Connecticut western news., 1871-12-01
The Boston Inebriate Asylum.

Washington Home, Boston, Mass, is a document of great interest. The Home, it is known, is an institution for the treat ment of patients suffering from alcoholic disease, and the Boston house was, we believe, tine first of the kind in the coun- try, and possibly in the world. During the 13 years of it's existence it has treated 3,69O patients-during the last year 276 have been received. MT. Otis Clapp, the President of the Corporation, says |: "With limited means and inadequate accommodations, the work of the Home has been perseveringly carried on with increasing energy, and it's efforts for good have been acknowledged, not only in our own State, but throughout the Union, and even in other countries. " MT. William c. Lawrence, the efficient Superintendent of the Home. states the encouraging fact that 31 cases of delirium tremens have been treated during the last year, and that not one has been lost been treated with gratifying success. remained only fortnight, the remainder for various periods from two to six months. MT. Lawrence says "We have no doubt, from present appearances, that we shall have more thorough reforma
 tions than in any previous year. " The plan adopted by the Home is mainly a moral one. It is supposed that every applicant is desirous of reforming his habits, and of ridding himself of disease. There is no restraint worth mentioning, except such as is necessary for the pre- servation of good order in the Home. The patient pledges his honor to refrain from alcohol while residing in the Home, and he is not only expected but desired to exercise the most perfect freedom in regard to his personal movements There is, in cases requiring it, medical treat ment, but after a few days this is rarely necessary. The mind is the chief physi- clan. By every cheerful encourage ment, by undertaking personal kindness, | by advice, and every possible assistance, the reforming man is encouraged to rely not upon others, but upon himself. Gradually, the good habit takes the place of the bad one The restored will, before headstrong in the wrong direction, becomes infexible in the right one Seeing with new eyes, and thinking with a new mind, and feeling with a new heart, it often happens that those who have been deemed the most hopelessly incorrigible become the most immovable and resolute in a course of sobriety
 The officers of the institution point with pardonable pride to a great many men now holding positions of honor, useful ness, and emolument, who owe the fact not alone that they are prospering, but that they are living at all, to the in
 fluences of the Home. Of course, the institution sometimes fails. It cannot select it's patients, and it necessarily re. ceives some who are probably beyond the hepermanent influence of any treatment whatever, except that of physical re, straint. But wherever there is will enough remaining to second the mora effort, the best hope may be entertained and it is taken for granted that no mar is deficient in these, until he has beer tried repeatedly and always found want ing. But the Home does not pretend tc offer refuge for those who are absolute ly incurable. This is no part of its un dertaking nor, in justice to those under its care, who are struggling in bitter ear nest, could it be permitted to become merely the temporary resort of those who desire nothing except to be rescued for the hour from the consequences of debauct which may at any moment be renewed The Home "means business, land those who manage it are in earnest. They holc that for the incorrigible--for those who have passed the fatal point, and become mere children so far as the power of the will is concerned, other means of re straint like those resorted to in othel cases of insanity, must be provided either by the State or by private iberality At the same time, these chronic case. would diminish in number as society be comes more and more abstinent. The Washingtonian Home undertakes tt solve only one problem, and that is te restore the enfeebled will to moral ant effective muscularity.