Observations on the heredity of insanity / by A. R. Urquhart.

  • Urquhart, Alexander Reid, 1852-1917.
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Observations on the heredity of insanity / by A. R. Urquhart. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Reprinted from the British Medical Journal, December 16.h, 1906. OBSERVATIONS ON THE HEREDITY OF INSANITY* By A. R. URQUHART, M.D., F.R.C.P.E., Physician Superintendent, James Murray’s Royal Asylum, Perth. In addressing you from this honourable position I bear in mind, first of all, that we meet here for no exclusive or local purpose, but as members of a great Association, representative of medicine and surgery in the widest sense. Last week many of us were engaged in the work of an Association limited in numbers, and specialized in intention; this week the hospi- tality of Leicester, to our common advantage, affords us opportunity of coming into contact with those who are less intimately interested in our department of medical science. It is the advantage of a wider horizon, and a freer air. No doubt it will be generally recognized that the main questions which we, as psychiatrists, propose for discussion on this occasion are of vital interest to our profession and to our country. Thus, we are to consider the heredity of insanity, occupation and environment as causative factors of insanity, and prognosis in mental disorders. These are subjects of urgent importance, and if we can elucidate them, and pro- mote their further investigation, we may hope that general principles will be evolved, and will be applied to the advan- tage of the common weal. I regretfully admit that the guidance of the profession in the political sphere is very fre- quently regarded with suspicion, and that our advice often falls on deaf ears. There seems to be a lingering objection to adopt measures urged by doctors, fortunate above all in their education and training, seeing clearly that amendment of our civilization is now necessary to avert national calamity. I still more regretfully admit that there are doctors who from time to time offer panaceas which can only be rejected with derision. What we as a nation require is an intelligent understanding of the methods of Nature and an adjustment of national con- ditions to these methods in accordance with the circumstances * Presidential address to the Section of Psychological Medicine, Annual Meeting held at Leicester, 1905.