The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-03


and mentally, and then increase his will
power-all of which requires time. The
dipsomaniac has an intense craving for
stlmulants, occurring periodically. The
confirmed inebriate is one who has lost the
power of self-control and is oblivious to
the claims of home and society," and drinks
to success whenever he has the oppor-
tunity.
cit is of the utmost importance that this
unfortunate class should be provided with
care and treatment based upon a thorough
understanding of their condition, as there
by the evils of pauperism, insanity and
crime attendant upon their presence in
the community should be largely dimin-
ished.
1--WE have to deal with diseased condi-
ton. 1t is an undoubUed fact that were
every drunkard upon the earth effectually
restrained from alcohol, or, if it were posi-
bic. destroyed utterly in one day, the next
day would show new host of drunkards,
forming in array against the fondest hopes
of humanity.
"The original causes of drunkenness are
not found within, but they come from
! without. They consist of disease, of physi-
cal injuries, and q thousand unavoidable
influences springing from the ordinary
operations of an external nature"
Asked as to the inebriated condition and
the manner of treatment, DR.. Gavigan
said:
Dipsomania and confirmed inebriety,
whether inherited or acquired, are physical
disorders, and as such require physical rather
than moral means alone for their relief Civil
lied society must always bear the burden of its
unfortunate and defective classes; but it has a
perfect right to insist upon measures which
will reduce that burden to minimum; and it
seems to me that this will be lightened as hos
pitfalls (like the one provided for in the new
law are established and fully equipped for the
special care and treatment of the dipsomaniac
and the confirmed inebriate.
To restrain the patient of his liberty and
from the use OF alcohol, the new hospital has
all the legal powers OF detention and control
possessed by our best asylums for the insane.
Any magistrate may commit to the hospital
for a term not exceeding one year any person
given to dipsomania, or inebriety, and who, in
his opinion, is proper subject for its treat
ment or custody; provided, however, that no
person shall be committed until satisfactory
evidence is furnished to the magistrate before
whom the proceedings for commitment are
had, that the person is not OF bad repute or
character, apart from his habits of inebriety.
And in all proceedings relative to the commit
ment OF such person, it shall be specifically
alleged that he is either dipsomaniac or an
inebriate, as the case may be.
DR.. Gavigan explained that the new law
provides that the inmates may be released
on parole during abstinence from the use
of alcohol as follows:
when it shall appear to the medical SUI
perintendent and the Board of Health that
any person held in the hospital will not
continue to be subject to dipsomania or
inebriety or will be sufficiently provided.for
by himself or his guardian, relatives or
friends, they may issue to him permit to
be at liberty, upon such conditions as they
may deem BEST and they may revoke the
permit at any time previous to its expira-
permit of any of its terms or conditions
shall make the permit void
"When a permit becomes void in any
manner the medical superintendent, or
member of the Board of Health. may issue
an order authorizing the arrest of the
holder of such permit and his return to the
hospital, and such order of arrest may be
served by any officer authorized to serve
process in the City and County. Any per-
son at liberty from the hospital upon
permit may voluntarily return to the hos
pital and put himself in the custody of
the medical superintendent. Such inmates
of; the hospital as are able to pay for their
board shall be charged for it.
1.-THE dipsomoniac's or the confirmed in
ebriate's will-power is so weakened, and
his nervous system so disordered, that he
must be protected from himself during his
slow return to health.
with time he can be repaired and made
anew" continued DR.. Gavigan. eve
must first secure the mans safety from the
thralldom of drink and repair the second
airy damage later. First put out the fire
and save what remains of the still stand
ing structure, prop the weakened walls,
and then rebuild and remove the damages.
The foundation and framework of all re-
construction of the drink-damaged dipso-
maniac or confirmed inebriate is in the
nervous system. If we can rescue that
from immediate and ancestral damage we
can save the man, but we must not leave
him, after treatment, damaged and shat
tered in his brain, nerves, blood or vital
organs When the chain of morbid habit
is broken there is yet the duty of after
cure that the victims health may not be
permanently shattered, and that insanity
and other evils may not follow. A drunk
ard is more or less damaged in many parts
of his anatomy at the same time. We be-
gin reconstruction with the beginning of
treatment"
DR.. Gavigan is well qualified to speak
upon the evil influence of alcohol and mar
cotics, not only from the standpoint OF
study and investigation, but from personal
experience. He was for years man about
town and his daily life was an open chap
ter. A man of superior talents, he was
elected To tho yeui c1atr,re NV the DemOc-