Insanity: Its Causes and Prevention

by Henry Putnam Stearns

Mental operations have been more or less active, as this is a necessity during the hours of consciousness, but they have proceeded in an exceedingly limited sphere of thought; they have gone on day after day in a few channels only, while the larger portion of that part of the brain which is connected with thought, or, more accurately speaking, many of the faculties of the mind, have been left in a comparatively undeveloped and inactive condition. The result is similar to that which would occur if only a portion of any other part of the system should be brought into exercise, for instance, one hand or arm, while the remaining portion should be left in an inactive state for a long period.

So true is it that certain trains of thought proceed only in limited channels of the brain, that it is found in experience, that a change of study from a subject which has long been under consideration, to another which has not been, and which is of a different character, and which requires combinations of memories and reasonings of a different order, is almost equivalent to a period of rest. After a period of application in the solution of mathematical problems, and the mind begins to weary of this study, it may, with ease and pleasure be turned to the study of some language; so that persons whose duties cover a wide range of thought and subjects of diverse character, are frequently able to employ themselves with ease more hours in the day than others whose occupations are more uniform and less diversified in character. The law of health and strength applies alike to all portions of the system, and requires a certain degree of activity in all portions, else they remain in an undeveloped or weak condition.

Besides, in the case of the brain and nervous system in general, this lack of education in the direction of labor tends largely to produce too frequent self-distrust and introspection. The individual has little range of mental vision, or measure of that self-confidence which arises from ability in skilled labor, and not having any training in those activities and occupations of life which tend to develop and strengthen the nervous system; and, consequently, being unable to engage in these with any degree of satisfaction, if at all, is likely to pass into a state of self-distrust, doubt, and, after a few years, actual inability to take on any considerable measure of education of the nervous system.

It is, therefore, not surprising that, in the adult period of life, when the care and responsibility of providing for others in addition to one’s self, come upon such persons; and especially when periods of uncertainty and long-continued depression in the market of simple manual labor occur, individuals so illy equipped and helpless amid the competitions of society should become insane in large numbers. And I think it must be confessed that there are in operation certain tendencies, in the progress of modern civilization, which are at present very potent in their influence, as against remedies for this condition; influences which tend to push out of sight the individual, or merge him into a large whole, which moves forward for the accomplishment of purposes, regardless of the individualities which may fall out by the way.

In the strife and competition attending life in all our large towns and cities, there have been developed new methods of conducting business, as well as most of the occupations. Formerly the trades were conducted vastly more by individuals, either alone or in small numbers. Work was done by hand, and frequently at home, so that every father could easily have his child or children, from an early age, in some measure under his own supervision. The natural outcome of this was that children very often followed avocations similar in character to those of their fathers, and began to learn them early in life. Beginning thus early, though the progress toward any considerable degree of proficiency was slow, yet there resulted a symmetrical training and consequent strengthening of the nervous system, during its growing period, which tended to render it largely self-reliant, and was of inestimable value in after-life in securing stability of action. In cases, too, where the children followed other lines of employment, they were early placed in training for them, while the influence of home-life was still strong, and before other habits of thought and less definite and profitable purposes of life had become developed.

In consequence of the great changes which have come to pass by the introduction to so large an extent of machinery, and by the conduct of almost all the trades and mechanical occupations by large numbers of persons in the form of companies, it has become extremely difficult for the young to have any special training for these vocations; there would result too much trouble and inconvenience from their presence.[8]

What now has been substituted in the place of this home-training for business occupations and trades?

One of the substitutes, indeed almost the only one, is that of the public school. We have built palatial houses at the public expense in all our large towns and cities, and into these the children flock by the hundreds, at all ages from five up to eighteen years, and with the largest diversity in reference to physical and mental constitution: the highly sensitive and nervous, with the lymphatic and dull; the weak with the strong; those with the largest mental capacity, with those who have but little. In other words, routine education of the brain by means of books has taken the place of that which was formerly directed to other portions of the system and toward the more practical side of everyday-life.

The importance of such an education of the brain up to a certain period of life, which may vary somewhat according to the individual, both in the interest of the State and of the individual, is readily conceded; but that it should extend beyond the period of thirteen or fourteen years, for that large portion of the community which is to obtain a living by some form of productive industry, is not so evident.

That the brain should have all the training and discipline it can receive with a due regard to bodily health, till that period when the system becomes capable of manual effort and of receiving education, is clear; but from that time forward, why not have it educated in the line of its future industry and activity, whatever that may be?