The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-07
INEBRiETY As 4 DISEASE.
How Il II Treated In the washinatonian
Home In Boston.

Home In Boston.
In the month of November, 1867, brass
plate. resembling the ordinary door plate OF
physician or dentist, and bearing the words,
"wasbingtoniln Home" was placed upon the
door Of a dwelling on Washington street In
Boston. This dwelling on or near that part
OF the gre It thorougbfare leading from Boston
to Roxburv, known as "the Neck;" respecta-
bic. but not fashionable part OF the city. There
was nothing about the house to distinguish 1t
from Its neighbors, except the modest sign, and
probably not one In a thousand OF those who
daily passed Its doors ever noticed this. Indeed,
one looking at the house from across he street,
whence the lettering upon the door plate could
not have been deciphercd, would have guessed 1t
to be the residence of a physician or dentist OF
limited income; or, possibly, a third-rate board
ing house. In fact, 1t was the 0rst Institution
ever opened In any country az public hospital
for the treatment OF drunkenness as a disease.
and in that quiet. unpretendlng Home severil
thousand patients were treated for inebrlety. Of
whom, II 10 claimed. fully one-third were per
manently cured. Lately the Institution has
been removed TO moro commodious uirters.
And, right here, It may be well to explain In
whatsen drunkenness IA regarded as n disease
by the medical men and others who maintain
that there Il such a disease as inebrety. Ihey
do not assert that because a man gets drunk he
Is. therefore, the subject Of disease, unless sin
OF every kind may be cilled disc sc. but they
hold tn Il In some persons the desire for intoxi-
eating drinks, whether inherited or from long
continued habits Of Indulgence. or from some
cause OF another, Is found so strong that the
victim Of that desire, no matter how anxious he
may De to emAncpaie himself from sucn de-
grading and horrible bondage. auds II impossi-
ble to DO so without the aid from Others which
institutions ike the Washington Home are iu-
tended to afford. On this SUBJECT DIR. George
NJ. Beard Says
the sise OF tue pleasure It gives or duIl
away. Is vicious lie who drinks because ne cannot hep
dtinNing who D1rne against MS wishes aud atrv-
ings by an rfe,is ioe imp Use Is diseased DrunSeu
"a disease. anu tue tao forms are frequently com.
bned prugsennes., a. a vice. may oe and often Is
n victim sometime, nnds riou' dlnculiy IN keep
Ing. long he ls not surrounded Dy eva com us
unNennes as a ease, Is rely cured ~ ssaiaS the
IIrdse OF by so-ca,.sd moral ms,snies OF any SUD
10 be dey red If taeir suffering as ml - as tne dye
1a or tae ueurae pitlenl OF ms pam Tae lneoriiie
may p'cdge ninse to abstain from acohoiie iiaulrs
get tncm but g. this negative tre.iment shold often
nent " even temporary cure. Ia asoru. ueDrrty
neurosisa iu ctJnA disease OF the nervous system
aud should be eate on tue same principles as othr
anI a,ned nervous diseases.
When this experiment OF opening a hospital
Tor inebriatos was made, nearly twenty years
ago. few thought tn 4 so unpretending an insti-
tuition would be CAPABLE OF efectine such results
as 1t mas accomplished; ami 1t Is doubtful "
there Is an instance record WHARF greater
benefits have accrued from small an expendi-
ture OF money us that used In the establishment
and maintenance OF the Washingtonian Home.
Its superintendent then. as now, was DIR. Albert
Day. a gentleman who has devoted MS life to the
work OF rescuing other victims of alcoholism.
and who has managed the Affairs Of the institu-
ton with codsummite prudence. 10 Its early
days 1t had some triaing aid from the city 81
Boston and the State Of Massachusetts, but this
soon became unnecess Try, and for many years It
has been sells pportine.
The eighteenth annu,l report Of this institu.
ton contsiDs some interesting details OF tue
work It has accom- lshed. The number OF pa
tents treated In the Home between November
1857, and May /. 1876, 4,gl1. From May |,
1875, to May l, 1870 tne hummer OF patients ad-
United to the institution was N0-among them
~ Lawyers, 81 merchants, physicii ans, and
l clergyman-of whom, on May q. 1873, II was
reported that PSI were doing well and regarded
Us reformed. or greatly improved, with the hope
OF ultimate cure; 50 were considered either
very DOUBTFUL OF else incuraUle, while no iufor-
nation was at hand ia regard to the remaining
o.. he total expenses Of the institution for the
same year amounted to only $ll,il0. while the
cash received from patients was $ll.A1. 10
show the strict economy with which the ~ Al rs
II the Home are conducted, 1t Il ouly nece ssary
to Say that 10 the expense account the amount
put down as p.id fo salaries Is ouy sl,l0O, while
the sum total for neip. g." ID $l.6si.
Since the opening Of the Wasuingtouian Home
In 1857, numerous hospitals for The cure OF
drunkenness have been established in various
parts OF the United States, as well as ia In ID
aud Nova Scotia, 10 England. scotland, aud