New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-31
ALCOHOLISM IN FRANCE.
FORMIDABLE INDICTMENT AGAINST
THE ABUSE.
ACTION or THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE THE
ACADEMY OF MORAL AND PoLlli'"L GIL
EycEs AND THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
NEED OF SPECIAL AsyLuMs-
ruoposyn JFGISI.ATIo\

NEED OF SPECIAL AsyLtMs-
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
I Paris March IS.
r will noi be ne fault Of the doctors ard other
men of science in France II the puslic conscience
IA not aroused to the dangers threatening society
from the abuse OF alcohol In the last Few days
the Academy OF Medicine, the Academy of Moral
and Political Sciences. and the Superior COUNCIL
of tho PubIIc Assistance have listened TO impor-
tant ana interesting reports on the SUBJECT oy
noted specialists In tuberculosis. insanity ana inc
other diseases which follow on alcoholism. EH-
merits on criminal and social statistics have also
given their testimony. SO formidable an indict-
mert has noi been drawn up since NJ. Claude.
Senator Of the Vosges. presented TO Parliament
in 1857. his monumental report on the consump-
ton Of alcohol in France. and never have there
been so conemptibly weak answers from the
politicians who defend free alcohol for reasons OF
their Og?n.
At the Academy Of Medicine the speaker was
DE- Lancereaux who mas made a special investi-
cation OF a habit which is becoming Characters
tcally Parisian-'absnthism." On January ~
The Tribune published general summary OF mis-
conclusions on this point The doctor began
from a fact in his general experience In MS
hospital service he has found that out OF twenty
patients ten are regularly suffering from some
form Of alcoholic poisoning In the proportion or
Ave from wine and the ordinary distilled liquors
and five from absnthe similar 'btterS
Naturally he asks If this is the case. what Is 70
become OF the people Of Paris? To GatisIy MINI
self fully as = the ex:en, Of the danger, he made
injuries Of the director Of Indirect taxes ana
the statistics of the State entirely confirmed his
own observations
From 1888 to 1892 the amount Of aosinthe ana
similar drinks coming under the observation OF
the excise authorities of the city was more
than doubled. Not only that. but the rate or
increase at the end of these seven years had
itself doubled. the yearly increase being now
nearly 800 900 gallons. The total annual con-
sumption is about 3.630.000 gallons. or more
than two gallons for each member Of the adult
population These exact figures, il should be
noticed. concern only those 'bitters distleo
with essential oils, which act far more power
fully than even the impure simpler alcohols, In
producing epilepuc and tuberculous heredity and
criminal insanity. and in the extinction Of the
family itself
According TO the same statistics. the con-
sumption OF ordinary alcoholic liquors increases
more slowly. II had risen. however In 1892 to
a total of 81 325 2iG gallons. This representa-
not the ultimate amount OF liquid. but the al
cohol of 100 degrees proof actually consumed
by Partisan drinkers. altogether II amounts
TO at least fifteen gallons yearly for each adult
The l!quor-seIlers acknowledge that. so far as
absinthe and the like concerned, women
come I'm for a large proportion Of this enormous
consumption.
Dr. Lancereaux sums up the results on the
population large as A mortality greater than
that from the gravest epidemcs the ruin OF
labor. the steady diminutiol Of the riches and
what is already startlingly evident in France
Of the very population Of the country.
At the Academy OF Moral and Political Sciences
VI Theo2hile Roussn, treated Of certain dangers
arising from the present state % legislation. On
tho hand. juries ,re obliged to acquit GRIM
inas who declared insane being irrespon-
sibie for ,helr acts. on the other hand. expert
ence shows that a large proportion Of this crimi-
nal insanity IS simply advanced stage
- alcoholism. which is soon cured to all
outward appearances by the abstinence enforced
In the asylum T. which the irresponsible GRIM
inal Is committed When this happens tire law
orders that he be discharged and left free
for the rex manifestation If his mad
ness, which is almost sure TO come. At
Sainte-Anne. the Paris asylum for the insane.
there irresponsible criminals of this kind who
have been under trea tmeni twenty different times
after r'any trials before a jury. lola. In
"LAssommo.r." brought out this feet many years
ago; his alcoholic workman IS made 10 speak OF
this enforced sOlourn in the asylum as going to
the country" The sciious side Of the matter
comes from the horrible tragedies-murders and
the lke--which constantly occurring in Paris
and presumably elsewhere from just such aco-
holism merging into madness
Another defect in present legislation was
pointed time ago at the Academy OF
Medicine. 1t Is that one WI has really passed
the limit Of madness should be held responsible
for some crime on the ground that he is simply
alcoholic. This Is especially the case with ha- /
bitual drunkards who are in danger Of receiving
severe punishnerts .or perfectly irresponsible
acts cOmnitted under the influence OF chronic
and progressive alcoholism. Ii has even been
suggested by the faculty that every dTunkard de-
linquent should be subjected before trial. 10 an
examination by pathclogst in mental diseases.
Before the Council OF the Public AS
sstance municipal Board OF Charites) DR..
Maenau. Of Sainte-Anne. ard Dr. Legrain.
of the city asylum 1t Nille-Evrard, MAIN
tanned the necessity OF specia! asylums for
alcoholics In Switzerland. at s. Gall. the
has been reached by tlis means. For this It
should be provided in legislation that the person .
committed To the asylum is not. az now. TO be i
released when mere outward symptoms have dis
Appeared 1t should be understood that the vic
tins Of alcoholism need from six months to
years detention. with enforced abstinence and /
under medical care. Means also should be found
to give them work, which is itself cure This Is
already done In an elaborate So, OF workshops at
Vile Evlard: hut il Is difficult to prevent the
foremen from smuggling in liquors out OF kind
ness or selfish interest. II is essential that there
should be special asyums where not even the
keepers should have alcohol at their free dis
pOSa
The council was. perhaps. rather frightened at
this Ir1posed innovation on settled routine. 1t
would certainly lead 10 the commitment of the
wc,s. cases OF habitual drunkards 10 such asy-
lums instead If simply to prison. as is now the
case. The official report was accordingly limited
80 a general demand for special departments IN
the a-ylums ALREADY existing. for a severer APP
pi,ation IL the present laws against public
lI,kenncss. and for serious prophylactjc meas
urcs." whatever that may mean In spNe or TINS
report the General Council ~ the Department OF
tho Seine paris and enyirons) is t. consider the
creation of such a special asylum, To furnish ac-
commod tons for 100 men and 500 women.
Or. Legrain has sti further disquieted the
politicians by q thorough investigation OF what
he calls collective alcoholism" that is. OF the
action ef alcoholic intemperance on the social
and political life. First of all, he shows the part
played by liquor In all elections and political
meetings. OF this The Tribune published ex-
ampies in the Paris letter printed February