, in nine cases out of ten it lay in 
 
 tllii' iviuseil possiliiiities of a tainted eonstitutio.i. Of tlie .")10 ad- 
 
 tt»iinsi'.,ns dui'in'4 I.S7M, ''7 cases were said t ) have liecome insane 
 
 tfitcau nhi' cau.si's mentioned — 17 eases from intempi'rance in drink, 
 
 aauf li-") from tin' hereditary and congenital tendencies, excited 
 
 iV/ror.her causes. The whole in the latter of the alio\e-uientioued 
 
 t«iM*in»j,- causes miL,dit he delined by the one Wiird " worry," fur 
 
 •''•'ll')mestic troubles, a<lvers(! cii'cumstauees, hu-^iness troubles and 
 
 nuMvr,ii,l anxiety " luean the same. A lari,^' proportion of the 
 
 Ui'»mainder not thus classitied, such as epileptics, also po.sse.ss a 
 
 ll»>«(»i litary taint in a majority of cases. It is true the classitica- 
 
 iliiiiv is fir fi'om liein^' a])pro.ximately true, on accouiu of the im- 
 
 [Jttitfectj way returns of the auterioi' history of I'ach patient are 
 
 ttiture out. A large perceutai^e of cases sent from the ijaols are 
 
 .uicnmijanied with little or no intV)rmation aliout their antecedents. 
 
 Blu^ hist;ories tilled up by friends or I'l'lativcs, under the ordinary 
 
 jjiij: ii'.i»ss, are also too often very mean'ri' and unsatisfactory, especi- 
 
 ;ul!iy in respect to the incpiiry about the mental conilition of rela- 
 
 ttiiwiAs. This must remain to lie the case until a more approved 
 
 W;iy of arriving at the truth is devised. We nnist, liowever, use 
 
 ttftrt' Ki^iives at our disposal, ;uid classify tliem as being a represcn- 
 
 ttuOii^tv of minimum cases in the proportion indicated. The large 
 
 ftiBWnbev .(f those admitted under the hea<l of " unknown causes" 
 
 ii+: where a fallacy would be liable to creep in. 
 
 Uni looking over the tables of Asylum Reports from year to year, 
 ttfiiv choughtful reader caniKjt help being alarmingly startled at 
 
!/ 
 
 AS CAUSES OF INSAMTV. 
 
 5 
 
 s classiticil. 
 
 -tot.al, .")1(). 
 
 t' tliosc rc- 
 
 |cro afflicteil 
 
 tllDSC will) 
 
 11 it lav in 
 tllr .')l(l ad- 
 [>nio insane 
 • I' in drink, 
 
 Mfs, cxc-itcil 
 
 -nu'iitiiiiii'il 
 woriy," for 
 ouIpIcs and 
 
 tinll of till' 
 
 II I PI issoss a 
 I' rlassitica- 
 
 iif tllr ilij- 
 
 paticnt ail' 
 le gaols are 
 inteeodi'nts. 
 :io ordinaiv 
 ;ory, csiicci- 
 ion of rela- 
 te approved 
 uwcvor, use 
 a ivpri'SL'U- 
 Tlie large 
 wn causes" 
 
 ear to year, 
 
 startled at 
 
 seeing .such an'Curd of large percentages of eases of insanity lieiug 
 attributed to tliese tliree causes, \\/.. : 
 
 I. Hereditary Taint. 
 II. Worry from ( )vei-\\ork. 
 Hi. inteni[ieijin('e. 
 
 The hereditary ciiiise may at a low estimate h.. placed at 4.") 
 /;(■/■ rciitii Hi of tile insane po|)ulation It is wmlli \vliile in a lu-- 
 port of this kind to make impiiry into the radical causes of such 
 a dire calamity as that of insanity. .Nothing new can lie written 
 alioiit it to medical men, hut if the puluic can he made to pause 
 and consider in the midst of the hot puisuits of e\eiy-ilay life, 
 some good may result from a cursory glance at the suliji;ct. Wliat 
 is tliis hideous ogri! wliicdi is wi iking such woe in our midst :" 'J"o 
 say tliat a disease is hereditary means, in the eommunity, that it 
 is incurable, althougli sucli is not absolutely the ease. The main 
 natural prop towards curability si'ems to be taken away when 
 an inriueiice of this sinister nature has been implanted in a (-on- 
 stitution. The number of relations who ha\e suceiimlied to the 
 same disease is summed up, and commiseration is iwpiessed for 
 the latest victim, slowly capitulating to tlie malign agency, l^ike 
 all causes of a morbilie nature with the condition of their e.\istencc 
 unchanged, the circle of this abuoiiuid tendency e\er widens until 
 it might be truly said that a large proportion of the [loimlation of 
 the earth isaH'ected more or less by its permeating iiiHuence in one 
 form or otiier. It is of national importance to endeavour to in- 
 vestigate its sources, and to iiii|nire if it be possible to do any- 
 thing to stay its progress in even a minor degree in that phase of 
 it called insanity. 
 
 We see consumjitive [lareiits per[)etuate in the lungs of some or 
 all of their children or grand-children the teiidein'y to form tub- 
 ercles in the Uing.s, which send a large majority of them and their 
 descendants to a premature grave. The scrofulous transmit to the 
 generations folhjwing them, in an ever-widening stream, a pi'edis- 
 position to glandular disease, which lea\es the body liable to be 
 stricken down, not only with tliis most persistent of diseases, but 
 also witli ac-ite ilisea-ses which more readily prey upon a system 
 
 i 
 
 Iri 
 
 
 --.J- 
 
 ■^>< 
 
it 
 
 
 •II 
 
 6 HERKDITY, WOHllY AND IXTEMPKUANi E, 
 
 woakciicil liy reason of trinU'iicirs iiiliciitfil hou\ tln' paronts. A 
 chain is onls- as .strong as tlw wialvL'st link. A fort is only as ini- 
 jn'c^nalili' as its ■weakest part. So wlien any deliilitated orij;an 
 e-ives way the enemy has possession of tlie luilwarivs, and tlie cita- 
 del is in danger. 
 
 Hven in those cases in whicli no apparent rea.son can be given 
 tor a decided change of t-onstitntion, yet, this deviation lieconies a 
 natural heritagi'. This is illustrated in Alliinnx. who are to hc' 
 found among all the di\ers.> human raci'< on the I'ace of the glolie. 
 This ahsence of colouring niattci- from the eyes, hair and skin ap- 
 pears in children of normal parents, hut, when once in cvisteiice it 
 is transmissihle as a patrimony. 'I'he same is true of the other ex- 
 treme, calle(l .][<■/(! II iniii : of hairlip, of ahnormal spimd column, of 
 supernumerary lingers and toes, of acuteness in the organs of sense, 
 and of perversions of taste. ( )f course, many of these peculiarities 
 h i\'e not the pi'rtinacity of reproduction seen in hlood diseases. 
 / Moral, intellectual, emotional, att'ectional (pialities ami instincts 
 : are inherited in the .same way, even to collateral lines of ancestry. 
 It is true the cxct'i)tions arc many from causes heyond human ken, 
 hut these legacies are in such a preponderating majority that they 
 nuistlie admitteil as rules regulating ilcscciit. 
 
 It is ea.sy to see then that in a few decades tlic individual comes 
 i to atfect a family; the family, a race : and the race, a species. It 
 \ is one of those intluences which iloes not startle l)y its malignity 
 'i as epidemics do. It slowly. ipiietly. Imt pertinaciously saps viudity, 
 thwaits natures etlorts towards health, and in the end conijucrs 
 the vital foices. (iood can l)e transmitted from race to race as 
 •well as evil (pialities, hut unfortunately the latter pretlominate. 
 It is not to lie wondereil at tli.at cerain Mooil diseases are thus 
 ! transmitted from pai-eiits to children, when we notice how e\-eii 
 ' healthy traits of char.icter are handed down to posterity; the 
 j peculiar walk ; the movements of the haiuls and head; the facial 
 I expression: the hot or cold tempeiiunent : tlu' transnussion of 
 aptitudes originally aeipiired hy per->oual h.ii)it; the lie(pieathinu' 
 of distinctive moral and nu'ntal capacities; and a thousand othei' 
 likenesses and pi'culiarities can l>e traced in families for genera- 
 tions. Each pel-son needs only study himself in these salient 
 points to lie surprisingly cognizant of how much lie imitates 
 
|iiircnts. A 
 s only as im- 
 itatcil oi'giui 
 mil till' citii- 
 
 aii !)(.• given 
 II liccouios a 
 
 lio arc to 111' 
 
 of tllf glolif. 
 
 iml skin a]p- 
 rxistclicf it, 
 
 tlii'otlicr f.\- 
 
 ll coilllllll, of 
 
 fans of sense, 
 peciiliaritii's 
 I iliseasi's. 
 111(1 instincts 
 
 of aiiL'estrv. 
 
 luiiiiaii keii, 
 ty tiiat thoy 
 
 i,iiliial conies 
 , species. It 
 its malignity 
 saps viti'.lity, 
 nil coiKjUcrs 
 :'i3 to race as 
 L'lloininate. 
 iscs arc thus 
 L'c liDW cscn 
 )stel-ity ; tlie 
 1 ; tile facial 
 iisiiiissioii of 
 lieipii'atliing 
 3u.san(l other 
 4 for gonei'a- 
 tliose salient 
 lie imitates 
 
 AS CAfSKS Of INSANITV. 7 
 
 or follows one or liotli progenitors in iiio\eiiients, tV-eling, inoiles 
 of tlumglit ainl teiiilencies. 
 
 Proniiiient and characteristic outlines of nose, chin, mouth, ears 
 ami v\i_'<: are, reprmliiceil in families, and remain tliu-» in the siie- 
 ce'ssive progeny. Tile .lews ami Gyjisies are good illustrations of 
 this law of like producing like. 
 
 All the Dourhoiis had aipiiliiie noses ; th" nienihi'rs nf the IJoyal 
 House of Austria have thick lips. 
 
 ( )ther illustrious races are said to he tlat-footed, until it ha^ he- 
 eoiue a coiiiiiion saying that this natural depressjuii of tli«' arch of 
 the foot is a sign of royal descent. iJuitoii says, in liis ' Anatomy 
 of Melancholy," "The famous family of <Knoliarhi were known 
 of old, and so surnamed from their red ln'ard-- ; and tlioM- Indian 
 Hat noses are ])iopagat(Ml ; the l>ar\aiiaii chin, and gog^rle eyes 
 among the dews, as liiistortiiis ohserves: their voice, paci-, ges- 
 tures, looks, are likewise di-riwd n'if/i nil l/ir nsf nf f/icir coit'li- 
 
 (tnlis llltll I nil I'll! ll K'K. 
 
 Idiosyncrasies exist in families, such as inti.lerance of certain 
 foods, as pork ; and medieiiies, as opium. I^ife .Vssuranci' CVmi- 
 paiiies huild chances of life in those who have long-lived ancestors. 
 'Idii' prolific tendencies of some families, as well as I'aces. are often 
 su'ijects of caustii- humour and jocular gossip. The io\ing and 
 stoical Indian, the emotional negro, the phlegmatic CJeriiian. the 
 volatile and gestlinilatiiig Frenchman, the sturdy, cooldieaded, 
 slow and jiersevering Anglo-Saxon, and the imitative. ])lodding, 
 ohservant ( 'hiiiaiiian, ar" only eNideiiees of the law of heredity 
 apjilied to nations. 'I'lie American people, althougli in sonie of 
 the States they are mainly descendants of Knglish immigrants of 
 two centuries ago, still shew the suhstantial features of their sires. 
 The same is true of the jieople ill those parts ot' the I'liiteil States 
 settled hy the 'i'eiitonic aiid (iallie races many years ago. The 
 purely American feature-, of character may croj) uii,yet, the traits 
 of the nation from whence they originally sprang stand out pro- 
 minently. Any one who olpser\'ed elnsely the ilistiiieti\.- ap|iear- 
 ances, actions, liahits and tempi'rameiits of the various regiments 
 drawn from ditt'en'iit parts of the ['iiion,on hotli sides, during the 
 i-ecent ( 'ivil War, i-ould not liel]i luit he struck with this. We 
 need old V look to the linliittiu of (Juehee, the children of Ctermans 
 
 ,*— — ■ jA ' 
 
 •mmmmmmmmmmfmm'm-^^ 
 
I 
 
 ij 
 
 8 IlKliKDlTV, WolUtV AM) INTK.MI'KUAXCK, 
 
 where tliey aro settled, and of tlie HiL,dilaiiders and Kn^lish in 
 ditferi'iit conntiis ofCaniida, to lie convinced of this statement. 
 
 We neeil only point to the history of illustriuMs families to 
 shew that ^i^aiitie intelli'cts ai'e tiansmisKililf ; Napier, I'itt, Fox, 
 Herschel, liache, and many sneh mii:ht heipiuted toestahlish this 
 fact, it is true there are e.\ee[»tions to tliis rule, as seen in the 
 descendants of ( 'comwell, ( loethe, .Milton, Burns, and Scott, Those 
 dexiations fnim a L;eneral law may easily he explaiied. when it is 
 eoiisidercil how nnich maternal inlliieiice allects ott'sprinu', especi- 
 ally if mediocrity is joined to towei'inL,' i,'enius, and i-hildien par- 
 take of the- similitude >>{' the former. The least chan^i' in the 
 conditions of existence may overhalanee the eharaeteristics whi(tli 
 <^o to form ifreatness. This is seen in the many examples history 
 produces of ^reat Lz'eniuses lioverin^' all their li\-es on the Imrder- 
 land of insanity. The least <nitoward circumstance npsets the 
 ;,'iant minil : so tln' many deviations of r\en a minor charai'ler, 
 which may he inherited, often readily upset the eipiilihriiMu of 
 pliysical and mental vitality sutlieicutly to change the whole 
 nature of a man. .\n imjiereeptihle di-fect in a h'Us may distort 
 the faii'est view. The least ehani,'e in till ultimate elements of a 
 chemical suhstauce will entirely atfect tin- jihysjcal appearance 
 and radical projierties of a suhstance. A dro[> of foul water will 
 pollute the contents of a lar,^e cistern of j)ure water, in an ana- 
 logical way this tendency to er^Mt chan^fc from apparently minor 
 causes is true of natiu'al herita^v. A man of impulses with dis- 
 cretion and judeiuent may n'o throueh life without connuittiuL:; 
 himself to rash acts for want oi' forethought, iiis son may have 
 the passi(^uate nature, hut may he deficient in tln' ]iowers which 
 I'cgulate couihu't. A parent of uood mind and morality may give 
 to a child intellect, hut tin' morals may naturally lie of a low 
 staiitlard, and from this want of halance he may Itecome an expert 
 counterfeiter, luirglar or Kaid-; defaulter, <jr on the other hand lie 
 may he of good hishaviour and consistent chiracter. hut his men- 
 tal caj)a"ity m^iy he of a low order. A child uuiy inherit sjilendiil 
 talents hut tlii'V are [nactii'ally useless if he is deficient in [uii- 
 dence, pertinacity ami industry. The least change in the im- 
 parted ])hysical elements may unhinge the whole man. The rule, 
 liowever, hohls good that like conditions in parents will jiroduce 
 
 M 
 
Kni,'lisli ill 
 jiti'iiicnt. 
 t'ainilii's t(j 
 I-. Pitt, Fox, 
 tiilili-^li this 
 ■fu in till' 
 >ft. These 
 whi'ii it is 
 
 lll'^'. cslirci- 
 
 ihircH |i;ii- 
 lULTi' in till' 
 >*ics whicli 
 ijrs hist iry 
 tile lionlcr- 
 
 UllSfts tlic 
 
 r cliaractcr, 
 
 iiililiriuiii (>r 
 
 the wluilc 
 
 niav "listort 
 
 I'liiciits dt' a 
 
 a]i]M'aran('t' 
 
 li water will 
 
 In an ana- 
 
 riitly minor 
 
 ^('s with ilis- 
 
 (•oiiiiiiittinL:^ 
 
 m niay liavi- 
 
 iiwcrs wliich 
 
 ty may Lcivc 
 
 111' c)t" a low 
 
 lie an ex|it'rfc 
 
 hiM- hand iio 
 
 lilt llis lllL'Il- 
 
 crit spU'iiliil 
 •ient in pru- 
 ! in tlif im- 
 1. Till' riih,', 
 will protluco 
 
 A« CAU.SKS (IK INSAMTV. 
 
 
 
 iil<(' rcsiiUs in cliiliiri'ii. Thf ])ro|iortions of cadi may lie sonii'- 
 what clianLii'il, ami in tliis way a]itituih's, [ici'iiliaritii's, ami simi- 
 larity may not lie ;is strikiiiLf as is a |ilioto_;r;i|iii, yrt, wlim all 
 it<U.< l\u' .:iifftmm. n\' each case are eloscly siTutiiii/nl in rrlatioii to 
 ]iari'jita;4r it will surprise tlie stmli'nt liow much in common with 
 thi' |iart'iits till' most ilivcrsc chiMren possess. I']\i'n the' puMic 
 make it suliji'ct of rnuark wlim oiir chiM of ;i family ilitfiTs iVoiii 
 till' ri'st. The history of esery iiei^lilionriiodil sliews that some 
 families are i, it orioiis for their wickeilness. and when occasion- 
 ally one iiieiiilier of it turns out Lo he an lionest man, the fact is 
 lookeil upon as a ^ratifyiii'^' Wonder. ()ii tl ther hand 'lie ex- 
 clamation of ■' \\lio Would have thoui,dit it ' ' is often heanl when 
 an lioiiouralile race produces a rascal, lait it is explained a\\,,v 
 hy the remark, "There are lilack sheep in every Hock." 
 
 ( 'omt ' ne\t r said a truer thiii'4' than when he wmte the axiom 
 that " Mankind is as one man, always livim,;' and always learii- 
 iiiLf. The growth of inte'lligence is gradual, and spreads from the 
 one to the many: until, liy a process of ingraiiiiii'.:', these he ome 
 cliang'd in organization and produci' aptitudi's, rising into facul- 
 ties as the result of modes nf thought passing down through a 
 series of generations." «/()n the >ame point Maiidesley says: "The 
 causes of di'fective ci'relir'il developiiu'iit, which is the pliysical 
 condition of idioi'v, are ofti'U trac.ahle to parents. Krequejit in- 
 term:irriage in families may undoulitedly lead to a degeneration 
 which manifests itself in individuals hy d(;af-inutisiii, alhinism 
 and idiocy. Out of .■>(•() idiots in the Stati' of Massachusetts, 
 wliosi' histories were carefully investigated, as many as I4.'i Avert' 
 the oHspring oj' int 'uni'-rate parents. Here, as elsewhere in na- 
 ture, like produt'es like, and the parent who makes himself a tem- 
 porary lunatic or idiot hy his degrading vice, pr()[iagate^ his kind 
 in [irocre'atioii, and entails on his children tic curse of a hopeless 
 fate." iTlie Physiology and Pathology of Mind.") 
 
 " A horse," says Darwin, " is trained to ci'rtaiu paces, and the 
 colt inherits similar movements. Nothing in the whole circuit of 
 physiologv is more wonderful. l[ow can the use or disuse of a 
 |)artieular liiiih or of the iirain affect a small aggregate of re|iro- 
 ductive cells in such a m inner that the heiug developed from 
 them inherits the character of cither one or both parents '. Even 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 
 I 
 
 .SA. 
 
10 
 
 HERl'DITV, WORRY AND INTEMl'KREN'CR, 
 
 W 
 
 an imi)crfoc'fc unswoi' to this quostion would li(> satisfaetory." 
 Youatt, till! wi'U-known vctorinaiy surgeon, says: "The first 
 axiom we wouM lay down is this, likr tv'dl pruifurc like ; the 
 proufcny will inherit the ijualities, liowever n^in^dl■ll, of tlic 
 parents. We wi^uld refer to the suhjeetof diseast's, and state o\n' 
 perfect conviction that there is scarcely one of which citlier of 
 the parents is artectcd that the foal will not inlu'iit. or, at lea-', 
 the [)reilis|)ositiou to it ; ci'rn thi' (•<)nKi''/iu'ii('fK nf /mril n'oi'lc or 
 ill-iisiijie will descend to tlie progeny. \Vr ha\'e had proof upuii 
 proof that blindness, roarinif, tlnck wind, liroken wind, curli~, 
 s[)a\in rine-ljones and founder have heeii lie([ueathed hoth liy the 
 sire and tlx; dam to the oti'sprin<f. > It should lie likewise he Vfvn]- 
 lected that, althou;^h these hlemishes may not a|)pear in the im- 
 mediate pi'oeeny, they freipiently will in the ne.\t e^eneration." 
 
 It is also interesting" to note how external marks, skin diseases, 
 deformity, and even accidental deliciimcies have hi'cn transnntted. 
 There are exceptions — which is a matter for congratulation — hut 
 it shews how gi'cat the tendency to reproduce the like exists. 
 The amount of suffering, di.sease, and death which could be pre- 
 vented by juilicious living, can never be estimati'd. It becomes a 
 serioirs estimate to know how much epidemics of crime, pers(jnal 
 responsibility in \'iolatiou of law, unbiassed volition, ami moral 
 turpitud(! depend on causes beyond the control of the individual. 
 Free agency is given to all in a greater or less degree, liut, in no 
 two of the .scjus or daughters of Adam is it alike [towe.i'ful and 
 unshackled. 
 
 It will bo seen tht'u that what is true in respect t(j physical an 1 
 intellectual reproduction is als(j none the less true of the moral 
 natur.' as fai' as lendeucies, proiieusities and desires go, The \o- 
 lition may be strong enough to counteract them, but they may, 
 and do oftiMi clog the [)ro^'ri'ss towards morality in thought and 
 good conduct. ij"ckv, in his " History of Iviropean Morals." 
 truly says: "There are men whose whole li\es are spent in >i-ill- 
 } iKj one thing and (li'sirimj the opposite.' 
 
 The man whose progenitors were not hal>itual drunkards, an<l 
 who has (;onseipii'ntly no taste for into.xicating li<(Uors, cm claim 
 no particular \irtue in ali--taining from the intoxicating cup, but 
 the man in whom has been transmitted a taste i'or it may be 
 
 - Tryy^- 
 
 . V -i-v. 
 
AS CAUSES (W IXSANITY. 
 
 11 
 
 itisfiiotorv." 
 " Th(3 first 
 
 i''\. of tile 
 
 ml stutc (iiir 
 I'll I'itlier of 
 <ir, iit loas*^. 
 
 /■</ ii'nr/,' III' 
 
 proof iijMiii 
 iviiKJ, ciii-li-, 
 lotli liy till' 
 
 is(.' IjL' r('('cil- 
 r in the iiii- 
 •iii'ratioii. " 
 kill diseases, 
 traiisiiiittc'il. 
 liatiou — liiit 
 
 like exists, 
 ould Iji! prc- 
 It beeoiiics a 
 lue, personal 
 , ami moral 
 imli\iilual. 
 I', liiit, in mi 
 oMcrfiil ami 
 
 physical and 
 if tile moral 
 ;'i). Tile \o- 
 t they may. 
 thoiiL,dit and 
 an .Morals." 
 jciit in ('•/■//- 
 
 nkards, and 
 's, can claim 
 ng Clip, liiit 
 ■ it may be 
 
 oblijfe^l to maintain a lioroie struffulu all his life aixainst tlie 
 t».-mptation. The .same Ls true of all our moral instincts, and tliose 
 who judge harshly of a fallen lirothcr oi' a degraded sister can 
 nn^ver l»e competent arViiters unless they can see the secret .sprini,'.s 
 of action. ^Dr. Elam says in " A l^hysieian's I'rolilems." '" tliat all 
 the passions a[)pear to be distinctly hereditary — an^'er. fear, envy, 
 jt-nlousy, liI)ertlnaL,'e, gluttony, drunkenness; — ^all are liable to 
 h- transmitted, to the otls[)ring, especially if lioth par-'iits are 
 alike atfeeted ; and this, as has often been pioved. not by force 
 of »'.\ample or education merely, but liy direct constitutional in- 
 lit-ritance." 
 
 T!ie sad truth is seen among the living and the dead. '■ Our 
 fatliers have sinned, and are not ; and we ha\e liorne their iniipii- 
 ti«.-r»." The silver lining in the dark cloud is, that althoii'_di thi.s 
 lif.-ritat,"- may il(?cend to the third or fourth geneiation. tin- laws 
 of health re-assert themselves throughout all time, to lirimr order 
 <.»iit of confusion. Did this upward tendency not exist, we mi','ht 
 •li6spair of mankind recovering a lost estate, but it is an incentive 
 to virtue and well-doing that ever struggles to gain the mastery, 
 antl every victory won are influences which not only assure us of 
 ••asier triumphs in th^i future, but they also n.-move .stuuibling- 
 block.s out of the way of those who come after. 
 ■jDr. Elam truthfulh' says : "In one we lia\c an impulsive na- 
 ture, in which, bt'twei'ii the idea and the act, there is scarcely an 
 interval : in another, the proni'Uess to yicM to tcmptati"n of any 
 kind — a feidile power of resistaiici.\ inherited cither from the 
 oriyhiiil or t/w (injn i ml ixilnrv of the parent ; in tlie third we 
 haw; an iml)ecilo judgment ; in a fourth, an enfeebled vacillatin-,' 
 wiii : in a fifth, or in all, a conscieiu'c by nature or habit torpid, 
 and all but ilermant. All these are the noiinal lepresi-ntatives of 
 an unsound jiareiitage ; and all are jml' iilin//'/ the jiaients of an 
 un.soimd progeny; in all is moral liberty weakenL'il ; in all i> re- 
 -■*|>on>ibility not an absolute but a lelalive idea." 
 
 I>r. Oliver Wendell Holmes pithily and ironically piit^ tin- po- 
 ?»ition of human judgment in this way: " It is singular that we 
 n.'Cognize all the bodily defects that unlit a man for military ser- 
 vice, and all tht; intellectual ones that limit his raniri- of tiimmlit ; . 
 but always talk at him as though all his moral powers were per- I 
 
 iil 
 
 .^' 
 
 ^rca g^x TV r- b. - ; ^ 
 

 &0-. 
 
 12 
 
 HKIIKOITV, AVdUUV AND INTKMPKliANCK. 
 
 feet. Some pi^rsons talk about the Innnan will as it" it stood oji a 
 high look-out, with pli'iity of light ami clliow-rooiii, ri'achirig to 
 tlie horizon. Doctors are constantly noticing how it is ti('(l up 
 and darkened by inferior organization, by disease, anrlali soi-ts of 
 crowding interferences, until they begin to look upon Hottentots 
 and Indians — and a good many < ^. their own race, too — as a kind 
 of self-conscious bloud-cl(ji'k<, witli very limited p(jwer of self-de- 
 termination ; and they hud it as hard tnhoM a child accountable, 
 in any moral point of view, for inhi'fited li;id tem|)er or tendency 
 to drunkenness, as they would to bhime him for inherited gout oi' 
 asthma. Kaeh of us is only the footing-iip of a double cobnnn of 
 figures that goes back to the first pair. Kvery unit tells, iuel 
 some of them ai'e /(/"s' and some iniiiii-<. If the eolumns don t 
 ad<l u}) right, it is coninioidy liecause we can't make out all tlie 
 tigures." 
 
 Rib(jt, an emiiuuit Fi'eneh autlmr on heredity, alli'ges twu 
 causes as among the chief at woi-k ii; cases where the law of trans- 
 mission does ut)t (jbvi(jusly manifest itself. The tiist is the ilis- 
 proportion of an initiatory force to the amount of energy it may 
 liberate or <lirect, as in the slight agencies by which lires are lit or 
 explosions set off. The accidental surroundings of a unitlier before 
 the birth of hei' child may ali'cct it for life in a way altogether 
 disj)i'op(irtiouate to the forces at work. The second cause which 
 often tends to obscure e\ ideiu-e of hi'reility is thi' transfoi'matinn 
 in development of characteristics which are the same at root. 
 Thus, a c()nsum[)ti\'e father has a son who sutlers fiom I'heumat- 
 ism or paralysis. Here the transmission has sim|ily iieen that of 
 a feelile constitution which gives way in the tirsl circumstances of 
 .severe trial and takes these or kindred forms. — Srirufe Manllilji, 
 January, i.Sjn. 
 
 A \'ery superticia! studeut of the human constitution caimot 
 fail to observe that altlnjugh there is this tiansmitted general 
 unifornnty, there is also u striking di\'ersit\'. The sameness has 
 been continiu'il at least iluriug tin; historic, and e\'en prehistoi-ic 
 times. W Ciivier is to be lielieved, cats, ilogs, apes, oxen and 
 many kinds of birds foiuid in the catacond)s are simil ir to those 
 of our own day, and the ICgv[)tian mununy of a man of tour 
 thousand years ago docs not ditfer in structure, outline and propor- 
 
AS CAUSKS OI'' INSAXriT. 
 
 13 
 
 , stood oji a 
 rt'.ichiii!^ to 
 is tinl up 
 ;ili sorts of 
 I lottfiitots 
 —as a kind 
 
 of M'lf-.l,.- 
 
 LC'Coiiutalilc, 
 )]• tendency 
 tL'd Li'ont or 
 • column "i' 
 t tells, and 
 inms lion t 
 out all the 
 
 ilk\L;'cs two 
 i\v of trans- 
 is tin.' ilis- 
 I'u'v it uia\' 
 rs arc lit or 
 ithcr lii'foie 
 ,• altoe-i'tlicr 
 •ause wliicli 
 isfoi'niatiou 
 ni' at root. 
 n I'hcuinat' 
 )cen tliat of 
 nistanccs of 
 
 re Moil till I/, 
 
 tjon cannot 
 ted e'cncral 
 .nieiicss lias 
 lii'olnstoric 
 ;, oxen ami 
 1 u' to those 
 an of four 
 and propor- 
 
 tion, from the man of to-day. This unc]ianj,fed general sainonoss is 
 intercstiiie;, in shewing that with fair l)lay nature will he true to 
 its original, it is the futile ell'nrts of this oiigiual power to I'e- 
 product! its like, because of i'el>cllion in its domain, which causes 
 the anarchy in this confederation of forces. 'J'he engine may Ik; 
 well constructed, and alile to generate much steam, hut if the 
 safety-valve is dangerously poised, the governoi' improperly hung, 
 and the lialanee whecd out of [iro])ortioii, the sti'ength of the 
 engine is greatly wasteil and impeded. So in man each one is 
 controlled liy different forces expended in vaiied ways to the 
 disadvantage of the motive ])ower. The inlluenee of tins law 
 might he put ii! this way for dlustration. It may he sup]iosed 
 that three cidprits were .selected at random for committing a like 
 crime! under precisely siuiilar circumstances. Were it possi])l(! 
 for us to gt't liehind the external acts an<l see the moti\"es and 
 ti'ndencics which im])i'lled each, it wnuld he found that no two 
 dill the \nilawful deeds under esactly similar im[)ulses. Assuming 
 loo to lie the standard oi' a normal man, it might lie found that 
 the inherited ])r'ipensity of each todomil would Ik^ hy|i(itheticallv 
 >S2, 7<i, M). The resisting powo- of each against the doing of 
 ci'rtaiii things, and the impelling momentiuii of volition to do 
 others diametrically opposite, niiglit lie sujiposed to stand in some 
 such I'clation. It follows, then, that the crime of him who Iiad 
 the more jiiiwerful stimuhis for good, and the less constitutional 
 inculius to deter, would, in the eye ot onuiiscienee, he muidi more 
 guilty than th ■ poor creature whose volition would lie so largely 
 dominated ii\eraud hedged round hy hindrauecs no mortal may 
 know. This ineipialily needs no argument to pro\'e it, foi' in a 
 irreater or less dee'ree it enters into the experience of e\-er\oiie. 
 Law deals out to the three e(pial peualtii's, their infliction heing 
 based (m external acts, yet their actual guilt woidd comparatively 
 he very uneipial. For tlu^ last year and a half an epidemic of 
 nuirder and other atrocities have been sweeping over this I'rovince, 
 and any one who has impiired into the history of each trans- 
 gres.sor of law will lie struck with the ditfereut circumstances 
 which have surroundi'd each, anterioi' to the perpetration of the 
 crime. The family histt)ry, the education by prece[it and example, 
 the wilfulness uncurbed, the vicious license unrestrained, the 
 
 :l, 
 
 i ' 
 
u 
 
 HEREDITY, WORRY AND INTEMPERANCE, 
 
 ■ \ 
 
 nat\iral perversity, ami tlic inheriteil tondeiK'ics sd diircrent in 
 eacli, sliew how imicli one man lias to contend airainst to I'esist 
 crime more than anotlier, ami to what extent- the JMdi^meiit ai:d 
 moral sense of each is war[)i'd hy these nndeilyin^^ forces. 
 
 " "i'is witli nur jiicl;,'ini'iit iisimr watcli's ; imiie 
 (ill just :ilil<(', yi't i':i('li lirlii'Vcs liis iiwii." 
 
 It is easy to ho understood then, that if natural traits arc thus 
 so readily reproduced in ofispriiiif, it needs no stretch of imayin.'i- 
 tion to conceive that the same law in ojieration in disease meaii> 
 the (leterioiation of the whole man in himself and his succession. 
 There is a lini'ap' of disease as truly as then' is a k\Ljacy of healtli, 
 there is a lieipiest of moral or immoral (pialities as surely as a 
 devise of mental excelleiu^y. Dr. Dii^'dale, of New York, traerd 
 liy reliahle records the indi\idual histuiy of each of the descendants 
 of one .\rarifaret .lukes, throUL,dH>ut six <feni'rations, and from this 
 motlun" spranjr 70!) persons, every oni' of whom were either idiots 
 murderers, thieves, rolil)ers, or prostitutes. Ciiminal statistics 
 are full of such examples. The sami' teiKlencv to procreate its 
 kind in certain i'<ii'ms of disease is seen on e\ery hand, especially 
 in lunatic asylums. This persistent jironeness would soon become 
 extinct if its cumulative and excitinjjj cause would only ceasr : 
 because the human system is always strii^^LCliiit;' towards liealth. 
 This vital eti'ort would in the end compier the enemy liy "a sur- 
 vival of the fittest," were it not for the constant reinforcements 
 of weakly ac(iuir(d or inherited constitutions, lirou^;ht into exist- 
 ence by ill-assorted marriages, vicious habits, fast lixin;,', and 
 general violations of the laws of lu-alth. The epileptic, the con- 
 sumptive, the scrofulous, the syphilitic and the in.sane marry 
 without knowledge or retlection, and, as a result, till oui liospitals, 
 asylums and prisons with their degenerate progeny, oi' beipieatli 
 to them a brood of ailments which makes a fruitful soil for a crop 
 of deteriorated constitutions, which to the uuhap])y victims of 
 parental folly, makes life not worth living tor. ^.'The lower animals 
 are carefully assorted and mateil because it pays to raise superior 
 herds of domestic jiroduction, but no pains is taken to elevate, 
 ennoble, and improve jihy.sically, mentally, socially and nu)rally 
 the human race by taking rational ste))s to eradicate this evil. 
 Morality rightly forbids law to interpose its arm in this matter. 
 
 . r 
 
AS CAl'SKS OK INSANITV. 
 
 15 
 
 (liflt'ivnt in 
 list to resist 
 lament ami 
 
 I'L-CS. 
 
 aits iirc, t]iu> 
 of iiiiiigiiia- 
 iscasc iiiraii- 
 s suci'cssinii. 
 t-y of iicahli, 
 s surely as n 
 Yorl\, traeeij 
 
 ileseelldailt s 
 
 Lllll IVoiii tliis 
 
 t'itlier iilidls 
 
 lal statistics 
 
 procreate its 
 
 111, especially 
 
 soon liecoliie 
 
 only cease ; 
 
 vaiils liealtl). 
 
 y hy "a siir- 
 
 .'int'orcellielits 
 
 lit into exist- 
 
 ■j livillt,^ ainl 
 
 ptic, the coli- 
 
 iisane many 
 
 uiii hospitals, 
 
 , or beijueatli 
 
 ioil for a crop 
 
 )y victims of 
 
 owur animals 
 
 raise supm ior 
 
 ■n to ele\ate, 
 
 and moralU' 
 
 ito this evil. 
 
 this matter, 
 
 hecau.se of the freeiiom c^' choice which must he allowiMl to the 
 subject, but here is a plague spot to root out, against which moral 
 .sua.si()ii might bi' used with good etl'ect. It would be startling to 
 say how much indiscreet marriages lie at the root of our social 
 vices and national sins, '{"he friends of humanity — morees[)ecially 
 parents — might by judicious advice and discreet exposure of cou- 
 sequenc<;s following rasli selection, do ni'ire for their cliildroii and 
 gi'uerations yet unb>)rn, than were they to endow them with tin; 
 richest legaci(\s. The heathen ('hiiuvse rewai'd the j)arentsof great 
 men, thus liaving regard to this law— we shinver honours on, it 
 may be, their worthless descendants. 
 
 Burton \\\ his " Anatomy of Melancholy" says, " In giviiiir way 
 for all to marry that will, to ) much liberty and indulgenc(Mii 
 tolerating all sorts, there is a vast confusion of breeds and di.sea.ses, 
 no family se(.'ure, no man almost free from griiv(jus intirmity or 
 other wIk'Ii no c-hoice is had, imt still the eldest must marry ; or, 
 if rich, be they fools or di/.zards. laiin! or maime'il, unable, intem- 
 perate, dissolute, (>xliaust tliroiigh riot, as it is said, they must be 
 wise ami able through inheritance ; it comes t<; pass that our 
 genei-ation is corrupt, we have many weak persons, liotli in liody 
 and mind, many fearful diseases raging among u~, crazeil families, 
 our fathers bad, and we ai'e likely to l»e worse." 
 
 Eyipiirol says that hereilitary in.sauity exists among the rich to 
 the extent of one-lialf, and anujiig the poor one-third. One of the 
 su[ierintendents of the Jjic.(;trt' has investigated this matter for a 
 number of years, and he belii'Ves that in the aggregate at least 
 sevent^'-live pir cent, of cases of insanity arise from this cau.se. 
 Several eminent jurists go farther, and say that all cases must 
 have a hereditary tendency. These are doubtless extreme views, 
 but they shew liow strongly impres.sed acute observers are with 
 the wide-spread inHiieiut! of parental transmission, too olten 
 ari.sing from ill-judged alliances. 
 
 Dr Winn, an iMiglish uhysician of note, who has given a great 
 deal of attention to this subject, summarizes the great jeopardy 
 those run who thoughtlessly form marital alliances, without 
 having respect to these laws of descent : 
 /'I. If there is a constitutional taint in cither father or mother, 
 on both sides of the contracting parties, the riski-s so great, as to 
 
 f 
 
 
 .J 
 
16 
 
 HEREDITV, WORRV AND INTKMPERANCE, 
 
 I--1- 
 
 ^at 
 
 li 
 
 V V 
 
 aniount almost, to a certainty, that their offspring' woulil inlieiit 
 some form of disease. 
 
 II, It' tlie cunstit\itioiial taint is only on one side eitluM' direct 
 or coUateial tlu'oUi;'li uncles or aunts, and the contracting' jmrties 
 are hoth in tjood hodilv" hoaltli tlie risk is diminished unc-halt'and 
 healtliy ollspriui;' mmj Ix; tin; issue of the niarriagc7 
 
 III. If there ha\e lieen no si^-ns oi' constitutional diseiise t'oi- n 
 whole ^feneration, we can scarcely consider the risk miiterially 
 lessened, as it so t're(iuently reajipears ai'tei' lieiuL^ in alieyance lor ,i 
 whole !^-eni'ration. If two whole i^'enerutiony have escaped any 
 symptoms of hereditary disease, we may fairly hope that the danger 
 has passed, and that the inorliitic force has exjiended itself. 
 
 ' It is a pity that the senseless modesty of this prudish a^-e for- 
 hids the use of the plainest lang-ua'^e, and the most pointi'd e]>itliets 
 ill dealing,' with this delicate suhject. The p\ililic attention is hot 
 sufficiently directed to it. ^The physical, mental, and moral well- 
 lieing of society, it seems, nuist become secondar}* to the uiuons 
 which liriu'j,' wealth, social position, and worldly honour to an ill- 
 matcheil paii'. This fondness of shoddy and show, of tinsel and 
 tawdry, of ])elf and power, siidcs all other considerations : the eold- 
 hlooded contracts, the wily conspiracies, the well-laid halts to 
 enti"!]) heirsauil hi'iress('s iiecauseof, and solely for, thi' wi'll-tilleij 
 pin'ses, would give abundant material tor tlu.' saddest chapter in the 
 worid's history. Many of these per([uisites are not to be despi>eil, 
 were our suliject-matter made the lirst article (jf matrimoiual law, 
 next to ])ure alfection for a worthy object. 
 
 \lt is not to be forgotten that im|)orlant as ])hysical health is, 
 society needs other conditions than the ])urely bodily ami intel- 
 lectual to ensure happiness. The emotions, desires and ali'ections, 
 must be taken into consideratiivn. Their controlling ])ower is 
 great, and, if well directiul, beneficial. Unfortunately this is not 
 always the case. These, in active exercise, often H[)urn advice and 
 brook no control. Affection will not wait to calndv consider con- 
 .sequences. Emotion will excite the most wary at times to do ill- 
 
 ridvised and hastv' things uiion which hinge untold results. Cupid 
 
 is liliud, and reason is too often thrown away on his eijually sigfit- 
 less follower.s. These impulses are often among the sweetest 
 experiences of human life, if guided by discretion and judgment. 
 
 
ould iiiliciit 
 
 I'itlicr (livfcf 
 ('tiiii;' parties 
 yjio-liair iiml 
 
 (Usoasc f(ir a 
 k iiiati'vially 
 jeyaiK'c t'oi' a 
 escapi'il any 
 it till' ilaiim'T 
 itsrll'. 
 
 lisli a^ie t'lir- 
 itiMl epithets 
 i'litidii is nut 
 I iiiovai WL'II- 
 I) the iiiiidiis 
 mr to an ill- 
 )t' tinsel ami 
 ns ; the cdld- 
 laiil baits to 
 lie well-tilleil 
 •liapter in tlie 
 ) be (lespiseil, 
 I'inionial law, 
 
 [jal health is, 
 ly and intel- 
 nd ali'eetions, 
 nn' ]m\vei' is 
 y this i.s not 
 •n advice and 
 consider con- 
 nes to do ill- 
 suits, (■lipid 
 '(pially sij^nt- 
 tlie sweetest 
 id judgment. 
 
 r 
 
 AS CAUSES OF INSANITY. 
 
 17 
 
 If such were always the case, much misery could bo avoided and 
 many sorrows unknown. The world is a vast hospital to-day, and 
 will be to the third and fourth j,reneration, principally because of 
 ill-adjudged marriages, with all their dread heritage of mi.sery. 
 'file redeeming feature is, that when such unions take place judi- 
 cious living and intelligent obedience to nature's behest may do 
 much to avert untoward results to thiMiisidves and their posterity, 
 The vitiated .system always makes gallant efforts to recuperate 
 from its fallen condition, if .seconded by intelligent conduct and 
 habity If the combustibles which are consuming vitality can be 
 ([uenched, the fire would .soon die out for want of fuel. The other 
 alternative is extinction because of the hydra-headed diseases 
 which follow in the train of marriages begun in folly, continued 
 in vicious riot, ruinous indulgence, and ending in life-long mi.sery, 
 an early grave or insanity. This is the rule ; let not the excep- 
 tion lure to risk exemption from a general law. The results are 
 too momentous to be ligiitly considered, and strong affection alone 
 will not be an excuse for p, dangerous experiment. If such a 
 choice and cimsummation will overcome all such formidable ob- _ 
 stacles, then is it a Christian duty to so live that the avenging 
 sword mav l)e turned aside by that temperance oi life, that mod- 
 eration of desires, that reasonaVileness of conduct which may, to 
 some extent, sheath its keen edge or blunt its incisive sharpness 
 for all time to come. 
 
 WitiiRY IN Life. 
 
 Worry in Vmsiness or other anoyances, whcjse name is legion, 
 catise loss of appetite, want of sleep, restlessness, nervousness, 
 general physical prostration, low spirits, and all the brood of ills 
 which flow from them. One member of a family being in this 
 condition and who carries evidence of it in his face and conduct, 
 will unsettle the comfort of all with whom he comes in contact. 
 It need scarcely be said that the probability is, children of such a 
 family being possessed of a like organization, which was possibly 
 at one time evanescent, but now fixed, will by inheritance spread 
 the evil influence. These de|)ressors of vital energy may drive the 
 possessors of these active agents into insanity, even in the first in- 
 stances, or what is more often the case the parents thus affected 
 
 B 
 
 \.:^ 
 
 # « 
 
1 
 
 IS 
 
 HERKPITY, WORKV AND INTKMPEUANCE. 
 
 . ■' 'ft 
 
 lUiuy hejyfit chiMren with an insane tendency. The excitement of 
 iJimCftihiesH, vicioUN habits, intemperance, or fast living; become then 
 iiiD^nt'.h only the burning match cast into a magazine in wliidi tlie 
 I'.-ipln'^iv'i' powilcf nei'cls only tliis cotnlitic^n of exritation to rouse 
 litiit'nti power ami spread wreck an<l ruin. This cause of insanity 
 ii»- uuu'.h greater than is generally imagined. When the history of 
 ])iUiii»nr.s for whom admission is asked, and given by friends is 
 >H'.jmni»d, the ans\V(3rs to the questions iis to insanity among rela- 
 ttiwiAs- are often found t(j be evaded, uidess the cases had l>ccome so 
 itil»ju'iy such, that concealment would be of no avail. They will 
 iiwuliiy acknowledge that such and such relatives were " <'ccen- 
 Oiiii'.;" or " (pieer" or "odil," or •' unusually susceptible of strange 
 anuvoiiH turns, " or " violent in temper without cause," and a <h)zen 
 iiitiht*r phra.ses erpially cvpiivocal but signiticant to a student of 
 ipliyi+ieal conditions and |)sychical resiilts. 
 
 fily cross examination of friends, it is often found that many 
 >n«».h in collatiM-al branches have evidenced at sonu- time loss of 
 lUe.nCiil etiuilibrium to a greater extent tlian the otKcial documents 
 •M^\tv. It would be safe under the Asylum Returns on Hereditary 
 Diiwmity to add at least (jnt>-fourth more tlian is usually ilone. Jt 
 ii*rtfen not difficult in these inquiries to trace the first fruits of 
 ttilji* cerril)le malady through the conditions brought about from 
 iiiMv high pressure civilization. The race of life throughout the 
 more advanced countries of Christendom in the periodic l)usiness 
 it^Hitavals ; till' sacrifices of necessary comfort-i for show and pai'- 
 i»fc ; the hot-house growth in forcing umluly young intellects; 
 rtllrt exciting trade and professional rivalries; the periodic political 
 i««itement; the domestic troul)les; the vitiating pubiic and priv- 
 *Il»t-'')tfences against pliysical law, ami tlie countless artificial modefi 
 (itf laf«^, drive myriads of the best and the worst citizens into in- 
 «ri\jiiiy. Many miglit have avoided tliis unt(jward result by the 
 I'judmary exercise of prudence, but others have a life-long struggle 
 ■tkjpunnt the budding of that fatal seed of constitutional tendency, 
 wiueh only needs sucli favourable conditions to fiuctify in tlie 
 lUl'»i)d, liriu'dnLT disaster to themseh es and entiiilinu; the like ijrone- 
 mwH- i;o tile innocents wlio may come after them, even to the third 
 amii tfourtli generation. 
 
 THe causes of worry are irany in a civilized community, with its 
 
 I' 
 
 W 
 
AS CAX'SES or INTEMPERANCE. 
 
 1!) 
 
 itemont of 
 'coiiic then 
 1 wliicli the 
 m to rouse 
 if iiisiinity 
 liistDiy of 
 fricihls is 
 
 IMOIlJf I'l'lil- 
 M'COlllC HO 
 
 I'lioy will 
 
 re " occen- 
 
 of straiigf 
 
 iinl a dozen 
 
 still lent of 
 
 tliat many 
 inic loss of 
 •lncunicnts 
 llin'(litary 
 y (lone. It 
 st fruits of 
 a! tout from 
 nii,fhoiit the 
 Jic bnsiue.ss 
 w and pai'- 
 ; intellects ; 
 ilic political 
 ic and priv- 
 Hcial modefi 
 ■ns into in- 
 sult by the 
 ner struifjile 
 il tendency, 
 ■tify in the 
 like prone- 
 to the third 
 
 ity, with its 
 
 conventional usa<^es, and which are not known in savn<;o or scmi- 
 liarliaroiis life. A man is wealthy and his family is surrounded 
 hy all tlu! (lis])lay and comforts which money can ;;i\e. V>y busi- 
 ness reverses his riches are «wi pL away in a day. The shock to 
 wouniled vp.iiity from tlu' di'i)iivation of luxuries and tlu; loss of 
 social caste to])ple tin? reason o\er in some mentally weak nuun- 
 liers of the family. The e.\(|uisites of the Lord Dumlreary style, 
 or the belles of fashionable circles tind tlieii' source of revenue 
 for frivolities suddenly c\it oil", and thus une.xpecteiUy become 
 ileprived of their oidy heaven upon earth. The li!j;ht hea<l is 
 stag!,'ored at the pi)ssil)ilities of ])overty and its train of un])leasant 
 e.Kpericnccs. These biitti'rilies of the sun-liine cower iiefore the 
 storm, and havim;" in too many iiistau(H's no reserve force of men- 
 tal stability to withstand I'everses, become moiose, gloomy, cynical, 
 melancholy, or finally maniacal under the trial. 
 
 The liold speculator risks liis all on an expected rise in stocks 
 or in a conuuercial venture, and possibly loses both fortune and 
 reason. The miser hoards up his wealth throu^^'hout life's best 
 years, wifeless, childless, friendless, and often in the last .stafje of 
 his cheerless history becomes chan<;e(l to a reckless sipianderer, 
 to the ruin of his treasun; and his wits. The monomania of use- 
 less savin;4 is followed by the senseless e.\|)cnditure of what was 
 once treasured up for the love of it. The man of powerful nh_) sique 
 ami active brain, who never knows what it is to feel tired, keeps 
 all his energies at full pressure throu'diout the best davs of his 
 manb.ood, suddenly feels languor, sleeplessness, nervousness, irrita- 
 bility, and low-spiritedness come over him like a bird of evil omen. 
 He is startled at the change, and may halt in the midst of his 
 feverish haste to reach the goal of his ambition, thereliy saving 
 himself, or make spasmodic etibrts to only bring ruin on himself 
 bj^the vain attempt, when rest is the cure. 
 
 *\There is a ])regnant source of mental and phy.sical deterioration 
 which, in a secondary way, seriously affects tlu' ailult population 
 as well as the youth of our land. It is the .senseless mental over- 
 strain to which the school-children are .subjected. Any one can 
 perceive (if such will take the trouble to look) how this is brought 
 about. An exandnation of the list of stu<lies recjuired of children 
 and youths up to the age of twenty-one and beyond it in our 
 
 '^ 
 
 I 
 4 
 
 -A__ 
 
#1 
 
 / 
 
 20 
 
 HF.nEniTv, wonnv, A\n ivTEMrFnAi.TK, 
 
 schools and iinivorsitios, mIihwh thnt no ymini,' an<l ;,'ro\\-inEf brain 
 can overtake tliu work laid nut I'nr it witlimit Ljrcat and lurnian- 
 ent injiirv to tliis dclicatf and i'<)iii|ili'X i)ri,'aii. Oliildn-n art- ]Mit 
 in the worst viMitilatcd lioiiscs wliicli can lu' found in tln' country, 
 and tliosf.' too often arc literally crannncd witli tlicni. In tliisfoid 
 air tiu'V must study fur lioin^ at a tiiui'. Kvcniic^' luini^'s no relax- 
 ation foi'tlicni, liccnusc a task iiccdini; several lioni's' stmiy must lie 
 done before lir'd-time, or early in tlie mornitiLT. and this liccomes 
 a dreary (ininvitinj,' round " fiom weary ehime to ehinie." 
 Besides the four elementary stmlies, a sniatterini' of almost every 
 other hraneli of learninif is re(|uired from mere eliildren. Tliey 
 successfully or yaiidy endeavmn", aeeordim,' to their strengtli, to 
 overcome these daily burdens and obstacles to health, by a con- 
 stant effort wliich produces mental tension. The result is, nuiny 
 never recover from the strtii,'e:le duriiii,' the remainder of a leni,'thy 
 life Niyht and day, exeeiit a few hours of sleep, from the af,'e 
 of seven up to manhood or womanhood, the svisceptible and ten- 
 der brain is on the rack, and this strain is at a time when only 
 moderat(! exercise is liealthy to this im])ressive orijan. The l)rain 
 must, like the rest of the body, in its early days gather tone, fibre 
 and capacity, for the yreat struj,'i,de of litiy '['he youiij;- are not 
 permitted to do hard manual work because of tlie temlerness of 
 the boily, until maturity is almost reached, but the most impor- 
 tant or^^anof our physical system is urijed onwards to the utmost 
 extent of its powers from babyhood upwards. The weary head 
 is filled with all kinds of knowledge, which in former times was 
 wisi'ly judged to belong to the colleges. The small hill of science 
 has become a veritable Andes, over which all young scholars must 
 climb to reacli the goal of certified proficiency. Not only so, but 
 the bias, diversities, and natural aptitudes of individuals are not 
 provided for in youth. The same progrannu(> of sttidies is laid 
 down for all. One maj' have a facility in and a liking for mathe- 
 matics, another for classics, a third for natural philosophy, and a 
 fourth for mechanics only, yet no provision is made for these 
 differences of mental constitution. A partial .solution is attempted 
 in our colleges by a system of option, but this plan to meet 
 this difficulty does not exist in the lower grades of learning. It 
 needs no prophet to see that this hot-house growth, in a foul 
 
^ 
 
 wins? brain 
 nil ])fnimi»- 
 
 MIl illi- ]illt 
 
 till' cunutry, 
 
 III tliis foul 
 
 L,fs no n-lax- 
 
 uciy must lie 
 
 lis llCl'OlllOS 
 
 to chiiiic." 
 llninst every 
 
 Ireii. Tliey 
 
 stren;,'tli, to 
 I, liy a con- 
 iiilt is, many 
 
 of a leii,L;tliy 
 Voiii the a^^e 
 ble and teii- 
 e wlieii only 
 ^ Tlie laain 
 er tone, til ire 
 luii^ are not 
 tenderness of 
 
 most imjioi- 
 io the utmost 
 e weary head 
 ler times was 
 lill of seience 
 scholars must 
 t only so, hut 
 iduals are not 
 ndies is laid 
 ii<j for mathe- 
 osophy, and a 
 ide for these 
 I is attempted 
 plan to meet 
 
 learning. It 
 'th, in a foul 
 
 AS ("AI'SF:s oV fNHANITY. 
 
 21 
 
 atmosphere and a iinil'drni sytein of for I traininix, with lonjj 
 
 lionrs of stmly, mean iiervdiisiiess, lassitude, periodic headaches, 
 a lax, prostrated physical and mental system. A tendeiicv to and 
 an invasion of in.sanitv may end the chapter of hlunders, especi- 
 ally if a hei'iilitMry predisposition exists. .\ viNit tn any of tlie 
 
 schools of Toronto n Is only lie maile to convince anyone tiiat 
 
 the tlaliiiy mu.sclt's, hleaehed faces, weak and iliietiiatini,' imlsoa, 
 languid movements, eviii in tlie play-i,'roiuid, and tlie weary 
 attempts to learn hsssons, are not miicli like the lnioyant ropun.se.s 
 of nature in healthy children. Such are the recuperative powers 
 of the li(jdy. that it will in a majority of cases come oti' victori- 
 ous against a legion of such foes, yet, an alarming section of the 
 rising generation thus educateil cany into aft^r life, in .some form | 
 of nervous or hrniii disorder, the etfects of the ]irevailing ignor- \ 
 ance and persisti'iit etl'orts to proiluce a precocious race hy a short 
 cut, anil this in spite of mined constitutions. As a rule, tlie ' 
 children who cany oil' ;ill the jiii/.es and are pointed to a.** models 
 liy adniiiing friends, are too often taxing with com]ioun<l intere .t 
 the present at tiie expense of the future. In this age of wide- 
 spread knowledge it is vain for any one to attempt to overtake 
 even the outlines during an onlinary lifetime, and it is far better 
 for ordinary mortals to seek excellency in a tew things, than to 
 injure health liy a vain attempt to acipiire univer.sal kiiowledgej^ 
 \ It is not to he forgotten, however, that want of moderate men- 
 tal exeicise is as deleterious to the hrain, as is want of physical 
 exertion to other parts of the Imdy. Slothfiiliiess may not be .so 
 productive of hrain disease as over-work is, yet it will lead to 
 many complications conducive to ill-health, and tliis weakening 
 condition is always followed hy a in-ood of trouhles. Laziness 
 and constant case is not that unmixed good so commonly su|i- 
 ])osed. It is far better to wear out than to lust out. Moderate 
 work leads t<i health ; idleness henets nervousness, want of sleep, 
 loss of apjietite, a tlabliv constitution, dyspepsia and all their train 
 of mental depression and melancholy, just as worry and over- 
 work will. Danger always lies in the extremes of everything. 
 O.sgood has truthfully sung: 
 
 '• I,al)cmr i.s life : 'tis tlie still w-.iU'r failotli : 
 lillt'iii'.s.s over (k'.s|];iiivtli, lie«-|iil<'tll ; 
 Kee|) the wati'li wuiuiil, fcii- the (hivk nist .issaileth ; 
 l'"lii\vei-s iliii(i[i ami (lie in the stillness i.f neon, 
 riay the sweet keys, wuulcfst keep them in tune.'' 
 
 } 
 
 t 
 
 \ 
 
 «■<'— I Tir^t- 
 
22 
 
 IIKIIKDITY, WdlMlV AM» INTKMrKKAXC'E. 
 
 ' It is till' luiriiiDiiy of mail in liis whole lifiii;,' with one ncoord 
 kecpiiiL,' tiiiio ill ucconlfuici' with natiinil law, wlii(!li 1 (ring's lu-alth. 
 Thi' jx'Uiliiliiiii ot" lil'c iinist {•ViV swiiiL.', Imt it is tor iis to see 
 tliivt it vilii'atcs iii'ithfi' too fast, too tar. nor too slow. Dr. O. W. 
 Ilolnii's says: " Oiir liraiiis are scvciity-ycar clocks. The ani;cl of 
 li' • wimls thciii ii|p oiice for all, tlien closi-s tlic case, nii<l ;;ives tlie 
 key into tlie hand of the .\ii'^e| nf the HestirrcctioM." Many of 
 u.s drive this time-piece mueji faster than the Maker intended, 
 and Unv^ liet'ore these years ]iavc jiassed over (Jtir heads oiir own 
 follies and vices have put to " sileuco the clickini,' of tlio terrilile 
 escapement of thoiie'lit we Iia\i' carrieil so loiiLf hencath onr 
 wrinkled foreheads." 'I'he eler-yman wiio studies, writes, specu- 
 lates and |ai/,/,les liis head day after ilay over theolo;^ieal dMirmas, 
 becomes a lileaehcil, i|ys|ieptic, nervous invalid, incased in Injoks 
 and within the four walls nf a gloomy liln'ai'V from year to year 
 without fresli air and proper exercise ; such a man is an uncon- 
 scious suicide at middle a^e. or at least a continued hypoclion- 
 driac. It is called a dispensation of Providence, when its proper 
 name would bo .self-destruction. The lawyer lanns his midni^^ht 
 oil over law liooks, and racks his lirain foi- arL;uments to sustain a 
 client's cause ; the bank clerk turns hiniNelf into a calculatiiiLC 
 machine and tor a life-time (Murentrates his thout,dits on columns 
 of tje'ures; the medical man throuuhout a laborious life of prac- 
 tici' is at all hours -n'.^iit and day —anxious about some critical 
 case on his hands; the nn'rcliant watches Ins sales and the mar- 
 kets every day with feverish anxiety ; all classes in the hmt*^ 
 acitrr/j of life aiv shorteninj.,' the lifetime by hastening the clock's 
 movements. -A candle which is burinng at both ends is .soon con- 
 sumed. Perioilic rest is the cure. 
 
 When considerini:' this matter of high-pressure living it would 
 have been interesting to know what class of the coninnmity suf- 
 fers the most. 
 
 In looking over and tabulating Asylum returns to ascertain if 
 the rural population were as subject to insanity as were those of 
 the towns and cities, in the latter of which existed the greatest 
 mental activity and business anxii'ty, it was found impo.ssible 
 to form a just estimate, on account of the nne([ual distrilnition 
 of Asylum Districts, from which the insane i)opulation were 
 
 \_-j 
 
! I 
 
 (iiif nccdi-il 
 
 Ilj^S lii'ivltli. 
 
 lis til set' 
 
 Dr. (). W. 
 
 'lu' aiv^t'liit' 
 111 ;,'ivrs tlu' 
 Miiny 'if 
 r intt-mlcil, 
 (Is our own 
 till- ti'irilil'' 
 fiK'iitli our 
 iit,-s, .spL'CU- 
 pal tLj,'mas, 
 fil in '.lut'ks 
 •far to yt'ar 
 s an uncoii- 
 I hvpoclion- 
 n its iirojH'r 
 his uii'liiiLrht 
 i to sustain a 
 calculatiuij; 
 ; oil columns 
 life of prac- 
 ioinf critical 
 n<l tlic niar- 
 n the hmn^ 
 i._r till' dock's 
 s is soon con- 
 
 •iiiLT it woulil 
 uuunity suf- 
 
 D ascertain if 
 AVcrr those ot 
 till' t^n'catt'st 
 il imiiossililc 
 1 (listrilnition 
 ulation were 
 
 AS C'At'SKS OF INH.\NIT>', 
 
 23 
 
 drawn. Some Asyhnns were only for cities, ami exclusively for 
 paupers, in these localities the rich ami well-to-do are sent to 
 pri\ate or pulilic ]iayini,f .Vsyiiiins either at home or in other dis- 
 tricts, These const'(|Uently emild not 1m' considered in the esti- 
 mate aceording to [lopulation. Othe-.' .\syluiiis draw tiieir popu- 
 lation partly from the city and partly from tiie country, often 
 larift'ly fiom the one or other, in the retiniis made of the resi- 
 dency of such they Were ofti'U found to lie fallacious hecause of 
 i;^noranc(>, ncirliercuce or intei'est. I'Imii wlun tlie whole returns 
 of all the Asylums are taken, they are unsatisfactory, ijecause the 
 pui'ely aijricultural class is the only one nii which could lie hased 
 iiny relialile ilala. The countr\ merchants, mechanics, profes- 
 sional men, and sneh like in small towns and villaLics cannot be 
 properly classitied as luv '.and even if this were done, on account of 
 the miLcratory natiu'e of nianyof these inhaliitants liein^at one time 
 of the city and at another of the country, no correct estimate could 
 lie made. The Competition amonL,' them is equally sharp, and 
 causes as many an.xieties as of larger communities, hence no fair 
 comparison with purely city poiiulatioii can lie calculated with an 
 ap[iro.\imate deifree of certainty. For example, 'i'oronto cannot 
 he fairly char^ealile w ith all the insane wlio are found within its 
 liorders, for, if .so, ahout one-thiid of all the insane put in this 
 .\sylinu since itsopenini,' wouM have lieloiiLJtMl to this city. While 
 this is true, an approximation can he made, and as far as cjin be 
 juilLjed by averages, it .seems evident that the cities take the lead 
 in this respect, and wherever found, those who are exposed to 
 i^'reat mental activity arisiuL,^ from any form of trouble, .social, do- 
 mestic or financial, aie very liable to insanity, other conditions 
 being favourable for the invasicin. ileasoiuible e.xercise of body 
 and mind is healthy, but it is the over strain which brings jire- 
 mature physical deterioration and mental decay. 
 
 IXTE.MI'KUANCE. 
 
 In my Report of last year it was found necessary to take a 
 stanil against the extreme and weakly supported views cf amateur ^r 
 medical converts, who condemned in tuto the use of alcohol o.s a 
 medicine, and at the same time were loud in their praises of far 
 more dangerous drugs. My opinions wei"e asked for and freely 
 
 
 
 ! 
 
24 
 
 HEUEDITy, WOURY AND INTEJrPERANCK. 
 
 V 
 
 given, because exj^erience had tant^lit me in the pivicl-ico of l)C)tli 
 metlidds during twontj' years lujw lieneticial spii'its were in the 
 treatment of .some dineases, and liow pi'efcM'ahle they were in 
 many cases to opium or hydrate cld(n'al as as('(hitivc in such forms 
 of insanity as melancholia and acute mania with rxhaustinn. It 
 Wcas shown how illogical and, in medical experience, fallacious to 
 extract proofs of the cluunico-pliysiological effects of alcohol from 
 ita {ici'um on hcdlfhi/ pcr.'oiiis. Of course those medical iiicn wlio 
 use it in any case, in any furm, or in any degn'c, camiot conilcmii 
 it as a meilicini!, and must allow each physician to use his dis- 
 cretion as to the ivlie,i, tr/nj and hoii'. The statistical and (itlirr 
 proofs adduced were shewn to lie overwhelmingly in favour nf 
 spirit treatnu'ut. 
 
 At the same time no one can ignore the evidences seen on every 
 hand of the terrilile effects of drunkenness, and the had results 
 which How from tlie drinking usages of society. Like any otlu'r drug 
 it is not only not necessary in health, Imt injurinus. No wfU per- 
 son is in need of any such lie\'erage its lavages are si'en in every 
 comnumity, and the victims who are tied to the chariot wheel of 
 this dominant appetite, like willing captives lieiiig led to des- 
 truction, can he counted hy the millions aiunially. The miseiy, 
 degradation ami erinu' of which it is the direct cause is appalling. 
 One I'csult of its deleterious effects is insanity : not iperha[)s to the 
 extent we are led to helie\e, lint it is a sutKciently potent fact.or 
 to alarm any who ha\e the well-lieing of society at lii-art. From 
 childhood upwards we have all heai'(l platfoi'ni oi'atoi's give sta- 
 tistics of such fearful significance on this point as would make the 
 youtliful mind shuiUer with horror. It needed the observation 
 of after years to modify these views to some extei\t <at least, ami 
 credit to fer\id elo(pience, joined with good intentions, much of 
 the over-wrought exuberance of tliese well-meaning s(jcial re- 
 formers. The truth is bad enongh without emliellishments, and 
 no gi eat reformation is ever ad\'anced by exaggi'ration. V Om- of 
 tlie chief arguments adduced was, that at least three-fourths of all 
 tlie insane became such from drunkenness. Opinions of distin- 
 guished medical men are continnally (jnoted in su[»port of this 
 statement. Few statistics are given to substiuitiate this \ iew 
 Anxious to'reacli the tiuth on this poiuI.as far as Toronto A.syiu'u 
 
,ice of both 
 were in the 
 
 cy were in 
 1 such t'oi'ivis 
 aiistiiiu. It 
 fallacious to 
 iik'uhol fioni 
 111 men \vli<« 
 lot conilemii 
 use his tlis- 
 ,1 anil other 
 ill favour of 
 
 seen on every 
 
 Vtatl res\ilts 
 
 ,uyotluTclr\iu' 
 
 No well ))<-r- 
 seen in every 
 
 iot wheel of 
 Ir led to lies- 
 
 'I'he misery, 
 ;e is appallin;.'. 
 jierhaps to the 
 
 potent factor 
 
 heart. l-"ioiii 
 itors give sta- 
 ■ouhl make the 
 10 ohservatinn 
 it at least, an<l 
 tions, much of 
 linsj; social if- 
 lishiiients, ami 
 ation. Vom- of 
 e-fourthsof all 
 ions of (listin- 
 support of this 
 ,iate this view 
 ['oronto AsyiuMi 
 
 AS CAUSES OF INSANITY. 25 
 
 is concerned, every name and cause of insanity since AHivr^h 1st, 
 1873, to Oct. 1st, 1879, have been examined in res])ect to causes 
 with the following results. My jjredecessor, Dr. Workman, carefully 
 checked otfall the admissions up to lcS72, and the adini.s'^ions of the 
 years since that have been individually noted to the present time. 
 Nothing has been left to guess-work or averages. 
 
 There were admitted into the A.sylum from July 1st, 18.53, to 
 Oct. 1st, 1879—3,837 patients. Of that number there were classi- 
 fie<i in their histories : 
 
 Temperate 3,3-12 
 
 Intemi erate 387 
 
 Unknown Causes 108 
 
 Total iiumhor 3,837 
 
 It will be seen that 9.48 per rent, is the proportion of drunk- 
 ards — reported as such— to the whole population for this long 
 perio^l of over twenty-six years. It is, no doubt, true that among 
 those in whom the cause was said to be unknown are .some who 
 b^rcame insane from the immoderate use of spirits. Yet, as an 
 offs^'t, many are reputed to have become insane from drinking, 
 in whom this intemperance was only a result of the disease, ami 
 not a cause in any sense. The hr.st indications might be an in- 
 tense craving for strong drink, and in this way the cndition of 
 such is analogous to the victims of pyromania, kleptomania, and 
 many other manias well known to students of insanity. Tuke 
 says: "I have calculated the precentage of cases cau.sod by in- 
 temperance in the Asylums of England and t"ound it to be about 
 twelve." 
 
 Taking for granted that the proportional estimate, based on our 
 retum.s, is approximately correct, it is a serious factor among the 
 causw of insanity. Ten /k;j' (vo^ of all our insane sent to mad- 
 hou-'es b y reasim of undue indulgence in that which is worse than 
 us'de-ts t ) a well person ! What is to bo done to stop this growing 
 evil ? Moral suasion has done much to mould puMic opinion in 
 favour of total al)stinence ; but inrtuence, ' • turing and example 
 will never erailicato entirely an active vice, fosten^l by law and 
 pampf,'reil by social usages. Circum.scribed local prohibitiijn can 
 do little, because of th(( impossibility of etticiently enforcing the 
 law in a smill section of country. Gener al [jrohibition can be 
 
 c 
 
 ^ 
 
 ' i 
 
 \\ 
 
 
 >• 
 
 f r 
 
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 HEREDITY, WORRY AND INTEMPERANCE. 
 
 the only radical cure, if properly enforced. Unfortunately, Can- 
 ada is, geographically, badly sitnatwl to earry into effect a pro- 
 hibition law. From ocean to ocean our .settled portions are vir- 
 tually a thin line on the marifin of tlie lTnite<l States, and uidess 
 our neighbours ado|)ted the same law, it would I)e impossilili; to 
 enforce a statute which would be so obnoxious to a very active 
 portion of our po])ulation, and thf violation of which, along our 
 extended T 'ontier, would i)ea ])aying spceulutiou to the thousanils 
 who would respect neither law nor morality. In the meantime, 
 we have to deal with the di'unkanls who arc in our midst. Luna- 
 tic A.sylums are not the places for them, an<l costly retreats, into 
 which the poor cannot find rcfugi?, will not mci.'t the exigences of 
 to-day. Hereditary drunkards must lia\c the ctu'sc removed from 
 them or they from it. Tlie former is not likely to lie done at ])re- 
 sent ; the latter may be carried out luidcr (}o\ernment supervision. 
 The reformation of such is not absolutely ho]ieless, but tlie (;liances 
 of recovery are not many; yet it is the duty of the State to ai<l 
 .such in their efiorts t(j reform, and if this be impossible, tlieii it is 
 equally incumbent to put them out of the way to injure tluMu- 
 selves or others. There is greater hope for the drunkards of 
 acquired habits, and if all such, wlio had becdinc liaKitual ine- 
 briates, were, by law, confined for at least one yeai' in a hospital 
 provided for them, a goodly percentagi^ might again beeomt; 
 valuabli- citizens and useful members of eonuminity, with strenirth 
 of will to resist the bi'setting sin. 
 
 Nor is the immediate injury done by a drunkard to lumself, Ins 
 family and community the worst feature of the ease. What 
 was in him an acipiired habit often becomes in some of the 
 children a disi'ase. [^3_i'l'l!i! injierits to__a J3'i'eat__exteiit the 
 con.stitution and individual peculiarities of one parent, witli 
 no strongly mark(!d traits of the other to counterbalance 
 them, the probabilities are that dipsomania will be the lot of 
 some unfortunate member of that family not thus protected, 
 unless moral influence and early habits of abstinence have 
 kept in check the sleeping demon. We see tho.se objects of 
 pity in every conununity ; they may not driidc incessantly, but, 
 like other forms of intermittent insanity, the paroxysms come on 
 at stated times of more or les.s duration. Between these out- 
 
itely, ( 'an- 
 fcct a pro- 
 us iir(^ vir- 
 aml unless 
 ipossilili'. to 
 i,crv iictivo 
 , aliiM^ Hiir 
 L' tliDUsaixls 
 iiRMiitiine, 
 list. Luuii- 
 ctreats, into 
 •xi<,'(Mici's of 
 iiiDveil t'lMin 
 done at ]jre- 
 s\i]n'rvision. 
 , till' rlliincfs 
 State to aiil 
 i)le,then it is 
 injure them- 
 Iriinkai'ils of 
 mliitual iue- 
 iu a hospital 
 <fain lieeonie 
 .vitli strengtli 
 
 o liimsolf , his 
 case. What 
 some of tlie 
 ,t extejit the 
 parent, with 
 ountei'halance 
 lie the lot of 
 us protected, 
 stinence have 
 )se ohjeets of 
 cessantly, hut, 
 ;ysuis come on 
 en these out- 
 
 AS f'ArSES OK INSANITY. 
 
 27 
 
 hrcak.s little or no desire for sti'ong drink may prevail ; there may 
 he even disL,nist, and for months no great craving may he felt. 
 At last it takes possession of the num, and when such is the case 
 nothing short of personal restraint coidd slop the dehaiich./i Shame, 
 self-respect, loss of ])osition, pecuniary waste, the influence of 
 family nnd friends, deprivation of social standing, nor any otlier 
 motive will have any potency to sto]) such an one in his mad 
 career. He is ])repar(Hl to hecome a pariah, a slave, a serf, and do 
 the meanest and must menial things, if drink cannot be procured 
 in any other way. Looking at this vii'c on any of its sides, every 
 well-wisher of society must he struck hy the enoruuty of its evil. 
 The police-coiirt records a]ipal when we see the nund)er of 
 " drunks" sent to ])iisi)n in all our cities. The ])eriodic Assizes 
 record the Ci'imes of many ailrunken maniac, Untold households 
 have secret histories of beloved niendiei-s who have been led to 
 destruction by th(> fascinating cu]). Tiiis upas tree grows luxuri- 
 antly in our soil : this syren sits at the street corners and lures to 
 destroy. Ten /«-/■ iviif. of the inmates of our a.sylums are the 
 victims of this subtle agency of incarnate deviltry. Are there 
 nr\'er to lie any nn'rcy-dro))s from this lowering cloud ? Is there 
 nevei' to be cast a pencil of light across this shadow h'om the 
 dark mountains ^'f 
 
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