Speech #500000584

And thin partitions do their bounds divide. If errors thus occur as to the sane. equal or greater errors are not less likely to occur as to the insane. The abuse to be avoided in the ease of lunatic immigrants may be of inferior magnitude. but even the existence of such an abuse. were it not of constant occurrence. would seem incredible. and the instrumentalities of avoidance have too often been found to be wholly inadequate. It has been stated by the superintendent of the New York Insane Asylum that nearly 75 per cent. of the inmates are foreign born. In nine months of 1887 there were 117 of such immigrants admitted for support at the New York State Emigrant Asylum. and the whole number of immigrant lunatics so admitted in ten years. from 1877 to 1886. inclusive. was no less than fourteen hundred. Often a peculiar congenital malformation. or shapeless head. discloses the fact of idiocy. and the idiots of the Alps. or cretins with goiter on the throat. may be easily recognized. Surely. however. there are some fools and halfwitted noodles concerning whom no such proof may be visible.