Wichita eagle., 1886-12-12
VICTIMS OF ALCOHOL.
THE METHODS USED IN A PRIVATE
HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN.


Visit to a High-Toned Inebriate Asylum.
The Plan of Treatment Adopted-Dan-
ger When There is a Reaction-Pecu-
1iaritics of Patients.
"The patients here are all women" said the
manager of quiet unobtrusive private hos
pital in the neighborhood of Central park
From the outside Of the building nothing
could be seen to indicate the character of the
occupants, and it could easily have been taken
for the home of a business man of means.
"What are the special features Of the insti-
tution!" continued the manager. There is
only one disease treated here, and that is
drunkenness. Drunkenness a disease! In
doubleday, the same as any other disordered
condition Of the body Alcohol is poison,
and people who take it habitually cuffer from
chronic poisoning, just as the man does who
works in a white lead factory for any length
of time. The patients are all wealthy here,
and confidentially, this place is nothing more
than high toned inebriate asylum 1t
would never do to call it so, as it would ruin
the business entirely.
ut is peculiar thing about many OF our
patients, that is, those who come willingly,
that If there Were anything said about this
being retreat for drunkards they would
never come here. They are sensitive or this
point, although they know what is the diff
fculty with them. The hospital is always
full, and, in fact, patients have to be turned
away every day ari | understand that places
similar to this have been started further down
town. to take care Of the increase in the bust
ness. [ can't say that drunkenness among
wealthy women is on the increase. but there
Is no doubt that the number of people seeking
treatment is larger than it was g year ago
Some Of the cases AFRO bad, and the women
who have formed the habit OF taking NOR
phine to quiet the nervous condition induced
by alcohol are the worst. Some are brought
here in the widest paroxysms of delirium
tremens, after the treatment of the family
physician has ceased to be Of benefit.
THE PLAN OF TREATMENT
"Are the patients cured! That is hard to
tell The object of the treatment is to break
the habit Patients have been sent homo
seemingly strong and all right, who after
time come back worse than ever. But lttlo
medicine is given in the plan Of treatment,
and no substitute for the alcohol Medicine
to take away the appetite for alcohol is non
sense, for 10y giving something for this puI.-
pose another habit will usually be formed
equally as bad Whatever tends to strengthen
the body is used, and no patient is safe to dis
charge until the inflammation OF the stomach
caused by alcohol has been removed. FreEh
air, baths, exercise, light food and agreeable
mental occupation do tho work if a cure Is
possible. There is a class of patients who do
not want 10 stop drinking. They spend =
few weeks with us, get patched up somewhat
and go back 10 their excuses with the vigor
of youthful indulgence. All the patients are
benefited by treatment, unless there is too
great az organic arrangement of the kidneys
and liver. ! know of some absolute cures
but they are but a comparatively small per-
centaGe of those treated.
"The trouble is that when they leave here
as soon as there is z reaction, however slight,
from the cessation of tonics, they feel depressed
and take little stimulant to drive away the
dizziness and counterfeit the low vitality.
When this is done once, it is only a question
of time when stimuantS are taken in large
quantities for every little ailment This sets
up an inflammation which is the cause Of the
craving for alcohol, and the habit is formed
| have had patients under my charge whose
relatives would willingly pay any amount Of
money to have the habit broken. 1t is not q
question of money at all. Millions could not
cure a person who did not have a stronger de-
sire to stop drinking than to drink. This is
the real secret of radical cure.
PECULIhEITIES OF PATIENTS.
"Ihe patients cannot, as a rule, be trusted.
They will lie about their condition, make
themselves appear to be well and strong, only
that the restraint they are under may be re-
Taxed, SO that they may have chance to get
something to drink. Even when they arc
brought here, physical wrecks, trembling,
with shattered nerves, wild eyes and wander
ing minds, they will declare that they have
not drank in months, and claim that they are
being prosecuted by their family or friends.
There are many sad cases where the habit of
drinking has been formed innocentlY and per-
haps under the advice of physician. Then
there viii usually be an honest effort to break
away from the grip that is tighter than a
band of iron, and the mental torture induced
by the effort to keep straight and the lack of
confidence III the ability TO do so is something
horrible at times and can only be appreciated
by those who have seen cases frequently or
undergone the agony themselves.
There IS one striking popularity about the
alcoholic patient, They Will agree with every
statement made concerning the injurious eff
fects of alcohol, and will acknowledge that
drunkenness is the worst habit that could be
formed They Will deliver temperance
lectures TO each other by the hour, and weep
freely as they recount their misery and euf-
feiiigs. Give the most earnest professor
among hem chance TO get bottle of whisky
and they VIII seize it eagerly. The thought
OF whisky starts the machinery Of desire go
ing 50 strongly that nothing can resist it, and
usually until patients stomach is healed, she
viii drink whisky if she can get il until in
senSibiiity is produced. New York Tribune