MAD FAMILIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7979, 9 December 1911, Page 5

MAD FAMILIES

PROM OUR SPECIAU CORRESPONDENT. LONDON, October 27. The asylums committee of the London County Council has just issued a report which forms a striking illustration of tho need for legislation to prevent the increase of tho mentally unfit. The Committee give a host of statistics tending to show that insanity is rapidly on the increase" and that, indeed, tho evil is threatening to become worse than that of consumption. It is not in London alono that insanity is rife, for the reports of asylum boards all over the country show an alarming increase. In Liverpool, for example, one out of every 225 inhabitants is being treated for insanity. Tho problem ot cases of relapsing insanity is causing the authorities tho. greatest anxiety. At present the authorities have no power to detain a patient who appears to bo and is diagnosed as sane, although they may bo perfectly confident that under given circumstances the patient is practically certain to relapse, and_again conlo ruder their care, and may, in tho meantime, add to the probable number of lunitios in tho community. One appalling example of relapsing insanity is given by the London County Council Asylums Committee. It is that of a woman who is now_ under their charge, and whose history includes these startling facts:

Fifteen times admitted to and discharged from institutions controlled by the London authority. Eleven times admitted to and discharged from other asylums. Thirteen children born to her, of whom five are dead, and two show signs of ineauitv.

Two of her sisters were lunatics. Two of her aunts are now in asylums. The latest figures available show that 17,976 patients wore discharged from London asylums as "recovered" in the fifteen years ending December, 1909. No fewer than 5X07 were readmitted up to Starch Slst, 1910, or 28.69 per cent.; and over 12 per cent, were readmitted within a year. . * An examination of the family history of 1831 patients showed that there wore: Two instances of six insane in a family. Three instances of five in a family. Twelve instances of four, in a family. Eighty-five instances of three in a family. Seven hundred and fifty-two instances of two in a family. Dr Stanfield, medical superintendent at Bexley Asylum, reports that among his patients he has traced blood relations who were, or had been, under treatment iu a London or other asylum as follows: Forty-seven instances of father and son Fifty-three of father and daughter. Thirty-two of mother and son. Seventy-four of mother and daughter. Forty-five of brothers. Sixty-four of brothers and sisters. Sixty-nine of sisters. One of father, mother, son and ter.Two of father, son, and daughter. One of mother, son, and daughter. One of three brothers and two sisters.: Four of father and two sons. Pour of mother and two sons. Two of mother and three sons. Two of two brothers and one sister. Ono of four brothers. Sis of three brothers. Commenting on these terrible family histories, Dr Stanfield pleads for the institution of legislation designed to check the increase of the mentally unfit, which he declares to he the only remedy known fcs those who have made tho matter their special study for years, and have had the best opportunities for coming to a right conclusion.