The Growth of Lunacy.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 356, 5 March 1903, Page 5

The Growth of Lunacy.

CAN THE FEARFUL SCOURGE BE CHECKED. " From year to year, from decade to decade, from generation to generation. in spite of every effort made to stop the ravages of the disease, the insane continue to increase in great numbers,

j The leaven spreads "nnually with , cumulative force, appu c.dy under the influence of the natural law of repro- ■ duction, and the question has to be . faced—How long will it take before the whole mass is leavened ?" Such is the statement, and such is the query advanced by Mr W. J. Corbet, M.R.I.A, in the January number of the " Westminster Review." The lunacy returns show an appalling increase during the last generation and a half. The number of registered lunatias in "the United Kingdom in 1859 was 47,992. In 1902 the number had increased by 100,739 to 148,631. Of these 110,712 were in England, where the yearly increaes works out at about 2000 victims. The official view is that the increase is more apparent than real, that the case is rather one of " accumulation," and that if there be an increase it is not out of proportion to the increase in the population, Mr Corbet repels that view with indignation and scorn. He tabulates official figures, which show that whereas the ratio of insane per 1000 was but 1-81 in 1862, it is 3-60, or double, in 1902; ' What is to be done then? ' The present systen he declares to be sadly wanting. " That the garnering of the lunatic poor in vast asylums, where they are surrounded by every comfort, well nourished, tenderly cared for, and, to a certain extent, even pampered, should produce disastrous results, is a startling statement to make, but it is true." And the reason is that " they are discharged annually in thousands, cured or quasi-cured," and are then at liberty to marry and transmit their disease to their descendants. The writer maintains that the marriage of a person who is, or has been, insane should be prevented by law. He thinks, moreover, that the question is so important, that an international conference of qualified persons should be called to consider it.