Miscellaneous Papers. 197 



ceeding generations it appears in greater intensity, and that 

 these cases are very numerous." 



We are confronted with the fact that insanity is on the in- 

 crease, and to an alarming extent. In A. D. 1880 there was 1 

 insane person to every 1200 people; in 1900 we And 1 to every 

 460 — an increase of nearly three to one in twenty years. In- 

 sanity and imbecility give us to-day not far from 400,000 

 people in the United States, and it is shown that this number, 

 through heredity, is rapidly on the increase. Is it not time, 

 then, to call a halt and take an account of stock in trade? 

 To ask ourselves this question — Whither are we drifting? To 

 cast about us for a remedy? How can we stop this increase 

 of the abnormal man? is the greatest problem which is before 

 the people to-day. Health, virtue and honor must enter into 

 and form a component part of our mental and moral nature, 

 that the nations yet unborn may profit thereby. This prob- 

 lem stands out in bold relief, and it can be solved only through 

 the channel of education. Make the people feel not only their 

 individuality but their responsibility. 



We have learned somewhat of the intensity of life but lack 

 a knowledge of our responsibility. It is an axiom that the 

 rights of every one are circumscribed by the welfare of others. 

 This might be shown by the many and varied relations which 

 morphine, tobacco, alcohol and numerous drugs sustain to 

 feeble-mindedness or imbecility, if farther investigation along 

 this line were desired. 



Before closing this paper, it would be well to look just for 

 a moment upon the abnormal man from a statistical stand- 

 point. From 50 to 75 per cent, of all crime is the result of 

 intemperance ; 70 per cent, of all cases of insanity are charged 

 directly or indirectly to narcotics; 80 per cent, of all crimi- 

 nals are habitual malefactors, and 40 per cent, of hereditary 

 criminals are the result of bad maternal impressions — mother- 

 made criminals. We see, therefore, that heredity, bad whisky 

 and bad environments vie with each other for the trophy of 

 crime. 



Change is written on all things human ; we have the spring- 

 time of youth, followed by the hot summer of manhood, and 

 the mellow autumn and dreary winter of old age and death. 

 We are actors upon a stage; one generation plays its part, 

 the scene changes and gives place to the next. Man is in- 

 deed a poor philosopher if he does not take into account this 



