igh status in the field of mental illness. His background carried the day for him. Just a few of Jarvis' accomplishments noted by Stoep and Link include, "Jarvis was the founder of American psychiatric epidemiology was his remarkable study of the prevalence of mental disorder in 19th –century Massachusetts" (1396). He was well educated with the knowledge to perform such research. Moreover he was, "commissioned by the Massachusetts state legislature to undertake a thorough census that included the identification of all "insane and feeble-minded" persons within the state" (1396-97). Obviously, this gave him more recognition and credibility in the eyes of the public. Because people were inclined to accept his pronouncements, he told them what they wanted to hear and they were charged. Jarvis did not like the Irish and thought they were crazy, also leading him to manipulate his data accordingly
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