The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-21
Is ALCOHOLISM INSANITY
some Experts Insist That II IL q Mental
Disease and I'm Many Cases Ii Inherited.

SvtstV hlhRNHtv hhtotht hh1 y ~ y y
Disease and In Many Cases Ii Inherited.
PoUoHKEEPsIE, July 2O.-Are the hos
pitfalls for the insane in the State OF New
York being improperly used for the treat
ment Of alcoholic patients who belong
In the penitentiaries? This 10 a question
that has aroused discussion recently owing
to the marked increase in the number OF
commitments for alcoholic lapses. Supt.
Charles w. Pilgrim Of the Hudson River
State Hospital declares that the continued
admission Of drunkards Q hospitals will
soon make il impossible to distinguish
these institutions from penitentiaries.
The subject Of the treatment of alcoholic
patients was discussed at a recent meeting
Of the Duchess County Medical Society.
DR.. Clinton j. Hyde. an assistant physician
at the Hudson River State Hospital. read
a paper on The Improper Commitments
Of Alcoholism. Z" in which he took the posi-
ton that the State hospitals are intended
for the afflicted needing hospital not jail
treatment.
Only ono physician in general practice
offered arguments opposed to the views
OF the hospital doctors. DR.. John II.
Cotter maintained that alcoholism is a
mental disease. and as the State offers no
other place for the treatment OF victims
State hospitals are the places for them.
Il o. upon alcohol as the worst enemy
Of the race and society" said DR.. Cotter:
THE patient afflicted with il is insane and
should be so treated. The drunkard should
be disciplined. for he is a moral coward.
He should he made to work and he should
be detained in some institution until cured,
so that the curse will not be transmitted
to his offspring"
In his further remarks on the subject DR..
Cotter declared that he would have drunk.
ards systematically treated in insane hos
pitfalls until the will power is strengthened.
and to accomplish II would have a legal
provision made extending each commit
ment for a longer period than the preceding
one.
In sharp contrast to these views DR..
Hyde insisted that insane hospitals are for
the insane; that drunkards should be pun
ished by being sent to jail.
Supt. Pilgrim strongly supported DR..
Hyde. IL was his experience. he said. that
liquor victims regain their reason in about
ten days and loudly demand their liberty.
which must be given to them.
Supt; Robert j. Lamb Of the Matteawan
State Hospital for Criminals suggested
that expert observation OF alcoholism would
be a good thing and hat he would indorse
il az a worthy feature OF hospital work.
Or. Frederick Mann thought It would be
wise and humans to have victims Of alcohol
COIltfIlttu I Dtdtc bOppitdts ny OubAor
for regular terms. He was doubtful
whether the great mass OF these cases
require Jail treatment. In the early stages
at least il would be well to give them hospital
treatment.
DR.. Manick Of New York described the
great problem Of alcoholism in that city.
He gravely referred to IL as a perplexing
and menacing condition for which science
must find amelioration. DIR. Manick is
president Of the First Division of the State
Medical Association.
Some idea Of the extent to which alco-
holism figures in State hospitals is given
in the last annual report of the Hudson
River State Hospital at Poughkeepsie.
Out of the total admissions of SIS during
the year. 10I were treated for intemper-
ance-eighty-six men and twenty-one
women. The acting superintendent. DR..
Isham G.. Harris, said that alcohol was at
least a coeficient in 20 per cent. Of the cases.
OF the IO7 cases in which alcoho was appa-
rently the prime factor. so per cent. OF them
inherited the predisposition to the habit
from the father or mother. or both. Twenty
seven men and an equal number Of women
were victims OF heredity.
At the Ma'teawan state Criminal Asylum
nearly one-third of the patients admitted
during the year covered by the last annual
report were victims Of intemperance. More
women than men were included in this
class.