than to mention what has been. Some of the exciting causes are general in the sense that they may affect any one and that independently of mode of life. In this group may be placed as an illustration insanities secondary to fevers. Preventive measures, which lie largely in the province of State medicine, are necessarily indirect, and consist in limiting the effect and the spread of the special poison to which the fever is due. State medicine has done much, within the past few years, to limit the spread of contagious diseases and to teach the masses the necessity of preventive medicine in certain directions. By diminishing suffering and prolonging life, it indirectly prevents insanity. No epidemic sweeps the country without leaving in its train numerous mental wrecks. Little more need be said concerning these general exciting causes or their prevention. Everything that tends to promote the public health will lessen the occurrence of insanity in the commonwealth. Of the The special exciting causes of insanity are those due to vicious habits of life in the individual; and intemperance and the social evil are those fraught with the gravest effects on the mental organization. Our people are fast awakening to the importance of checking the further growth of these evils. Intemperance not only too frequently strands its victims, but, alas, it is the father of various forms of nerve degeneracy in their offspring. "social evil" is it not startling to be able to read of the existence of a modern Sodom in this year of grace? Is there a city in our proud state without its institutions of vice? It will suffice to say that the most fatal form of mental disease is specific in origin and the number of cases is legion. What is the remedy for these evils? Primarily every effort of thinking people must continue to be exerted against them; the young must be taught their dangers, and the law must be enforced to compel those who will not listen to reason to conform to the judgment of those who have the best welfare of the human race at heart. DISCUSSION. Mr. Perry Hannah, of Traverse City: I notice that Dr. Baker, secretary of the State Board of Health, of Lansing, is in the hall, and I know our people would like to hear him on this subject. Dr. Henry B. Baker: I had not intended to discuss this subject. However, I am glad to have heard the paper, and move that we extend to Dr. Munson a hearty vote of thanks for his able paper. This motion prevailed. Geo. E. Steele, of Traverse City: I often thought when this institution was being erected, well knowing that there were other and larger asylums in the State, under the direction of State officials, that we were hastening to the time when every county would have its own asylum-when there would not be room for all the insane. As our population increases, it becomes a grave question,what to do with with the insane. When our University was first founded it was a small concern, but if it keeps on growing the time will come when Washtenaw county will not hold it. I have often wondered whether many of the inmates of our asylums were not brought there by drinking habits. I would like to have this matter touched upon by the physicians present. I think this element enters largely into the question of the deterioration of the nervous system. Mr, Hannah: I would like to inquire whether the percentage of insanity is on the increase or not. If it is, whether it is because we are gathering in from the poor-houses and jails, and putting them where we notice them more than we did. I think this would be an interesting point. Dr. Munson: I cannot speak from statistics. I think, however, the increase of insanity is more apparent than real. Unquestionably there is a large increase in the aggregate of the insane. The percentage does not exceed one to 500 of population. There has not been much increase of occurring cases for a few years past. In this district the ratio of recent cases is about 1 to 5,000, which is not far from what it was in 1870. Mr. Hannah: Can the doctor tell us the ratio of increase in the rural districts as compared with our cities? Dr. Munson: I regret that I cannot, Dr. Baker: Dr. Dawson of the asylum is here. I think we ought to hear from him on this subject. Dr. Dawson: I came here to learn of older men who are present. I can say, however, that I have studied the causes of insanity to a certain extent, and I do not find that the drink habit is accountable for all the insanity by any means. That it is a cause and a potent cause there can be no doubt but excesses in every direction are causes and strong causes. What would be a sufficient cause in one man would not be a sufficient cause in another; that is, people are differently organized and may be guilty of excesses without the same disastrous results. Mr. Sprague: It is a fact that more than one-half, or as much as 75 per cent of the inmates of our asylums are foreign born. Can any of the asylum doctors give us the reason for this? This is a question that may have some bearing on the subject of immigration. Dr. Munson: It is said that some European countries assist to supply us with insane and defectives. I do not know that this is true, at least we have but few cases in the asylum that were insane before coming to America. It is no doubt true that many persons coming to this country have lived for successive generations in the same hamlet, known but little of the world outside their own families and their immediate neighbors. Many of these people, if not insane, are from hereditary and other influences, extending through many generations, upset by many causes, among which are homesickness, and the greater strain that is thrown upon them by the high pressure activity which characterizes our country. Mr. Wilhelm: The real reason why there is more insanity proportionally among the foreign born is that their habits at home are entirely different from what they are here. At home they work throughout the week at what they call hard work, but which in the United States would be looked upon as taking it easy, for here everything is done on the rush. On Sunday the majority of them go to church and the priest educates them to this idea, that as they do the work, he will do the thinking, which a great majority of them accept. Therefore their brains are not cultivated or strengthened. Therefore their brains are weak and can not stand much strain. When such people emigrate to the United States they think they are going to make an easy living, but on their arrival here they find that their skill is not equal to the task, therefore they get discouraged and homesick, while others, again, take hold with a will and soon commence to take up the American ways, and their brains are set to work in American ways. Now the change for a good many is too great, and, sooner or later, the weaker ones that overtax their brains will be found in our insane asylums. As pouring cold water on a hot stove does not always crack it, neither will overtaxing of the brain always create insanity. Dr. D. B. Ashton, Health Officer of Traverse City: In reference to the foreign element, I believe that there are no more foreigners made insane by coming to this country than there would be if the citizens of the United States should go to some country that is foreign to their habits and mode of living. I can see that it would upset their minds very much for them to come to a country without understanding the language or customs. Their ancestors have lived in one place for centuries and their habits have become fixed, and I can see the force of Mr. Wilhelm's argument that it is not so much their habits of drinking as other causes. Mr. Hannah: There is one thing I wish Dr. Munson would tell us. I have noticed that in bringing patients to the asylum it takes two or three men to get some of them there, but after they have been in the asylum a few days they are quiet. There seems to be something in the management of the patient that quiets him. There has been great improvement in the management of asylums in regard to restraining patients. I was visiting a city in New York State a few years ago and visited an asylum where there were about 1,600 patients. In going up hill near the asylum we broke a tug in the harness and it took us some time to repair the damage. This called a great number of them to the windows and they created a most tremendous noise. I have noticed many cases that required great skill and tact and I wish Dr. Munson would tell us the secret of his good management. Dr. Munson: I do not know that I can answer this question satisfactorily. There is certainly no secret in our methods of caring for the insane. After a patient is placed in the asylum, he is permitted to do much as he likes, and finding others quiet and orderly is, I think, a great incentive to him for self-control. No restraints are used and he is always treated kindly. Mr. S. Barnes, of Traverse City: I would like to ask if there is a differen ce in the percentage of insanity between the foreign born and the native born. Dr. Munson: It is vastly greater in the foreign born. Mr. Hannah: I notice that Mr. Moffatt, our representative in congress, is in the audience. I would like to ask him what influence politics has in causing insanity? Mr. Moffatt: It seems to me that when we come to politics we find all men sane. They are all right on this subject. Mrs. Dr. Thompson: This is a very interesting topic and one that concerns mothers. I would like to hear from some of the ladies present. Mrs. Bates: There has not been much said on the side of the children and mothers. The only wonder to me is that all the mothers and housekeepers are not insane. I think if we could only devise some means by which the women, like the men, could have only one thing to do instead of a hundred all at once, it would be much better. Mrs. Roberts: I am sure there is enough variety in woman's work, and insanity among women cannot be laid to monotony. I believe, however, that too many of our women overwork and, by so doing, pave the way to mental trouble. Mr. Barnes: There is another question which I would like to ask the doctor,-is religious excitement an important factor in causing insanity? Dr. Munson: I cannot think so. Some patients undoubtedly become insane from religious excitement, but these causes, just as any other causes affecting the emotions, would depend on the mental condition. Surely there is nothing in religion and in religious teaching that should tend to the causation of insanity. In fact I believe a true religious life should be and is conducive to mental health. Second Session-Wednesday, August 24, at 8 P. M. The convention was called to order by the President and listened to an instrumental duet by Prof. and Mrs. Scammel. The following paper on the Present and Future Water-Supply of Traverse City, was then read by H. D. Campbell: THE PRESENT AND FUTURE WATER-SUPPLY OF TRAVERSE CITY. BY H. D. CAMPBELL, OF TRAVERSE CITY. I am not informed why you should call upon me to open the discussion upon the present and future water-supply of Traverse City unless it be from the fact that it has been my province during recent years to furnish a watersupply for this village from Grand Traverse Bay; or the need at this time of a sprinkling down to lay any dust that may chance to rise during this and following sessions; perchance as water enters into the life of everything, it may be taken as a stimulant by this convention. I believe the consideration of this subject is well and timely taken on this occasion just before the adoption of the Local Option in Grand Traverse County. Our village, containing a population of about 4,000 souls, is beautifully located upon a broad, sandy plain, elevated above the water level from two feet to twenty feet, with Grand Traverse Bay on the north and Boardman Lake on the south. The soil is coarse sand and gravel admitting of a free movement of ground atmosphere and water from south to north. The present water-supply for domestic use in the main is not from Grand Traverse Bay, by way of the water-works, as may be supposed. Only fortyfive families in the village have their dwellings connected with the waterworks or obtain their supply for culinary purposes from that source. The present water-supply for family and domestic use is therefore largely taken from surface wells either dug or driven. Water is thus reached at from four feet to twelve feet in the west part of the village, and from six feet to sixteen byn meu feet in other parts of the village, with exceptional instances of deep wells driven through the hard pan strata. It is well known that water in these wells fluctuates (rises and falls) in correspondence with that in the bay on the north and more especially with the Boardman Lake on the south. From these wells is pumped what many householders call good, wholesome drinking water. This may be true in some instances. It is not a question of speculation whether this water-supply in the majority of wells, or (from the Grand Traverse Bay) through the water-works system is good or bad. Analysis demonstrates the fact that all water that is clear and odorless is always pure and wholesome. The pump, as well as "the old oaken bucket dripping with coolness," may fail to bring health and safety from such sources. Because a man or family have used whisky or tobacco for forty years, more or less, it is not necessarily a wholesome beverage or practice. This water supply problem is becoming one of no small importance to individuals, families, communities, villages and cities, as 75 per cent or more of what we eat and drink is said to be water and must affect the health of every citizen, and the death-rate of every town, village or city, in a like ratio as the water-supply used may be contaminated with impurities. The peculiarity of the soil that underlies this village (sand and gravel) deprives it of any filtering power. Water passes through it as through a sieve or wire cloth, carrying with it any impurities that it may pass through in seeking the level. It is a perfect sewerage with a ground water movement from south to north, and so near the surface that water-mains are laid in it in the west part of the village, also on Front and Franklin street east. It is evident from these facts that multitudes of privy pits, cesspools and other deposits of filth, now found in every block in the village, must sooner or later contaminate this entire plateau, and the sub-soil of this village must become a great cesspool. Now if such be the facts, and I believe they are, and nine-tenths or more of our people take their water-supply from these shallow wells, the source of the present water-supply for domestic purposes is, to say the least, not very inviting. Surrounded as we are with water on every side of us, pure and wholesome as the air we breathe, there seems to me but one remedy, and I appeal to you fellow townsmen, individually, that you determine from whence is to be taken the future water-supply for domestic use for the village of Traverse City. |