Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

^ \ W^k. AND INSANITY. ;
?iThe 'report of the irispecto'r-Generai
of tlie' Insane (Dr. Montgo;mery) for
the year ended December. .31 last, js
very, interesting reading. . '.? The follow
ing, figures, showing the proportion . of
insane to sane persons in me various
Australian States vand in the;Dominlon
of 'New Zealand, seem to show that
the position 'of Western Australia is
one on ^whlch she may be con'gratulat
^?:!_f.,'.,^''',..,;v'y, _;''.;'-;.'/::.':.-v.'
AYear;:;.:? -?'.? -W.A: - :-NB.W. Vic.
1903 ..-.. -1 to 518 1 to 287 1 to 264
1904...,..-; 1 to 511 1 to 286 .1 to 260
1905 .... Ito516 . 1 to 284 1 to 253
190G .?'.-'.? .. ? 1 to 497 ',- ,r.
-''Tear..- ?,?-?'?'.?;? O'-:V':'S''i^'-- . N.Z.
1903 ?. : '. , ? 1 to 278 .1 to 387 , 1 to 284
.1904 J. Vi'. Ito277.;i l'.to 387 '. 1 to 285
1905 ..„ 1 to 272 lto3S4 1 to 2S6
??.'.?.????- ?-??'??? \ ??.-,
We ? are easily . the least Insane of all
the' States. Of course, Western Aus
tralia's comparatively' small propor
tion -of 'insane persons in lunatic' asy
lums 'may be due, not to our mental
health being greater, .but to, our stand
ard' of sanity being lower. It may be
contended that the'kind of lunatics ;i-ho
are' locked up elsewhere are consider
ed, sane enough to go free in Western
Australia; , This explanation,' however,
is out' of court, for the 'simple reason
that ourmental pathologlsts* adopt the
same standard here as is adopted' .in
the .other States. Thevfact is, Western
Australia has been fortunate enough
to 'attract a' large proportion : of-tne
most -vigorous and healthy of trie Aus
tmlian i population. We have taken
their peoijle'.'and have accordingly left
them a somewhat larger proportion ot
imperfect and abnormal types. .' ;
$