Have you ever wondered what makes people go insane? Wonder no more. We provide the evidence from the combined admissions to both Fremantle Asylum and Whitby Falls in 1902 (Graylands not yet having been constructed).
It has to be said that the Dodgy Perth team seem a very high risk group. Although we will decline to mention which of the following categories apply.
CAUSES OF INSANITY IN PATIENTS ADMITTED DURING 1902 | |||
Mls | Fmls | Ttl | |
MORAL | |||
Lonely life | 5 | — | — |
Love affairs (including seduction) | — | 3 | 3 |
Mental anxiety (business) | 5 | — | 5 |
Mental anxiety (domestic) | 1 | 6 | 7 |
Overwork | 2 | 4 | 6 |
Religious excitement | 5 | 1 | 6 |
Shock | — | 1 | 1 |
PHYSICAL | |||
Accident | 1 | — | 1 |
Change of life | — | 2 | 2 |
Congenital | 3 | — | 3 |
Epilepsy | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Heredity | 2 | — | 2 |
Intemperance (alcohol) | 15 | 2 | 17 |
Intemperance (opium) | 4 | — | 4 |
Masturbation | 8 | — | 8 |
Puerperal state | — | 4 | 4 |
Privation | 7 | — | 7 |
Previous attacks | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Senility | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Sunstroke | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Venereal disease | 7 | — | 7 |
Unknown | 8 | 2 | 10 |
TOTAL | 85 | 31 | 116 |