Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-10-16
NEBRIETY AS A DISEASE.

The growing recognition of inebriety
as a disease is emphasized by the an
nounced application of two respond nts,
a%rraigned in the Rutland municipal court
on the charge OF intoxication, to be sent
to the State hospital for treatment in
stead of the Rutland county Jail. This
step on the part of victims themselves
simply shows that they realize their
ever benefit is to be gained from treat
ment of their weakness as a disease.
Two of the many steps in harmony
with advanced thought on this end other
subjects taken by the present m
Legislature at it's regular session in
volved material and helpful recognition
of inebriety as a disease. The first
of these was an act providing that when
a person shall have become an habitual
drunkard, or so addicted to the intern
perate use of narcotics or stimu lnts
as to nave lost the power of self-control,
b'C pa cH"N' w. ''ti pi ~
of the selectmen where he resides, or
any of his relatives, on reasonable no.
tice, make inquiry, and, if it finds him
to have reached the condition named,
shall order such person to be taken to
an institution in this State, where he can
receive special treatment for such condi-
ton, or shall order him committed to
the care of some suitable person. for
not less than four nor more tina twelve
months.
If. however, the court finds him to be
a dipsomaniac, then 1t is provided that
ted to an institution for three years;
and If such person is INDECENT, and such
fact shall be certified by the selectmen
Of his town, the expense Of commitment
and treatment and the necessary ex-
pense of transportation of such person
must be borne by the State, but in the
event of his death insthe institution, the
expense of removal and burial shall be
borne by the town concerned.
The other act looking in the same direc-
ton is the one under which the Rut-
land respondents We're committed to the
State hospital for the insane. This law
provides that when a person Is convicted
of intoxication, the court may suspend
sentence and in lieu commit tne respond
ent to the charge of the probation Off.
Ger, and direct THAI all earnings of the
respondent during the term of his pro.
baton shall be paid to the probation of
ticer to be used for the support OF his
wife and children and other dependents
If the respondent has no family or de
pendents the probation offiHer ma US
whatever part Is necessary for the sup
port of the respondent and ~ the bal
paid to him at the end of the term pr e
scribed.
1t is also provided that a persJl VIII,
has been three times convicted ., intox
i~cation may at the option of the court b,
placed In charge Of the probation Off
Ger, who under order of the court shall
send such person for treatment, at III,
expense of the State. to the state nos
pital for the insane for not more thai
six months. At any time when the SUI
perintendent of the hospital recommends
the person so committed may be released
from the institution, and continued il
charge of the probation officer as other
wise prescribed.
theory that where a person has lost hi
Will power through intemperance, the,
the State shall step in and not only Sc,
that his family or other dependents ar,
provided for but also seek to cure tn,
victim of the diseased condition unde
which he Is suffering.
How to prevent selfish interests from
undoing the work of the State In at
tempting to cure inebriation Is one of tn,
great problems which has taxed the in
genuity of man since the dawn of civi
~lization, and one which demands boil
craftsmanship and patriotism in dealin.
| with the narcotic and lin,,o, a,p,