Connecticut western news., 1876-01-28
Inebriate Asylums.

The New York EUenSng MaiL amour ces that the inebriate asylum at Bing- hamton has proved failure, both finan- cially and as reformatory institution, and has been closed. This is unwel- come news, as it was hoped that it would prove successful in the great and humane work for which it was established. The M0iI, in connection with the announce ment, says that there ought to be an in- ebrlate asylum for women, as we'll as men that not only base women stagger, drunken and foul-mouthed, through our streets, and lie sottish and wretched in bare homes made squalid by their vice, but homes that to the casual eve are comfortable and happy are made abodes of misery by the tippling habits of women who should be their cheer and moral center"
 This is not 8 pleasant picture of fash ionable life, says the editor of the E2ve,,- Sno Wisconsin, but there is reason to believe that it is too true, not only in New York, but of other large cities. He who shall inaugurate method of treat ment that shall prove successful in cur ing drunkards of their terrible malady will confer boon upon society second only to the removal of the possibility of drunkenness. The number who suffer directly or indirectly from this scourge is appalling to contemplate. The num- Der given to habitual or periodical drunkenness is far larger than the num- Der of the insane, the blind, and the deaf and dumb, while the injury to so- ciety is far greater than would result from all these latter unfortunates put together, were there no care for them ex- tended by the State. The drunken prey upon the peace and bounty of their families and society in one way or an other they fill the criminal docks in our courts they swell the list of pau pers and block the wheels of business, but the State builds no asylum for them, and takes no steps to save them to their friends and society. May not the solu- tion of the question as to the disposal of the drunken be found in building asy- lums for them and in their enforced con- fnement therein until they exhibit evi- dence of reformation There might be enough of restraint about it's manage ment to make consignment thereto a matter of dread, and this would exert a reformatory influence upon those on the road to drunkenness while those con- fined might be so treated as most effec- tually to promote the work of recovery. One reason for the failure of Bingham ton asylum, we think, was the almost total lack of restraint upon the inmates. They were allowed to come and gopretty much as they pleased, if we have been correctly informed. It could scarcely be expected that under such circum- stances reformation would result. What the drunkard needs is to be put beyond the reach of temptation until he has re- covered mental and physical strength to such degree that he can resist tempta- tion.
 We throw out these suggestions in the belief that the day is coming when the work of preventing drunkenness and retaining drunkards must be system atically undertaken, if the race is to be perpetuated in mental and physical vigor, and the industrious and moral re- ieved from the burden of taxation which is now constantly increasing.