A Solemn Appeal - James White

In the fall of 1844, the writer visited the
Massachusetts State Lunatic Hospital. While being
conducted through the various apartments,
mingling promiscuously with the insane, our
attention was suddenly arrested by the peculiarly
haggard, frantic, wild, and fiendish appearance of a
young man, turning from us with his eye turned
back over his shoulder. Struck with his shocking
aspect, we inquired of our attendant, a young
physician, what was the cause of his insanity.
"Solitary vice," was the ready reply. Thought we,
solitary vice produces solitary insanity! for we
never saw the like before. We further asked, Have
you many here from that cause? "A large
proportion," was the reply. More than from
intemperance? "Oh, yes, far more." Do you find
ladies alike victims of that practice? "We know no
difference." We were now passing through a large
room where a number of beautiful and apparently
intelligent young ladies sat gazing mutely upon us.
But, doctor, what are your prospects of cure in such
cases? "When there is reason enough left to make
the patients see and feel that by abandoning the
20