Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1908-05-28
MEETING
OF the Sullivan County Nedi-
cal Society at Laporte Hotel,
LApORTE, NAY Is, 1908.
Able Discussions by Doctors and Lawyers.

Should the State build Hospital fo
Inebriated Pa paper read by Sec'y
DR.. Randall, of Dushore. Inebriatl
is a direct cause in large percentage
of our citizenship of mental deteria
insanity, pauperism and crime, and
as a direct consequence large eXpen-
ses are entailed on the Commonwealth
1t is condition under proper envir-
onment with appropriate restraint,
care and treatment, will, in large
proportion of cases result III cure.
Under existing conditions inebriates
cannot be properly treated i'll this
State, because the lack OF any suita-
bic hospital, such as is contemplated
by the lnebriate Act, which states:
at shall be the duty of the Court to
commit such alleged drunkard to a
proper hospital or asylum, for res
traint, care and treatment. At pres
ent there is not a proper State hos
pital or asylum, to which the courts
can order those inebritually addicted
to the use of alcohol drinks. opium,
choloral or morphine, for restraint,
care and treatment as contemplated
i'll this Act.
Inebriety is the active cause of from
fifteen to fifty per cent Of all cases of
insanity from 80 to so per cent of
idiocy; from 90 TO 90 per cent OF all
cases of pauperisin; and from 30 to 50
per cent of all crime. From it springs
a large part of the burdens and niser-
les of society, not limited to this
generation, but continued into the
next and even into the fourth genera
ton. 1t produces a numberless army
of inebriates and defective people who
will effect their children with their
moral, mental and physical imperfec-
tions. The law Furnishes by fine and
imprisonment the inebriates, and the
result is nil.
Judges and prison authorities admit
that such punishment are almost an
entire failure. II. n. Whalen of
Atlantic City, Captain of detectives,
states that fully o5 per cent of all the
arrests in his city were the results
Of the use of alcoholic drinks by thoie
A sheriff of York county
declared that IS per cent of the pris
oners were put i'll Jail directly or
indirectly on account of strong drii;,-.
Fletcher of the Bucks county prison
says that eight out of every ten pris-
oners serve sentence through drink.
1t is the curse of curses, curSing
and the laws strong arm
has not been properly directed to pre-.
vent its awful havoc. The law should
regard inebriaty as a disease, either
inherited or acquired and not as a
crime, for an exact study of all the
facts concerning inebriety will show
that it is preventable, and can be
or cured as positively as
other diseases.
Discussion opened by Hon. T. j. Ing
ham. Mr.. lngham thinks every State
should have suitable institution large
enough TO accommodate the great num-
Der OF unfortunate who on account of in
ebrietv are now placed in Jail or an insane
asylum. and suggests that the institution
should lie built on Il large tract of tilable
land not close to a railroad or town and
have it difficult for patients to get away,
also to keep patients divided into three
classes, those that can be cured in six
months and those more difficult to treat
in the other class. He has seen inebri-
ates that he believes could have been
cured by such an institution 90 on in
drink until they have murdered. Mr..
lngham closes 10y quoting Shakespeare:
80 God that men should put an enemy
in their mouths to steal away their
brains. o thou invisible spirit OF wine
fthou has no name to be known by tel
us call the devil
Atty. f. w, Meylert, subject, Physician
on the witness stand. Mr.. Meylert
spoke on medical organization he
believes most excellent thing and will
elevate the medical profession in this
county. The Doctor on the witness stand
is in peculiar position. An ordinary
witness tells what be sees, not 80 with q
Physician. He must decide on hypothe-
teal questions and must make conclus.
ions. Mr.. Meylert divides the subject
as follows: First, the witness must know
his subiect second, manner OF witness,
keep cool especially for cross examina-
ton; third, avoid the use of terms that
the jury will not understand.
f. j Mullen Esq. opened discussion,
Courts and Judges intends justice. The
Doctor serves in dural capacity, tells
what he knows OF the case and draws
conclusions: he must know his subject
well TO he good witness: he should pre-
pare himself in anatomy, chemistry,
physiology when. authorities differ on vital
questions; the Doctor should give the
defend nj the benefit of doubt always
testify to positive conclusions.
l2:l5 adjourned for dinner. DIR. w,
II. Randall and wife had Their genial
landlord, F. w, Gallagher, prepare a
special dinner for the Doctors and their
wives. This part of the meeting was II
bowling success.
Dir. Kunkel of the Lycoming County
Society read a very able paper, subject,
Medical Organization All present
claimed it the best paper on the subject
- -. a. aa