Eugenics as a Factor in the Prevention of Mental Disease

In the early twentieth century, the United States faced a startling surge in mental illness admissions, with state hospitals swelling from just over 70,000 patients in 1890 to more than 230,000 by 1920. The author frames this growth as both a humanitarian crisis and a massive economic strain, noting that roughly one in twenty‑five people will experience insanity at some point in life. By highlighting the costs to families, taxpayers, and the broader society, the opening pages set a compelling stage for urgent reform.

Against this backdrop, the work examines how inherited traits and variations in intelligence intersect with mental health. Drawing on recent census data and emerging genetic research, the author argues that preventive strategies—rooted in education, public policy, and careful study of familial patterns—could ease the burden long before institutional care is needed. The narrative balances sober statistics with a call for coordinated, science‑based action to protect future generations from the escalating toll of mental disease.