Did you know that New York had a Commission in Lunacy? It still exists as the New York State Hospital Commission, but was called the Commission in Lunacy until 1912. It was vested with “”exclusive jurisdiction over all institutions for the care and treatment of the insane, epileptics and idiots.”

IS THE WORLD GOING CRAZY, AND IS LIQUOR DOING IT? Dr. Albert W. Ferris, Head of This State’s Commission in Lunacy, Says Insanity Is Increasing and Gives the Reasons — The High Tension of Modern Living Partly Responsible. (PDF)

From May 21, 1911