The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-08-31
FOR VICTIMS OF ALCOHOL
THE METHODS USED In A PRIVATE
HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN.

HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN.
Drunkenness. Classified as n Disease
How Patients arc Treated-A
Striking Peculiarly.
1.-THE patients here are all women
said the manager of a quiet, unobtrusive
private h,spital in the neighborhood OF
Central Park. From the outside of the
building nothing could be seen to indi.
cate the character of the occupants, and
it could easily nave been taken for the
home of a business man Of means.
"What arc the special features of the
institutions" continued the manager.
There is only one disease treated here,
and that is drunkenness. Drunkenness
a diseased Undoubtedly, tho same as
any other d]isordered condition of the
body. Alcohol is a poison and people
who take it habitually suffer 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, conidentially, this
pace is nothing moro than o heightened
inebriate asylum. 1t would never do to
call it so as it would ruin the business
entirely. 1t is a peculiar thing about
many of our patients that is. those who
SoIho Wa tAuS ~ OAASA = -
thing said about this being a retreat for
drunkards they would never come here.
They are sensitive On this point, although
they know what is the difficulty with
them. The hospital is always full, and
in fact, patients have to be turned away
every day, and I understand thot places
similar to this have been started further
downtown, to t Ike care of the increase
in the business. I can't say that drunk.
enncss among wealthy women is on the
increase, but there is no doubt that the
number of people seeking treatment is
larger than it was q year ago. Some of
the cases are bad, and women who nave
formed the habit of taking morphine to
quiet the nervous condition induced by
alcohol are the worst. Some arc brought
here in the widest paroxy>ms ofdelirium
tremcns, after the trc .tmcnt of the fam
lily ply ician has ceased to be Of Ecucfit."
Are the patients cured? Tnat is hard
to tell. The object of the t:eatmcnt is
to break the habit. Patients have been
right, who after a time come back worse
than ever. But little medicine is given
in the plan of treatment, and no su5sti-
tutc for the alcohol. Medicine to take
away the appetite for alcoholi is nonsense,
for by giving something for this purpose
another habit will usually be formed
equally rs bad. Whatever tends to
strengthen the body is used, and no
patient is safe to discharge until the in
Illumination Of the stomach caused by
alcohol has been removed. Fresh Dir,
baths, exercise, light food and agreeable
mental occupation do the work it q cure
is possible. There is q class of patients
who do not want to stop drinking. They
spend a few weeks with US, get patched
up somewhat and 60 back to their cx-
ce<ses with the vigor Of youthful indul-
gcnce. AL toe patients arc benefited
by treatment, unless there is too great
an organic arrangement of the kidneys
and liver. I know of some absolute
cures bat they arc but Il comparatively
small PERCENTAGE of those treated. The
Trouble is that when they leave here, as
soon as there is a reaction, however
slight, from the cessation Of tonic, they
feel depressed aud take u little stimulant
to drive away the dullness and counteract
once, it is only a question of time when
stimulants 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. 1 have had patients under my
charge whose relatives would willingly
pay any amount of money to have the
habit broken. 1t is not O question
of money at all. Millions could not
cure a person who did not have a st, onger
desire to stop drinking than to drink.
This is the real secret Of q radical cure.
The patients cannot as q rule be
trusted. The will lie about their con.
dition, make themselves appear to be
we'll and strong, only that the restraint
they arc under may be relaxed, so that
they may have a chance to get something
to drink. Even when they are 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 arc being prosecuted by their families
or friends. There are many sad cases
where the habit of drinking has been
formed %innocently and perhaps under
the advice of q physician. Then there
will 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
n the lack of confidence in the ability
to do SO is something horrible at times,
and can only be appreciated by those
who have seen cases frequently or under.
gone the agony themselves.
"Thcre is one striking popularity
about alcoholic patients. They will
agree with every statement made con.
corning the injurious effects of alcohol,
and will acknowledge that drunkenness
is the worst habit that could be formed.
They will deliver temperance lectures ia
each other by the hour, and weep freely
as they recount their misery and suffer.
ings. Give the most earnest profession