New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-23
AMONG THE DIPSOMANIACS
TNEBRIATE ASYLUMS AND THE CURE OF
"THIRST MADNESS"

4 VISIT To TIE BlNGIAMTON INSTITUTION - 4
NOBLE CHARITY IN SUCCESSFUL OPERATION
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF TIE CURE A
SOCIAL CLUBHOUSE INSTEAD OF AN ASYLUM
OTHER ASYLUMS IN THE COUNTRY.
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
BINGHAMToN, n. Y, Feb. 13.-When you sent
me here, was flied with all sorts OF priudces against
the uclrate Asylum, the principal institution Of this
town. Plain hints of its financial acknowledgements broad
ntimaons of its origin in Quackory, and its direction by
ack absurd stories OF it, theory Of the cure OF in
cbrcty; and instances Of its failure to reform acquant
anccS had impressed me with the belief that it was an
institution Of much proeusion and little merit NumeI-
letters from al sorts Of sources some correcting re
ports which had abroad in official documents and
medical and Temperance journals OF reputc others from
former patients recommending the establishment and
asserting the efficacy Of the system Of had urged
attention TO- but had done little To remove or modify
my prejIdces. IcNpectod TO find set of impecunous
Directors WHO running the institution for their
benefit, and living handsomely by going about pretend
Ing do good. There arc st lingering suspicious
that the active Directory not wholly free from faults
and that the Legislature, which is TO inquire into
conflict OF authority that has risen between the Diroc
tors and the Land Commissioner. who have charge Of
the institution representatives Of the state interests
will do well 10 look careullySntO the propriey Of the
proposal 10 make the Asylum wholly state charity,
governed by state officers. This quarrel though bitter
not clearly defined just least not to me. At
meeting Of the Directors at Albany the sth inst,
Committee directed to confer with the Land Commits
sioncrs and arrange compromise, and this may smooth
present difficulties. Respected to find something
between poorhouSc ana prison. but ma sort OF
palatia and retired social clubhouse instead OF hos
ual the place is home; instead Of dismal wards lead
ing to narrow cells there long, wide halls opening
into large cosy and IN instances elegantly fur
nshed apartments: and the only bars and gratings
have seen were formed oy the German and English ivy
vines which hung in Eac. clusters nom rustic hraeL
cts in The windows q! Sic moro ingenious ana Hover
loving patients. have az The common table. and
instead Of TASTING lQoo. Sc every article ~ food, as
was told should. have acd. cci Sumptuously but TO
my satisfaction. ~ Vsa c>>i meats mesh vegetables
wholesome bread, and StSal,G> sloan linen. Instead
Of having 20 seek y@.- % catch furtivc glances from
tmid eyes set IN hanc-loc couutcnanccS have been
welcomed (lndcr the idea that nevly arrived pa
tent by sympathetic looks from men Of moro than
average intelligence Of look and refinement Of manner
had half expected indeed 10 ind in Binghamton
town having something ~ the repusye air of confirmed
drunkard, broken down in constitution and pocket max
ing show Of honest reformation; but have before me-
instead a neat cheerful home-like little city, nesting
in a quiet nook Of the susquehanna valley, and sur
rounded by Of the most picturesque, but not
rugged scenery Of the State. My preudices all fed,
and freely confess that am little annoyed as to how,
in my new-found enthusiasm, I to avoid painting
the beauties of the place and Institution in coe'T dc
My design, however is not to praise the establish
have applied THE TRIBUNE know what shall be done
with their afflicted friends to tell plainly and briefly what
this and other inebrate institutions of the country pro-
feSs to do and what they accomplish. am told and
after what have can accept the assurance liter
ally that my own late prcudce fairly represented those
of almost every patient and visitor who has entered the
Asylum; and Judge from all the letters received at THE
TRIBUNE Office, that they shared also by most Of
those who make inquiries preparatory to dispOsing Of
afflicted friends.
There prctense, believe by any OF the Inebriae
Asylums-certIuly not by the here-that the appe
tte for liquor is eradcaed and cured and yet that is
the idea and belief under which patients
1t is a very much mistaken notion need not describe
10 those for whom specially wre-I mean those unfOr
tunate families whose relatives afflicted with
this terrible maady-the characters of the men who
sent here. They not the ordinary drunk
ards who sOt habitually whose phegmatic tempeTa-
enable them when stupefed with poison to
go about their business (uGgshy, it is true yet doing
it, and who going TO bed intoxicated awake TO sober
ness with unshatercd nerves. and without the desire for
drink. On the contrary these patients are of the
temperament and their disease is parOxysmal
MANIA Selling them Unexpectedly and at irregular pc
RODS 1t is only occasionally not daily, that they are
seized with the madness Of thirst implied by the word
"dpsomania" now generally applied to the disease by
physicians For weeks, months, and years these men,
thousands OF others in the country have been known
20 without drink performing lfes duties nOby and
patiently, and often brilliantly, frequently refusing
earnest solicitations to drink never failing TO openly
upbrad themselves for past indugences and begging
their friends not to invite them firmly resolving and
loudly declaring their intention again to touch
alcohol and then have suddenly been again seized with
the madness. Then the most positive, the most repent
ant the most moral the most enlightened OF them good
fathers and loving brothers, brilliant professional and
business men, have fallen at once into the
condition Of beasts resortng to the meanest articles,
no I'M of
exravagaDces, TO satisfy their thirst Mod
est retiring women Of refined natures, thus afflicted, as
many unfortunate family can testify, become the
most shameless, wantOn, and beasty OF their sex The
mania continues for brief time-weeks with the
stronger days only with weaker cOnstitutOnsun the
system is broken down and exhausted, when dclirum
eusue and the nerves quoted and the strength IS
restored az tremens and death do not meantime ensuel
only aer long sickness and suffering for the mailman,
and modification, misery, often despair for his family
This is the light in which the Asylum considers its pa
tents 1t looks upon their disease and believe medical
science has come TO regard IT, mania, which in
duged becomes uncomfortable the only cure is total alb
stinepce The asylum is more home in influences than
school almost prison in restraint, TO which man
weakened In intellect lost TO sefrespect robbed OF the
pewer OF selfcOmmand by indulgence of his naddening
appetite land all Of these are the symptoms and eonse
quences Of the dseae resort for the restoration OF
physical and mental health and that power Of sefcom
a,d which only can enable him TO control his desires
Briefly the Asylum teaches that total abstinence is the
only cure forhs disease and it is conducted with view
tompar the habit TO its patients this reason patients
are received for not less than three months they may
remain for life they like and several Of Them after
two years residence have so resolved But one quar-
ters residence deemed absolutely necessary 10 restore
health ouet the shattered and get the alcohol
ont NJ the system Of the patient and relieve him of that
intense desire for more which, in nervous temperaments
follows overindugen whether in opium tobacco or
LIQUOR. In many instances in actual life, weeks III
mess or other detention at home has suiced 10 cure the