, 1879-01-12

., @ t,'ooI % %eo'Ainou among men OF comparatively
small wiil-po~.er, and these were the hardest
ones 10 cure e1fectually. They mean well, and,
SO long as they arc under Home influence, they
WI, get along all right; but let them go forth
a:u 1a'a INTO temptation with their old asso-
c.ales' and they are quite apt to sink again into
ueSranat1on. Inls class OF patients come again
nno again, but in very many instances men have
[octn Known TO tinaly be saved after repeated
2rlals, ami proppug uD, as it we're, by the Home
'nIiacncc. by long practice they are enabled to
eain control OF their arpcri!cs by having. their
will-power strengthened. He says there eau be
no definite rule in regard to taking mcn into the
Institution on this account; ret
DISCRIMINATION IS E'KACTICED
against certain class Of {ucbriates who are
called strepeaters," from the favt TINT their Wis
its are repeat ed periodically, and hey appear to
havs no distinct notions Of reform, but only
seek the Home whenever their own convenience
appears to require it. Some were formerly in
the habit of coming around periodicaiy,-gen-
ana, under prctense Of desiring to reform, OBJ
tcin comfortable quarters for the winter. These
the Doctor saws, have been hunted down and
weeded out, until now different class Of peo-
pie Is represented among the inmates than was
seen in former times. tic thinks that
it will be difficult to lind a chronic
- hummer ~ among the boardcrs at the
Home now, while it used to be filed NTH them.
The full history OF each patient is Obtained by
the phrsician upon lis entering tile Home, with
This knowledge gives hiu, groundwork upon
which To base his treatment Of the particular
case.
DE1.1RIuM TRRMESs
according to Dr.. Earle is very rare at the Home,
un account Of the TACT that patients are taken on
tee very start, and treated With view Of get
ting their nervous system quicted down early.
lie says he has treated fn the ncinhborhool OF
2,Oc0 cases at the Home, and has never lost
case py lclirium trcmens.. There have been
possibly eight or ten eases lost from other dis
eases, such as acute congestion OF the lungs,
Or some other disease brought on
by excessive use Of liquor; two or three have
died from poison obtained outside the Home,
and one man who was INSANE jumped from tho
window and was killed, -
lie says there have been great many admit
ted who ought not to have been, in spite of the
Vigilance of the Committee Oh Admission and
Discharge. They are willing to admit any man
whom they believe Is earnest in his desire to re-
form; but no money consideration could induce
them to take III person who was not proper
subject. Politicians have endcayured to use
their influence many times to secure tic adj
mission of some old @bummer,' but the Com
mlttce Las become very strict upon that point.
PHYSICAL TREATMENT.
In regard to the physical treatment Of pa
tients, all arc practically put through the same
course, with slight variations. OF COURSE accord
ing to circumstances. When man first comes
into the institution he is Immediately thorough
!
whatsoever. He is then taken to the hospital
department, put into a clean bed, ara given
liquid nourlstmcnr only. II he proves to be
unduly nervous, or is suffering from cerebral
affection, he is given nerve sedatiyes. These
latter consist OF the bro1nides, ,-potassium, So
dium. or ammonia ia,-valerian, fluid extract of
garden lettuce, and other solutions. The
bromides are issued in doses Of from ten to
twenty grains, once in every four hours, more
Of less, according to circumstances. The
latter cofr
haps half teaspoouiul in from two to four
hours.
The above is the treatment pursued during
the first day. Occasionally men come to the
Home who have had no slcepfo nights. or even
weeks. except as they have slept under the in
tiuence Of liquor. In such cases it becomes ab-
solurcly necessary that they have refreshing
elumbcr right away, in order to avoid disastrous
ELECTS. In majority Of cases the Doct orclalms
to procure sleep without particle OF difficulty.
Tue patient, having been properly taken care OF
aud made comfortable during the day, is now
prepared, with very small doses OF either the
bro1nldes or hydrate OF chloral, or small doses
CT camphor, to procure from tour to seven
hour: Of sleep at night The doses OF hydrate
OF cbloral vary from thirty to sixty grains, in di
yidcd quantities, through the night. Tie only
nourishu,ent given is in the form Of fluids, such
as animal broths and teas, milk, and perhaps
little soft toast. The patient is not allowed 10
Eartake Of particle Of solid food While he is IN
ment is more eflectual by this method; solid
iood, he says, has tendency to bring On indi-
gestion, diarrhea, ete.
The second morning the patient is washed and
given his breakfast Of fluid diet. II he is yery
much depressed if his cerebral excitement on
account OF liquor has passed away, he may be
ordered some preparation Ut quiniue or cin-
chonidia, with ammonia, or some diFusible
etimulants, with not particle OF alcoholic
l1quor, which will net quickly. If man is
mn Iva fHtTr1rinU Aay 13tA Il atlcwa1
Of the nerve sedatives which were administered
the day before. In great number OF cases by
the third day the patient is able to graduate
from the hospital: unless he be afflicted with
some organic disease.
From the hospital he goes into the conya1eecent-
room, or the sino1ng-room. His mind is di-
yerted by amusements OF some sort, such as
checkers or domlnoes- Cards are not allowed
in the institution. Many pat!cuts are assigned
10 rooms upon the fourth day iron this time,
and then they go to the general table, where
they get iood exactly like that Obtained at any
boarding house. Previous to this time the
patients meals were brought to him in the
hospital. ...
This is the general mode Of treatment, which
DR.. Earle and the management of the Home
appear to think is about correct. II any rem
nauts Of old diseases are hanging about man,
such as cough, indigestion, constipation, OF
alcoholic stimulants, they are treated in the or
binary method, and this is frequently done after
the patient has left the hospital and taken
room in the house.
TIE APPLICANTS FOR ADMISSION
to the Home are from all over tue country,
nearly every State in the Union being repre-
scented. The largest percentage of permanent
cures, or what arc believed to he permanent
cures, are among those who come from abroad.
The reason assigned for this is that those who
reside in the city and apply for reform
have for the most part business interests or sit
uations to maintain. These, Of course, are
among the better classes OF applicants. They
come into the Home and remain 4 short TIME,
arc talked to by the Superintendent, aud SUBJ
jected TO the good influences Of the Home for a
short time, when they 1eel that their Interests
require their attention outside, aud they leave
before they are strong enough, morally and
to ret along alone and without the
aid of Home influences. So say the managers.
the result is, they fall in with their old asso-
c1ates and into telnptaton anu they resume,
shortly, their old mode Of lite. This operates
against the Home and its work, andls said to bea
ie,r1ment to the cause. Butt physician said that
while attention is called to every one Of the |
.ases above described no mention Is ever made
# the individual who reforms and becomes q |
rood citizen and an ornament to society. The lat
,er. OF course, never allude to the fact Of their
,einc graduates of the Washingtonian Home Of |
heir OWN accord, ana it is very seldom that any
hing is heard OF them. The Doctor thinks |
hat an average Of so pcr cent of the men who I
make application to the Home for treatment are !
,nd ala hn II n