PREVENTING INSANITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18388, 2 May 1923, Page 10

PREVENTING INSANITY.

IMPORTANCE 'OF HEALTH.

[PRE-NATAL; CLINICS.

THE ' CARE OF THE , CHILD.

An important feature in connection •with the treatment, - and mora particularly the prevention of insanity, -was '■ ;/' mentioned yesterday •; by the; Hon. 0.; J. Parr, Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals, in the ''course of his remarks to a deputation which had discussed the question 'of "border-line" cases. v It was probable that what was really concerning the member of the deputation and others who were anxious about the reduction of the insanity 1 rate in New Zealand, said ■ Mr. Parr, was the issue of pre-insanity in the patient. !' Personally, he had; a great / deal of sympathy with any desire there might be to have the conditions which lead up. to insanity; anticipated by. an accurate diagnosis of symptoms which might be due to toxic infection either from the teeth, the tonsils, the intestines, etc. - Mr. Parr said. ho thought that in New Zealand, upon the whole, the persons who had actually lost their 'mental balance were catered for fairly well. But. he believed that the concern expressed recently was for the stage :■; before that—preinsanity.' There were two observations to be made on this : latter important aspect. Firstly, the alienists and medical men generally agreed that v the ;: conditions I■ of pre-insanity were the most difficult to detect or diagnose. Secondly, so far as he was aware,'no systematic attempt had been made by any State to undertake this work. ./.: /•.;;; ; -.;.:;/■' -^■'-.'■:■.-y,-. : :'.'.

; s "Largely it is a matter of preserving the general health of the • population," continued the Minister. ."New; Zealand is beginning where it ought to begin with the instruction "of the expectant mother. Pre-natal clinics are being, established (and I hope ;to. increase ; them), where sound " advice ,"." and ; counsel, :and necessary operative help; can be obtained. Then, the standard of mid-wifery. is being raised every < year so as to bring the midwifery into conformity;with modem views of aseptic /.science:;; Then ;■ follows • the period at school, when the school doctor, the school nurse and the i school dentist all give their attention to the child. ;. And, when the child ; reaches the period of ; adolescence," it is hoped 'by the medium of sound, scientific counsel from men like Dr. Truby. King, and / women ;; like ;; his ' coadjutor, Miss Paterson, to materially '•■ influence the health of the young adult."And so," said the "Minister, "in. this way.--I |r hope we are taking the soundest measures , possible to : reduce our jnsanitv rate." .:. . • , - :■•;;/..-;;;;;V;' ''-.;.- J -