The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-01
VICTIMS OF ALCOHOL.
THE METHODS USED IN A PRIVATE
HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN.

THE METHODS USED IN A PRIVATE
HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN.
- =: =: =; %" 'r,5.
Visit to Hieh-Toned Inebriate Asylum.
Tho Plan OF Treatment Adopted-Dan-.
ger When There is a Reaction-Peou-
liarities Of Patients. =
1.-THE patients here are oil women" said tho
manager Of q 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 q business man Of means
"What are the special features Of the instiy
tutionl' continued, the manager. "There Is.
only one disease treated here, and that Is
drunkenness. Drunkenness q diseased I'm.
doubtedly, the same rs any other disordered
condition Of the body. Alcohol is poison,
and people who take it habitually suffer from
chronic poisoning, just as the man does who.
works in white lead factory for any length,
of time. The patients arc oil wealthy here,
and confdcntially, this place is nothing more,
than q high-toned inebriate asylum! 1t
would never do to call it 80, as 1t 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 q retreat for drunkar1s they would
never como here. They are sensitive on this
point, although they know what Is the diff;
ticulty with them. The hospital Is always
full, and, in fact. patients have to be turned;
away every day and understand that places
similar to this have been started further down.
town, to take care of the increase in tho busi-.
ness. can't say that drunkenness among;
wealthy women is OH the increase, but there.
is no doubt that the number Of people seeking
treatment is larger than it was a year ago.
Some of the cases are bad, and the women,
who have formed tho 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
I ftrcmcns after the treatment OF the family
physician has ceased to be Of benefit. y:
THE PLAN OF TREATMENT
aAre the patients cured7 That is hard to
tell Tho object of the treatment Is to break
the habit Patients bsvo been sent homo
seemingly strong and oil right, who after q
time come back worse than ever. But littlo.
medicine is given in the plan Of treatment,
and no substitute for the alcohol: Medicine,
to take away the appetite for alcohol is nom.
sense, for by giving something for this pur-'
Dose 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 stomacbs
caused by alcohol has been removed. Fresh,
air, baths exercise, light food and agreeable
mental occupation do the work IL cure IS
possible. There is class Of patients who do.
not want to stop drinking. They spend o.
few weeks with us, get patched up somewhat
and 90 back to their excesses with the vtgor
of youthful indulgence. All the patients arc
benefited by treatment, unless there Is too,
great on organic arrangement Of the kidneys
and liver. I know Of some absolute cures
but they arc but q comparatively small per-
ccntage of those treated. . -
"The trouble is that when they leayo hero,
as soon as there is q reaction, however slight,
from the cessation Of tonics, they feel depressed
and take little stimulant to drive away the
dullnesS and counteract the. low. vitality.
When this is done once, it is only question
| of time when stimulants arc taken IN largo.
quantities for every little ailment. This sets
up an inflammation which is the cause Of tho
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 tho habit broken. 1t is not n
question of money OF all. Millions could not
cure person who did not have stronger de-
sire to stop drinking than to drink. This b
the real secret Of q radical cure go,
:. a.. PEcUuAEITIEs OF PATIENTS:
."The patients cannot as q role; 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-
laxed, so that they may have chance to get:
something to drink. Even when they aro
brought here, physical wrecks, trembling,
with shattered nerves, wild eyes and wander
ing minds, they will declare that they hayo
not drank in months, and claim that they arc
being prosecuted by their family or friends
There are many sad cases where tho habit OF
drinking has been formed innocently and per-
haps under the advice of O physician. Thon
there will usually be an honest effort to break
away from the grip that is tighter than O.
band of iron, and the mental torture induced
by the effort to keep straight and the lack OF
commence Ill UDc lDllGJ W uo ~ ID Soi1SouiA6
horrible at times and can only bo appreciated
by those who haro seen cases frequently or
undergone the agony themselves. 49," :,
"Therc is one striking peculinrity about tho
alcoholic patient They will agree with every
statement made concerning tho injurious eff
fccts of alcohol, and will acknowledge that
drunkenness is the worst habit that could DO
formed. They will deliver temperance.
lectures to each other by the hour, and weep.
freely ns they recount their misery and suf-
fcrings. Give the most earnest protcstor
among them chance to get O bottle of whisky
and they will seize it eagerly. Tho thought.
of whisky starts the machinery of desire go.
ing so strongly that nothing can resist it, and.
usually until patients stomach is healed, She
will drink whisky il she can get it until i'll
sensibility is produced. New York Tlibunci
Steering by al Alarm Clock.
A yachting party in the sloop William
Henry met with a sight mishap down the
river few days ago. The leading spirits Of.
the days cruise were Bob Williamson and
Mike Sommcls. Thomas B. Bourne catered
for the party and had placed OIL board keg
Of beer, five dozen dcviled crabs, as many
sandwiches and other refreshments. As none
cf +l, c,.o,yl ,-oc ny ~rr>e,t coiIor IL yvas do