The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-19

whereas IN the opinion OF the alienists
and neurologists OF the United states In
convention assembled. Il has been definitely
established that alcohol when taken into
tho - Stem acts as a definite poison TO the
brain and other tissues and
Whereas the eff cts % this poison ate
directly or indirectly responsible for
large proportion OF the insane, epileptic
feeble minded and other forms Of mental,
moral and physical dcgeneracy and
Whereas tho laws OF many Stata,
make alcohol freely available for drink
Ing purposes, and therefore cater to tho
physical. mental and moral degeneration
OF the people and
Whereas many hospitals for the insane
end other public institutions ar. now COM
PEELED TO admit and care for multitude OF
inebrates and
whereas many States already have es-
tablished separate colonies for the treat
ment and reeduostiou ~ such inebria tes
with great beneat to the individuals and
TO the commonwealth therefore be It
"Resolred. That we unqualltiedy con-
denim the use of alcoholic beverages and
recommend that the various State Legis-
lstures take steps to eliminate such use !:
and oe IL further
"Rcsolved, That we recommend the gen.
eral establishment by all States and Terri
tories OF special colonies OF hospitals for
the care OF inohristes and
RESOLVED, That organized medicine
should initiate and carry on a systemat.c,
persistent propaganda FOR the education VI
the public regarding the deleterious effeo ~
OF alcohol, and be 1t further
"R"soiucd That the medical professo I
should take the lead in securing adequat
leeisla tiOn 10 the ends herein specified"
Drink Leads 10 Prison Cells.
Or Frank I. Drake of Madison. Wis.
AarliNr Iis hHIiaf hu.
OF convicts are led to prison by drink
Crime has Its inception In vagsbond-
age and incorrigiblity" he said. "Of the
7e7 admissions into the Wisconsin pcni-
Tertiary during 1878 ~ per cent ad-
Inltted the use Of liquor to excess and only
per cent. denied the use OF IT,"
Below par mentally and physically Is
the diagnosis OF the majority OF criminals
by DR.. Paul T.. Bowers, physician at the
Indiana State Penitentiary at Michigan
city Ind. president OF the Prison Physi-
clans Association and First Lieutenant in
the Medical Reserve Corps. United States
army Or Bowers got his information
from study OF 100 cases OF criminals In
The indian. penitent'ary. all OF whom ha d
been returned TO the penltentiary at least
four times, In all OF the 100 cases there
were 6s7 convictions for a total period
% ?2l years Following are some of
the results OF his study
Number admitting the use OF alcoholic
beverages to excess ,....,....... "a
Number confesslng some form OF
reISlon ,,,,.,,..,..., ,,..,.,.,,,. SO
Number admitting history OF mental
defect in immediate family, includ-
Ing insanity, feeble mndedness cpl.
lepsy, and crime .,..,....,.....,.. 56
Number of prisoners admitting the use
OF narcotic drugs ...,,...,........ 8
THE crimes OF men are many times
due 10 insanity" said Or. Bowers, Some
times, after they have been in prison for
time. they get religion and often It Ia
thought that they have reformed. FIRE.
quently they are released for this reason
clone, but the second cycle OF criminalty
comes around and they return to the peni-
teutary.
ut has been found that IS per cent. OF
the men who repeatedly violate the rules
or IN: prison are mentally unbalanced
! have become convinced that the prison
populations are composed OF deterlorated
end defective individuals who fall below
the average physical and mental stand.