The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-02-15
THE CURE OF INEBRIATES.

We have received the proceedings of
the second meeting of the american As
sociation for the Cure of Inebriates,"
which was recently held in New York
city. Among the elaborate essays con-
tanned in this report is a suggestive pa
per by DIR. JOSEPH PARRISH, of Media,
which will repay perusal DR.. PARRISH
makes new classification of inebrlates,
which is the result of his experience at
the Pennsylvania Sanitarium, over which
he presides
First Confirmed inebriates or profes-
sional debauchees, whose purposes in life
seem to be limited to the qualification of
appetites or passions. The majority of
this class are incurables, and it is recon-
mended as wise and economical to provide
for the cure and detention of such in
special hospitals.
ga confirmed inebriate is one whose
body is poisoned and whose moral develop
ment is retarded He is incapable of do
ing, what in his best moments, his will
prompts him to do, and hence may be
dangerous to his family or his neighbor
as well as himself"
Dr. PARRISH has had under his care
eighty four Of this class, twenty four of
whom have so improved as to be able to
attend partially to business. Seven have
been cured aud two became insane.
Second. Emotional class, who are de-
scribed as persons without decided in
tention to do wrong, aud without any
abiding purpose to do right, aud who are
the victims of their own moral weakness,
or of the cupidity or recklessness Of
Others"
Of this class seventy two have been at
the Sanitarium, forty two of whom are so
improved as to attend most of their time
to their affairs, and twenty one have been
cured of their infrmity
Third Accidental inebriates are "AIen
of good principles and character. who
know and acknowledge their infrmity
and endeavor to overcome it. Students,
authors, statesmen and overworked bust
ness men furnish considerable percen-
tage of this class" They are unconscious
ly enticed into inebriety and know not
how to escape. DR.. PARRISH has had
under his care sixty-six Of this class, six
teen of whom are attending to their du-
ties with occasional interruption, and for
ty.sevcn are cured.
Twelve cases of opium intoxication are
reported, Of which seven were cured
These are most gratifying results, and
deserve the earnest attention of
the public. We have not hitherto re-
cognized any well defined classification of
Incorporate persons. but have been too
much in the habit of grouping them
all in the category of disturbers Of the
peace and offenders against society This
paper indicates scientific classification
which it is as well for statesmen to heed
with reference to legislation on the sub
ject as for scientists in their efforts to find
a remedy.
Under the head of institutions for
inebriates, DIR. PARRISH refers to the un-
just prejudice against them in some
minds, growing out of the fact that ine-
briefly is public vice, subject to legal
punishment, and also that many leave the
care of such institution too soon, and re-
lapse into their former habits, and adds,
"If all the patients in hospitals for insane
who are incurable, were discharged after
few months trial, and returned to their
families in state of excitement, or to
wander aimessly about in a cloud of de
mentia, there would be public express
| sion of dissatisfaction that would react
very injuriously upon the benevolent in
tentions and careful management of such
institutions the public would pronounce
iuebrate asylums, already a great sue
cess, if the cured cases only were dis
charged" is claimed that the statistics OF
asylums for inebriates present as favor
able view of such institutions as the
statistics of institutions for the insane, OF
those of reformatory establishments.
We commend these views to our read
ers, and wish that they could be present
ed to the public in some other form than
that Of a report of such limited circula
ton as the one before US.
We add the following, taken from the
! minutes of the association -
Whereas, Intemperance is fearful
drain upon the productive interests of the
community, which is increasing in mag.
nitude every year and
Whereas, The measures hitherto adopt
ed to suppress or even curtai this evil
have been unavailing therefore be it
Resoloed, That in the opinion of this
association it is the duty of the Legisla
lures as a measure of State economy to
provide means for the erection and en-.
couragement of hospitals for the deten-
ton and treatment of confirmed inehriates