"INSANE" ANCESTOR IN THE CENSUS
RECORDS?
By Linda
Cunningham Fluharty, R. N.
August 17, 1999
The terms "insane",
"crazy" or "lunatic" are used to
describe some of our ancestors in the old census records. For many researchers, an encounter with such
labels is enough to discourage forever any pursuit of the family's roots. The stigma of mental illness, perhaps less
than 150 years ago, exists today, and, all too often, the images of
"raving maniacs" still come to mind.
During the time I
have managed my 3 WV GenWeb pages (Marshall, Calhoun, Pleasants), I have
received critical comments from people about the inclusion of these disparaging
mental illness labels in the many census records presented on my pages. Individually, I have attempted to explain the
meaning of such terms, in the context of the time, long ago, when these
censuses were taken.
But, still, feelings of shame and fear are
often the response to seeing that an ancestor was mentally ill.
As a Registered Nurse with a background in
psychiatry, I know a bit about the mental illness labels, which were based on ignorance, and of the inhumane treatment of
those declared "insane".
Historically, the concept of mental illness has been incomprehensible
and the treatment barbaric and bizarre.
Simply stated, society did not know how deal with the victims.
During preliterate times, the treatment of
choice for mental illness was
"trephining", the practice of drilling a hole in the
head to let the demons out. In the
'Classical Age' (17th Century), madness was a thing to look at and rich people
came in droves to the asylums to watch the brutal treatment of the shackled
'mad'. Even in the mid-1900's, lobotomies, often
called "ice pick therapy", were frequently performed, deadening a
portion of the brain and leaving the patient without emotions. And today,
electroconvulsive therapy, called "ECT" or "shock
treatments", is still a treatment option, particularly for depression.
But, at least we have made great strides
in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, and, as our knowledge has increased,
we no longer so casually or loosely assign the label "insane". Perhaps the day will come when feelings of
fear and shame regarding an ancestor's mental illness will be
replaced by compassion and pride, understanding their plight and knowing
that they lived lives filled with anguish and hopelessness.
A pamphlet,
compiled by Marjorie E. Carr, was sent to me recently by Rose Fischer. Published perhaps a decade ago, it tells the
history of
REASONS FOR
ADMISSION
OCTOBER 22,
1864 to DECEMBER 12, 1889
Source cited by
Majorie Carr: The First Log Book used at
Weston;
spelling, etc. just as
written.
GRIEF; CONSTITUTIONAL; ASTHMA;
DOMESTIC TROUBLE; THE WAR; SUN STROKE;
MASTURBATION FOR 30 YEARS;
TROUBLE; DISSIPATION OF
NERVES; FEVER & NERVED; INTERFERANCE;
INTEMPERANCE; RELIGIOUS
EXCITEMENT; AMENORRHEA; BUSINESS NERVES; FEVER;
JEALOUSY; EXPOSURE IN ARMY; SELF ABUSE;
VENERIAL EXCESSES;
PUERPERAL; SHOOTING OF
DAUGHTER; PARENTS WERE COUSINS; EXPOSURE & HEREDITARY; UTERINE DERANGEMENT; DEATH OF SONS IN THE WAR; IMPRISONMENT;
POLITICAL EXCITEMENT; FEVER & LOSS OF LAW SUIT; GASTRITIS;
DESERTION BY HUSBAND; SUPRESSION
OF MENSES; DECOYED INTO THE ARMY; KICKED IN THE HEAD BY A HORSE; SUPERSTITION;
BITE OF A RATTLE SNAKE; DOG
BITE; SNUFF; FEEBLENESS OF INTELLECT; RUMOR OF HUSBAND'S MURDER OR DESERTION; MENTAL EXCITEMENT; DISAPPOINTMENT; JEALOUSY & RELIGION; SEDUCTION &
DISSAPPOINTMENT; SEVERE LABOR; DISAPPOINTED LOVE; FITS & DESERTION OF HUSBAND; SUPRESSED MASTURBATION; DERANGED MASTURBATION; HARD STUDY;
DROPSY; EFFUSION ON THE
BRAIN; FALSE CONFINEMENT; SEXUAL ABUSE AND STIMULANTS; EXCITEMENT AS
OFFICER; FALL FROM HORSE; DISAPPOINTED AFFECTION; COLD;
INDIGESTION; BRAIN FEVER; CARBONIC ACID GAS; SEXUAL DERANGEMENT; FELL FROM HORSE; EXPOSURE IN ARMY; RELIGIOUS ENTHUSIASM; DISSOLUTE HABITS; LOSS OF ARM;
ILL TREATMENT BY HUSBAND;
SCARLATINA; SMALLPOX; HEREDITARY
PREDISPOSITION; EPILEPTIC FITS; SOFTENING OF THE BRAIN; MENSTRUAL DERANGED; MASTURBATION & SYPHILLIS; GATHERING IN THE HEAD; BAD COMPANY;
SUNSTROKE; CARBUNCLE; OVER HEAT;
BAD HABITS & POLITICAL EXCITEMENT;
DOMESTIC AFFLICTION; PECUNIARY
LOSSES: WORMS; CONGETION OF BRAIN; REMORSE;
MILK FEVER; OPIUM HABIT; CRIME; NOVEL READING; EGOTISM;
SALVATION ARMY; IMAGINARY FEMALE
TROUBLE; DIPTHERIA; THE WAR;
EXPOSURE & QUACKERY; SPINAL
IRRITATION; SNUFF EATING FOR TWO
YEARS; PERIODICAL FITS; TABACCO & MASTURBATION: HYSTERIA;
FEMALE DISEASE; GUNSHOT
WOUND; LIVER AND SOCIAL DISEASE; SEDUCTION;
KICK OF HORSE; VICIOUS VICES IN
EARLY LIFE; BLOODY FLUX; POLITICS;
WOMEN; DOUBY ABOUT MOTHER'S
ANCESTORS; NYMPHOMANIA; MORAL SANITY;
GREEDINESS; EXCESSIVE SEXUAL ABUSE;
FIGHTING FIRE; BAD WHISKEY; WOMEN TROUBLE; OVER ACTION ON THE MIND; EXPLOSION OF SHELL NEARBY; MARRIAGE OF SON; MEDICINE TO PREVENT CONCEPTION; OVER STUDY OF RELIGION; IMMORAL LIFE;
TIME OF LIFE; YOUNG LADY &
FEAR; CEREBRAL SOFTENING; LAZINESS;
OVER TAXING MENTAL POWERS.
*The name was
changed to
1970's the word
"State" was dropped.