Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-29
AsYLUMs AND THEIR WORK IN
TREATMEk { OF INE5RlETV

AEVluTnS ana nOSDlNdAS AOI tic AACohAhChN
and cure of inebriates are only modern
applications of truths asserted centuries
ago JJlpian, the Roman jurist, in the Sec
ond century of the Christian era, urged
the necessity of treating inebrtates as sick
and diseased, in special surroundings, with
special means. Other authorities endorsed
these views, and asserted that the state
should recognize the veritable madness of
drunkards and treat them as such.
In 1747 Condfllac, of France. wrote that
the state should provide special hospitals
for drink maniacs, and. urged change OF
law and public sentiment to this end. Or.
Rush of Philadelphia in 1850; DIR. Caba
mis-. OF Paris, in 1902; Prof. Platner. of
Leipsic, IN 1909; Salvador of Moscow. in
| 1917; Esquirol of France, in 1878; Bull
| Cramner. of Berlin. in 1922, all urged the
/ need of physical restraint and treatment
of the inebriate as sick and diseased, in
places especially provided for this class.
In 1890 the Connecticut Medical society
appointed a committee to report on the
neeed of an asylum for the medical treat
ment of inebriates. In 1888 DR.. Woodward,
of the Worcester Insane asylum, in Mas
sachusetts. urged that inebriety be recog-
nized as a disease, and special hospitals
be provided for its treatment, In 1874 the
| English Lunacy commission urged that
| inebriates be regarded as insane and sent
to asylums for special treatment. These
are only a few of the more prominent ref
erences to inebriate asylums. although
many other writer's urged the same views
in different ways. The mention Of the
| disease of inebriety reused a bitter oppo-
sition, AID the question OF asylums was
put aside until the former could be set
| tied.
In 1876 DR.. Turner began an enthusiast
tic agitation which eliminated in the first
asylum at Binghamton. New York.
The opposition to this work was very
49, fGfu rlas
urged that it was a purely 'infidel work
to diminish human responsibility. The
asylum at Binghamton began on the most
! advanced principles of receiving no one
| for less than one year, and having abso-
| lutte restraint over them during this time.
1t asked no pledges or promises from the
| patient, 1t aimed to give each one positive
protection and medical treatment.
-
These methods were far in advance of
| that time and even today are just begin
ming to be recognized as the latest teach
ings of science.
The first persons who come to these
asylums are the incurables. They clamor
most UNFORTUNATELY for help. They are
the credulous emotional incurables, who
have signed pledges. Joined churches and
| tried every means known. and now expect
from the asylum some miraculous power
of restoration. In few weeks they be-
1 llGN6 Lu6HSClNGS luAiJ ICCONcIGu anu ~
away only to relapse again and become
bitter enemies Of the institution.
| A second class of persons are coming in
greater numbers every year to these asy-
lums. They are the durable cases-the
nerve and brain-exhausted men and wo-
men, the large and ever-increasing class
/ OF business and professional men, who
have broken down from overwork. worry,
/ and irregularity of life and living, and
! who find alcohol narcotic of most seduc-
/ tive nature. The stin larger class seen in
every city In the land, who from brain
strains and drains incident to the rush
| ing, grinding civilization of today, also
| to the struggle for position. wealth and
/ power, and the EFFORT to adapt themselves
to the new conditions of life, to the new
/ demands, thus prepare the soil by ex-
/ haustion and encourage the growth OF in
/ ebriety and its allied diseases. This class
/ often represents the highest talent and
genius. and. as rule. are the active
/ brain-workers Of the times. An inebriate
hospital to this class is almost an eel Do
RADIO" 1t brings rest restraint, seclusion,
/ buIlding-up, and is literally place for re-
| pairs and restoration.
/ In this class the use of alcohol, opium,
\ or any other narcotic is often more Of a
/ symptom of exhaustion and debility. for
| which rest and medical care are essential
There are many thousands Of this class
/ who could be saved and permanently re-
/ stored to temperate life aDd living If they
i could be placed in inebriate hospitals and
/ treated early. Later, they become chronic
| and incurable, and are ever afterward a
burden and heavy loss to the world. To-
4 day they cannot go to an insane asylum,
the public hospital is unfit for them, and
no place is open adapted to reach their
/ wants.
| A large army of these durable cases are
] scattered in every community. and in al
4 most every home, and are the skeletons
/ which haunt and peril the peace of many
| households. They are the secret and mod
/ crate drinkers. They are those who have
secret or open drink paroxysms, and who
recover only to relapse again with stead
| lily increasing frequency. Both men and
women in ali circles of life are found in
| this army of dissolution. Moral remedies
\ fail, religion fails, they go steadily down.
and soon all fears of publicity are thrown
| aside, and the march to death is rapid and
distinct. Not far away in the future asy-
lums and hospitals will be open to save
these cases, and public sentiment will de-
mand that they be placed under treatment
early in the progress of the case. OF this
class a very large number are durable,
and all are benefited by hospital residence.
Thee results of treatment in a few SCI
| entific hospitals for inebriates are most
/ encouraging. The first statistical study
was made at Binghamton asylum in 1874
| Inc ODJeNL was u 1AAAQ OuN uOW many per-
sons who had been under treatment con-
tinued temperate years after. According
| ly, over a thousand circular letters were
addressed to friends of patients who had
/ been under treatment five years before
| asking the present condition OF the pa
tient. The answers indicated 81 IL per
cent as yet temperate and total abstain
ers. The result after an interval of FIVE
years, was clear evidence that large per
cent would remain cured during the re-
mainder of life.
DIR. Hay, of washington Home, made a
similar study of eight thousand cases who
had been under treatment ten to eighteen
years before, and found over IS per cent
vet sober and temperate. DIR. Mason of
Kings county Home. examined two thous-
and cases who had been away from the
asylum for ten years, and found SO per
cent of all cases yet cured. Other OBJ
servers have made studies of a similar
/ number of cases with similar results.
Not less than two thousand inebriates
are under treatment in hospitals in Amer
lea. over a thousand of this number are
| in special hospitals. They represent most
| largely the ,incurable cases; persons who
: have tried every means found in the
pledge, prayer, and by moral suasion, and
| exhausted every resource of home and
| friends and come as a last resort, ex-
pecting extraordinary change and cure.
| They have been victims of this disease
from FIVE to thirty years, and present the
most complex and varied degrees Of
II .1aNN VAF