The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-06-19
TO CURE INEBRIATEs.

Within the next few weeks there will
be established at one of the state hos.
pitfalls of Iowa, probably at Cherokee, a
department for the treatment and cure
of persons addicted to the morphine
habit, suffering from desire for cocaine,
unable to resist the appetite for intoxi-
eating liquors, or in any way suffering
from indulgence in drugs or intoxicants.
The legislature made provision for such
a department at the instance and sug-
gestion of the officers of the Anti.Saloon
league. They believe it to be humane
and sensible step for the state to take
Itis not intended that any special" cure"
will be used on the men, but they will
be confined as if they were insane and
irrespo nsible and be given such treat
ment as the physician may determine.
The state board Of health is empowered
to organize this department., and the
board of control will designate where it
shall be located.
Neither one Of the four supierintend-
ents of the state hospitals is anxious to
have the department at his institution.
The care of such persons will be more
difficult than the ordinary insane. They
cannot be confined as closely but must
be watched with greater vigilance. They
will require more of medical attention,
and it may be expected they will be
more troublesome than the average lu-
natic, hence there is hesitancy about
starting the department.
But one county in the state has ever
made any use of an old law touching
this same subject. The Twenty.second
general assembly enacted that any dis
riot court might commit to any state in
stitution any person found to be insane,
a habitual drunkard or spendthrift.
Provision was made for appointment of
a guardian for such person, and the
term of commitment depends largely on
the guardian. The courts may send
drunkard or spendthrift to an insane
hospital or the institution for the feeble
minded, or to the school for the deaf, if
they so desire; and they may be kept
there at the will of the court and the
guardian, the board of control nor the
governor having any right of parole or
pardon. The courts in Polk county
alone have enforced the law. A num-
Der Of persons have been sent from Des
<Jr ,lror A ffon
was called to this law the other day.
when once prominent dentist brought
thabeRs corpus proceedings at Mt. Pleas
ant to secure his release from the state
hospital, where he had been committed
by a Polk county judge. The case was
not tried, because the court issued a
parole and permitted him to return
home temporarily, to see if he had been
cured. But number Of such cases
haye occurred in the past. Several per-
sons have been sent to the hospitals
from other counties from drunkenness
or opium craze, but they have been
committed by commissioners of insanity
and as insane persons. 1t is expected
that as soon as the dipse mania depart
mcnt is established the courts will pro.
ceed to send number of persons to the
hospital to receive treatment. The cost
thereof is to be charged to the counties
and by them collected from the estates
of the patients or relatives.
The law which provides that spend
thrifts may be sent to any state institu-
ton by any court has never been made
use of, so far as any record sh ows.-