Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-18

quackery in order to be popular. Neith-
er would we advertise a sovereign
panacea. We simply confront the dis :
ease and treat it. Repeated examlna-
ttions are given. In many cases IT Is
found that the disease from which the
patient suffers was the exciting causs
lcf the inebriety. The drinking Impulse
lis often only u symptom and remedies
given for this alone are not curative.
Every patient receives the medicine
best suited to his individual case. In
thirteen years hospital experience the
doctor found only one drug on Whlch
he could rely as in some measure
|specific in alcoholic intcxication-and
that is strychnine. Most of the in
|ebriateS are given to eXcesseS IN otnef
directions. Most of them are heavy
meat eaters. They are given exercise
and moral lectures. Much liberty is al
|lcwed. More than half the inebriates
are given light work and allowed the
privileges of the grounds and in not 4
|single instance have we used locke
rooms. Today in the hospital there are
inebriates and 214 insane
privileged and given access to every
part of the hospital an! grounds and
800 acres of farm. Only few have
taken advantage Of this and have es-
capped
Dr. Applegate discussed the parole
system and the general effect OF the
treatment and urged that the state
could we'll afford to establish and main
tain well-equipped HOSPITALS for tn :
treatment of this class of patients alone.
In conclusions:
Those of you who have had expert
ence with this class Of patients know
that as rule, after a few weeks treat
lnent and abstinence from their habits
and their old surroundings, they i'm
prove physically and sson feel quite
WE'LL 1t is then difficult TO get them to
take further medical treatment, ana
they begin to insist upon their parole.
Some are particularly bold and loud In
their demands, and when the parole is
not forthcoming they manage to escape,
| just at the time treatment is most need
ed and the greatest amount of good
could be accomplished. The explana-
ton for escapes is that they take treat
Il ment when first admitted to the hos
pital, soon feel well and see no need OF
further remaining longer in the hos
ipital. But the chief reason is that the
Judge who committed them said that
they would only have to remain thirty
days Some demand their paroles be-
lcause they are subcommittee and dis
appointed in the time they must take
treatment and remain in the hospital.
Some, having a craving for drink. take
this method of prosecuting it; others
Ibelieve that this new treatment as
they call it. is only an EXPERIMENT. Some
|are disappointed because we have no
machine to replace burned out stom
lach and q shattered nervous system.
Nearly all expect a specific to take
away Immediately that horrible crav :
ling, One will object to the diet; an-
iother TO the detention. All this, with
the penal aspect OF their commitment,
doing time as the. call it, the associa-
ton with the insane. the observance OF
rules and regulations, and all other
things which interfere with their way
cs thinking and doing. lead them to he
|lieve they have right to demand their
paroles or leave the institution at will.
We have several kinds, Of classes of
inebriates to deal with. and it is just as
impossible to cure some as it is to re-
form others or please all. There is a
class who are weak and self indulgenr
and have what they cali depression
of spirits or blue SPELLS which drive
them to drink. Then there is a class
of nervous, impulsive, small minded
unfortunately, that c1roaic, selfish, ig-
the, world owes him something. We
also find the gentleman, or high-class
tippler: the honest victim of heredity;
the unfortunate subject Of environ
ment; and then that large class COM
posed of merchants, mechanics. farmers
and professional men, whose cure and
reform are particularly desired. OF all
these classes there was not one inebri-
ate among them but who needed the
treatment. Most inebria.es want to get
WE'LL but many will not be contented to
remain long enough to derive the full
benefits of their commitment and treat
ment, and a few do no. care to give
up their old habits and associations ana
often object bitterly to this 'psrsecu-
tion.' as kindness is thing almost un-
known to them.'
DR.. Applegate declared his belief from
statistics freely quoted that more peo-
PIE are today actively engaged in drink
ing whisky and breeding 'inebriety and
than ever before He would
therefore, commend the movement in
iowa to have the state take upon itself
the care and cure of inebriates as well
as the care and cure of Insane
LEo'S LAST PRAYER.