. Who is insane? . owingchiefly to the relapses which occur in those dis-charged as cured. The result of his researcheswas to revive in the minds of many the old be-lief, Once insane always insane. How far thatauthors opinion has influenced the treatmentof the insane in public institutions cannot bedetermined, but as his statistics were the resultsof treatment in a comparatively primitive pe-riod, they do not illustrate the resources of mod-ern medical science and art. Assuming, therefore, that the insane, suffer-ing only from functional derangement of brain-cells, may be cured, as are the fun
. Who is insane? . owingchiefly to the relapses which occur in those dis-charged as cured. The result of his researcheswas to revive in the minds of many the old be-lief, Once insane always insane. How far thatauthors opinion has influenced the treatmentof the insane in public institutions cannot bedetermined, but as his statistics were the resultsof treatment in a comparatively primitive pe-riod, they do not illustrate the resources of mod-ern medical science and art. Assuming, therefore, that the insane, suffer-ing only from functional derangement of brain-cells, may be cured, as are the functionalderangements of other organs, by removing thedisturbing cause and reducing their functional 196 WHO IS INSANE? activity to a minimum until their integrity is re-stored, it will be interesting and instructive toinquire as to the susceptibility of the insane tocurative measures. It is noticeable that in every case the reliefwas due primarily to satisfying a desire or todivertion therefrom. XVII Use the Usable. XVII Use the Usable FEATURE of the Asylum lifeof the insane, which has a de-pressing effect upon their phys-ical health and injuriously con-centrates their thoughts uponthe special objects of their men-tal disturbance, is idleness. Amost painful impression is made upon the vis-itor as he passes from ward to ward, to witnessthe restlessness and irritabilityEvil Effects of vast numbers of stalwartof Idleness men and women, due largely tothe absence of vigorous labor inthe open air—labor to which they may havelong been accustomed. The cause of this idle-ness is due chiefly to the unwillingness of theinsane to labor, owing to their grievance at be-ing adjudged insane and confined. Refusal to labor can be overcome only bycompulsion or a promise of reward. The re-ward may be money or favors in the form ofprivileges. The value of work as a curative 199 200 WHO IS INSANE? measure is greatly enhanced when the laboreris rewarded and he performs his task volun-tarily. On this
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