The Washington herald., 1909-03-19

A note Of hopefulness IN the crusade
against the drink habit, and the con-
viction that alcoholism can be cured.
were expressed in each address at the
second days session OF the American
Society for the Study OF Alcoholism, in
this city yesterday.
Optimism seemed 70 be the keynote Of
the scientists. and their treauses be
spoke Of methods by which the drug
problem may be settled.
The latest and most authoritative con-
illusions based on years OF experience IN
treating victims of inehriety were dis
eussed by the physicians az the after
noon and night meetings at the Raleigh
PsyehieaI Phases Discussed.
Two Of the lectures dealt with the
psychicaI phase Of the subject, and inter-
esting facts were brought out by DR.. j.
D. Quackenbos. OF New York AS q
specialist In the psychological treatment
% inebriates. DR.. Quackenbos advanced
the theory that the victim Of drink Is
physically diseased.
He held that suggestion and hypnot-
Ism are measures OF unknown power
which must be used with persons SUI
ferfng from the malady-
Or. 4 Mcdonald. Of this city. discussed
the laboratory study OF inebriates,' and
he also contended that the inebriate must
be studied as a sick man. and that his
malady was not only durable, but pre-
yentable.
Dr.. J. c. Walton. superintendent OF the
Virginia Electric Sanatoriun, claimed
that 20 Per cent OF all iuebriates can be
restored. and that 50 per cent can be per
manentIy cured by properly applied hy-
dropathic measures.
The opinion OF a nerve specialist was
given by DR.. c. A Lawrence, OF New
York, who spoke on the ''11edico-legal
care OF alcoholic detectives" Dr. Law
renee proposed as his remedy that all
hopeless cases be restrained. colonized.
and treated as semi-insane.
That the desire for drink IS pathology
cal and abnormal and must be treated by
physiological and hygienic methods was
the substance OF an address by Dr. T. A
Williams. OF this city The inebriate is
diseased and needs a doctor said DIT
williams Parents breed the desire for
alcohol g their children when they
crafty every caprice 10 keep the children
quiet
Dr.. Harvey W. Wiley. chief chemist OF
the Department OF Agriculture, spoke az
the afternoon meeting. and his address,
while Il was not devoted entirely 70
measures 70 prevent the habit, contained
some passages OF great importance IN the
battle against drink
Alcohol a Poison.
Alcohol Is a poison in the aduiterstion
OF food and drink. according 70 the chem
ist. and there IS no other substance 50
deceptive and with such a dangerous IN
fuence. especially IN proprietary drugs
which are sold as tonics-
The good effects fl quietlng the sys-
ten are attributed 20 the tonic actions
Of the drug, added DR.. Wiley. IN
reality this action is depressant. covering
10 and concealing the damage. at the
same time provoking a craze and demand
for continuation. Alcohol as 2 preserva-
tive and narcotic In the so-called tonics
and stimulants IS dangerous. because Of
the unknown effects which are sure to
follow Many drugs are on the market,
owing 20 their popularity. which IS en-
tirely due 70 the alcohol they contain. and
this is OF the poorest and most dangerous
form.
DR.. II. ]. Achard. OF AsheviTe. y. c..
affirmed that the former theories OF al
cohoI being a remedy for pulmonary tu-
berculosis were false. both directly and
indirectly. He held that its effects
increase the fatality and diminish the
power OF resistance.
IN scme cases the direct action OF
alcohol predisposes and encourages the
growth Of tuberculosis. In all cases Il
Indirectly favors the development OF
the disease by lowering the vitality and
weakening the power Of resistance No
other drug is so dangerous 20 persons
afflicted with consumption" asserted
the physician.
The semi-annUal meeting Of the society
viii close tonight with a number Of
addresses considered by the visiting
scientists as highly instructive
Among those who are scheduled 70
speak to-day are II. J. Berkeley. NJ. D,
clinical professor Of psychiatry IN Johns
Hopkins University, Baltimore; DR.. W.
=. Hall. professor OF physiology in the
Northwestern University; DIT. T. A Mac
NlcnoA, or New 10TH anu IL u h
Kress, Of the Washington Sanatorium-
Automobile Tour Planned
A number OF the physicians and the
women in the society have arranged 70
make an automobile tour Of Washington
this morning. Those who viii make UP
the party are: DR.. Henry o. Marcy. Dr.
T. D Crothers and Mrs. Crothers. Dr.
c. II. Hughes Miss c. F. Stoddsrd. DR..
L. D. Mason. DR.. c. A Rosenwasser,
DR.. p. c. Keister, DR.. Albert Gordon.
DR.. W. s Hall, Dr. H J. Berkeley. DIT.
C. II. Benton and Mrs. Benton. DR.. T.
A. Williams. DR.. a. Mcdonald. DR.. H
J Archard. DR.. J. I Quackenbos. DR.
W. B. Parks, DR.. G. D. Webster. DR.. J.
c.. Walton. Dr. G. A. Lawrence. DR.. G.
r. Petty, DR.. W. p. Sprattling. DIT. T. A
NcNichOu, DR.. W. T. Waugh. Dr. W
Snow, Dr. H. E. Baright and Mrs. Ba~
right Dr. d II Kress and Mrs Kress