The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-11


that this has been proved in the case Of con-
Trained from drinking after serving several
years Of Imprisonment. But it must be remom-
bcrod that very large proportion Of tho crimes
committed are the result of intoxication. and 1t
is natural to suppose that persons who have
suffered severe punishment for offences COM
mittcd while in liquor would resolve as a
measure Of caution 10 have nothing more 10 do
with an agent 50 likely TO get them into trouble,
even should the appetite remain. And. ON tho
other hand. it Is often the case that dcpraved
criminals after a long Imprisonment take tho
first available opportunity 10 indulge in excess
sivc dcbauchory. 1t Is safe to say that any por-
son who has been in the habit of drinking 10 in
toXicaiiOn can insure permanent cure only by
the exercise of constant watchfulnoss through
out his life. An excess of self-cOnndcnco has
been tho destruction Of thousands in such cir
cumstanccs.
Like most specialists, many Of the earnest adj
vocatcs Of the asylum system are given at times
to exaggerated statements in regard to the me-
cos-ity of such institutions. These IRE prob
ably unintentonal. but they are liable to mis-
Had the public. For instance. DIR. d. r. Cro-
theirs Of the Binehamton Incbrate Asylum. is
reported as saying in an address recently de-
livcred in Hartford before the Connecticut Le-
gisaturc. that "tho inebriate can never reform
himself; the restraint of an asylum and the rest
which 1t brings become the only hope and
literal City Of Refuge If DR.. Crothcrs was cor
rcctly reported he uttered nonsense. The
writer has known many persons who had been
inobrates for years. If being drunk about one
half the time constitutes an incbriate. but who
reformed themselves and became good citizens.
some of them filling important Offices Of trust.
long before the first brick was ever laid for an
incbriatc asylum. II would seem to be self
evident that if a man is able to euro himself of
the habit OF inobriciy. without rcsOrting to an
asylum in order to gain strength. the increase
of seli-rospect which such IA triumph over his
depraved appetite affords cannot fail to have
beneficial effect upon his future life. And the
better informed the public becomes about
the facts govcrningthe conditions OF abstinence.
Temperance. and inebrioty the better prepared
for seli-trcatment and self-reformation will
every man be who finds his appetite mastering
his powers of seli-coniro Ii Dr. Crothcrs had
said that there are cases in which incbriatcs
will not or cannot reform themselves without
such aid us an asylum Affords. he would have
suited sufficiently alarming fnct. for there arc
enough Of such mon t. I'll more asylums than
this generation is likely TO look upon.
But fitting up building for the reception OF
patients appointing stan of officers, and
calling the institution an inubriate asylum is
not all that is required in order that the
institution should funl the purpose which 1t Is
intended to serve. From the accounts that
patients have written Of their experience. il
would soon that there IL ground for severe
criticism in regard t. the management If some
Of these institutions. Tho superintendent ofan
incbriatc asylum should not only be u practical
t.lt Nth ia
latest discoveries in medical science. but he
should also bee man Of hearty sympathes.
with n conscientious zeal for his vocation. and
with character calculated TO gain the respect
AMI affection Of those placed under his care.
while his suhorinates should be persons
capable NJ extending sympathy and support TO
the patients with whom they are brought in
contact. Sour. ascctic phari-aical persons ara
! altogether out of place in such Institutions.
wherea charitable disposition iorthc innrmities
| OF tho weak. aud warm heart for those vino
are striving to reform. are even Of more
| importance than scientific knowledge There
are institutions where the officers combine these
requisites. andtheyarc the most successful ones.
1t Is indeed. Of paramount Importance that
the officers of an incbriate asylum should he
men of large s,mpathics capable Of making a
I charitable allowance for tho nnrmiiics OF
human nature. When patients are taken to IN
asylum they arc generally moro or less under
the influence II long continued habits Of in
temperance. and the sudden withdrawal of
stimulauts produces in tn m. at first. u cUnli-
ton OF extreme mental depression during
which the feelings are ahnormaly sensitive.
! II is az such times that suicides are most likely
10 occur. and. while the pailcnt l. in this
state, cheerful words Of ENCOURAGEMENT and
evidences Of sympathy for his unhappy COM
| dtion are OF mcstimahlc yalu. to him. A. be-
rogains his strength and spirits. the advice Of
the OH al who manif'-ts a genuine feeling #
charity for his failnss has far more effect than
the uphradings of tho stern monitor. who.
having himself no inclination for the special
vice OF intemperanee. deems II hi. duty 10 i'm
press continually upon the mind Of the I'M
happy being whom h. has in his power not
only his abhorren &c Of the vice. but likewise his
contempt for the man who las been OVERFLOW
cred by il.
Few people have ANYTHING like m adequate
| idea II the terrible struggles which some men
undergo during their efforts TO release them
selves from the habit OF drinking after it has
become what Dr. Rush chara tcrizsd as the
chronic form of the disease Its not strange.
therefore. that persons with the best intentions
should frequently make mischief by maadroit
attempts 10 instruct inebriatcs seeking reiorma-
ton upon subject that they are incapable Of
comprehending but which the unhappy ndi-
viduals whom they lecture know all about by sad
experience.
shrewd business man, who was long con-
! frmcd incbriate, with occasional temporary
| spells Of sobrieiy. but who finally overcame the
habit, and has been total abstincnt for many
years, once told the writer that in his efforts Ia
| give up drink ing the greatest obstacles he met
came from the wcll-intentionod but laundering
| speeches Of his friends. Once" he said,
had gone without taking liquor fornine months
| and was lust beginning 90 feel proud. and IL
/ congratulate myself that people had forgotten
/ all about my sprees, when solemn donkey
who really felt an interest in my welfare. caught
! me in "a corner ono day and gave me "A lecture Of
about ten minutes on the evils Of htenpcrancc
He succeeded IN humiliating me so thoroughly
that in minute after he had gone from my
sight was inside barroom, which / never left
until | was too drunk 10 walk unassisted
Another time Just as | was getting over
the effects Of n spree. and was suffering
the most inconceiyable mental and physical tor
/ ments which was bearing IN under ms best