Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-29
CURING HARD DINNERS.
Ircatmect ny Sister Raptista at St,
Joseph's Hospital.
trl1a tAe PAUaaelp1ir record

tiu4s VI dlC0nCt lk q tctSllOA winch mas
been discussed and argued for many
years and il sill undetermined Various
forms Of rtFeainent have been offered as
the best and safest. but as yet there has
been no specific remedy accepted by the
world. The poor hummer VINO Is wbirled
TO the station house in n patrol wagon
with his brain muddled with 5-cent rum
lies in his cell all night and goes TO-
MoyamenSiEg prison the next morning.
Unless he IL actually attacked with
delIrium tremens he is allowed to
suffer the fortunes Of the damned unat-
tended by doctor or nurse until turned
out If he has become a nuisance to toe
Policeman the hummer may be sent to the
House OF Correction. There the OctOr
doses him with bromide OF potassium
until his nerves are Gained, and few
weeks work in the quarry makes q new
man out OF him. There are retreats and
sanltarlumS and refOrmatory homes by
the score IN and about the city for inebri-
ates OF social standing and wealth, and
the hospitals care for the unfortunates
who may be brought to them, but in all
or them the attendance is furnished by
men. In OuC one instance is the physical
care OF drunken creatures devoiVed upon
women.
SISTER BAPTIsTA'S MISSION.
st. J0seph's Hospital, situated at Seven
| teenth street and Girard avenue, is a we'll
known institution, but few are familiar
with the department set aside for the cure
and treatment of rum victims. IL has
been in existence for nine years under the
supervision OF Sister Baptista, whose sue
cess has been remarkable. Within the
past two years, although hundreds of men
nave been under her charge, from the
raVlng maniac III the agony OF delirium to
the harmless topper whose mind is incapa-
| Die OF frenzy, not death has occurred.
! The department consists OF twenty large,
bright aud airy rooms, and is comfort
| ably furnished, with cheerful dining,
! reading and smoking rooms. ApDli-
cation for admission is made TO the
Mother Superior, but Sister Baptista has
| the department under her supreme con-
| troll. Each patient is placed In her charge
| Immediately on entering the hospital,
| and she at once assigns him to a room,
makes a thorough diagnosis of his case
and studies his temperament in order TO
| understand not only how to treat, but
| also how to control him in his abnormal
condition. From Information and per-
| sOnal observation the Sister decides upon
the management of each particular case.
| TO this IS largely due the wonderful sue
! cess that has attended her labOrs. 1t is q
| desperate case that under Sister Ban
tIsta's care and management is not
cOntrollable within week. The pre-
| liminary steps taken, she proceeds
with the medical treatment, keeping care
| ful watch over patients who have reached
q dangerous stage and are wild or Eighty.
| The first object is to secure the patient
| sleep and rest. With sleep, even though
| induced by opistes, the danger line is
| passed, and then the work Of toDIng up
the nervous system and strengthening
| the stomach begins. Sister Baptista has
| reduced this portion of the treatment to
| perfection. AS soon as she considers il
| safe the patient Is offered light and nOur-
ishIng soups, cruel or beef tea, but they
are not forced on him. If he declines one
another Is placed before him, and if that
fails to tempt his appetite still another
and so on until something is found
that his stomach responds to and will re.
| Tain.
HER CONTROL OF PATIENTS.
! After the first successful attempt the
| appetite grows rapidly and the digestive
organs resume their functions. Then the
| patient begins to look and feel like him.
self and generally within two weeks can
! do full justice to three meals day, with
| an occasional luncheon thrown in. Abso.
| lutte recovery depends in great measure
upon the constitution and will power oil
| the man. The names and identity OF
patients are sealed from the outside world,
| but a recent patient gives some interest
| ing incidents Ofthe daily life of the depart
ment.
''lt was astonishing and often anus
| Ing" said he, "CO see the wonderful con-
| troll Sister Baptista obtained over patients
| whose brains were racked by long dissl-
| patton, and VINO would run in fear from
| their relatives and friends. ] have seen
| Of L id nAVr txCn ofp ~
| watchmen could not force into their room
at word from this delicate lutte woman
quietly go to their beds and beg the Sis
| ter 10 not lock them up"
! "in the preliminary treatment patients
| are given liquor at intervals, and 1t Is
! pitiabla to listen to their pleadlngs for an
extra allowance and The argument with
which they besiege the sister. She listens
to them patiently, reasons with them
good nRturedly, but the extra ration never
follows unless it Is apparent that 1t is a
necessity.
CURED, But NOT REDEEMED.
"There are not lew who nave been
sent out by Sister Baptista res lOred to
| health and recouped Tor the duties OF life
more than ence TO have them return in q
few months or year, again wrecked by
rum. Awell known and prosperous busl
ness man periodically enters the retreat
| when liQQOf mas JnO DeSt OIL nltn, III u ie
DAYS RECEIVERS his appetite and senses and
returns to his family. A singular case i;
that OF the head Of leading Philadelphia
industry, whom saw there COnvalescins
from the alcoholic malady. When he
became rational and wes on the
high road to complete restoration, his
wife, who had devotedly watched ms
treatment, one morning insisted that he
return home, as his large business de-
manded his attention. 1t was against
Sister Baptista's judgment and advice, as
she was afraid he was not strong enough
to resist temptation ana required alongei
probation from liquor. he left, however
looking bright and cheerful, and his wife
accompanied him from the hospital very
/ happy woman. That evening he was
| brought back loaded with liquor and q
subject for further repairs.
THE YOUNG AND THE OLD.
IL saw a young man not out OF his
teens, whose father is r respected Dler-
cnant ana whose mother and sisters idol.
ize MIN, brought TO this retreat while
was there, so crazy and unmanageable
from protracted spree that IL was neces-
sary to lock Elm up. TWAS TWO days be.
fore IL WAS safe 10 leave him alone. He
said be had been driDker but a short
time, but his associations we're such that
IL was one incessant round Of dissipation
with him. His parents mad tried every
way to lead him TO sObriety and he had
I struQVled hard. but in VAN, to please