The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-07-26
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE.
THE LURE OF lNTEMpERANcE.

Since there is no known drug that
acts as specific for alcoholism, in
what way may our profession stay the
evils Of intemperance? asks Dr.
Poynton of Chicago. We may do so,
firstly, by prevention; secondly, by a
concerted influence upon legislation.
A little extra effort by the busy physi-
cian-without appearing to be fan
atic-may have far-reaching and most
benefcent results. A few words of
warning at the proper time as to the
slow but certain effects of alcohol may
ward off a life of misery for many a
man or woman. That physicians are
sometimes negligent in this respect,
there is no denying The overworked,
tired young husband who resorts to
the moderate use of alcohol should be
told that the only real safeguard
against becoming an habitual drinker
is total abstinence. The nervous young
wife, in that most susceptible and crit
ical period of her life, with vitality
lowered by the bearing and nursing of
children, should not be advised that
''she can, with safety" take daily a
little wine, ale or so-called malt tonics,
many of which contain high percent
of alcoh l. The sensitive nervous
system of woman soon acquires crav-
ing for stimulants, and the physician
through whose advice, Indifference or
scquiescence, the habit is thus ac-
quired, is himself responsible a
measure, at least-for his patients
addiction.
| While it is true that our profession
can exert marked influence toward
the prevention of alcoholism, and by
pointing out the insidious but certain
effect upon the system of even mod
crate daily use of intoxicants, thereby
encouraging total abstinence amongst
the youth of both sexes, we have still
wider sphere of endeavor in bring
ing about concerted effort to procure
salutary legislation, not only for its
prevention, but also for the proper
treatment of alcoholism and the regu-
lation of the liquor traffic.
When the physician is called in to
the alcoholics family, he usually finds
well-advanced case, and will meet
with almost the same history in every
instance. The patient has been a
moderate drinker for several years,
perhaps seldom drinking to degree of
absolute intoXication Gradually but
surely the change was brought about.
The family, endeavoring to conceal the
/ Sy1c
poverty, hunger, and, ofttimes, per-
sonal abuse. A physical examination
of the patient reveals a similarity of
symptoms in every case. The physi-
clans training enables him to see at a
glance the situation. He knows too
well the story, the recital of which he
spares the family of the unfortunate.
What means have we at hand for
the treatment of such cases? Every
physician knows how difficult it is to
do much for these patients in their
own homes. They have not the means,
as rule, to pay the fancy prices de-
manded by inebriate sanitariums, and
few, if any, of the hospitals admit al
coholic cases. We find, therefore, there
is a great need for properly-conducted
inebriate hospitals. These should be
within the means of those who need
them, and maintained, II necessary-in
part, at least-by the state or munich
pality A few weeks care and treat
ment in such institutions, at nom
inal expense, would restore thousands
of alcoholics to their families and
life of usefulness.
Would it not be better for such pa
tients to be under the care of regular,
ethical physicians, and given the best
in the way of treatment that the
science of medicine affords, than to
have to rely upon irregulars, with
secret remedies and so-called alcoholic
specifics? That even the latter have
accomplished some good there is no
denying, but why should those unfor-
Inmates be required to pay prices
which are far beyond their means, and
often actually prohibitive, when bet
ter care should be obtainabIe at
modest cost, in a regularly-conducted
inebriate hospital? To arouse the pub
lie conscience to realization of the
need for such institutions should be an
earnest effort of our profession.
That physicians have always been
foremost in every effort for the good
of humanity, there is no denying. Is
it too much, therefore, to expect that
through a national bureau of health,
our profession might be able to in
fuence legislation in a far wider
sphere? If it were possible to bring
about the enactment and enforcement
of strict anti-treating laws, as well as
government control of the manufac-
ture and sale of liquors, the drink evil
would quickly solve itself.