New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-01

century beiAlALF-
Mr.. Towns apprehends that some may
";hink this book merely clever al
vertisement" and suspect that IN prs'S-
ing his own method OF treatment AT
the EXPENSE Of all others his only
motive is the selfish one OF money.
Few liberal readers will be so harSn
IN Judging one whose zeal and earnest
ness are apparent enough on every
mage. vet il may with perfect canaot
be regretted that he has failed 10 t"Ae
the simplest course 70 provide against
such misgivincs. The little pun on
the wrapper notes that recent sensa-
tional legislation against the traihc IN
habit forminc drugs" is largely affirm
utable to the author, that in TINS VOL
ume he "sums up his experience ana
warning the public TO "be wary about
sanstoriuns and even about many doc
tors" finally Outlines ptacucaoIe
mode Of cure" Now, II the outline
were only a little clearer and more
definite Mr.. Towns's critics would be in
some measure disarmed; they might
think perhaps that he exaggerated the
merits of his cure, but they could not
saw that he had failed 70 offer them
fair opportunity to put It to test
In a word, Mr. Towns is not par
ticuiar enough in the account he gives
Of his work. It may be said without
injustice that even the promised out
line is wanting. We may. indeed,
gather a general idea Of the course OF
treatment he approves, but it would
have been infinitely better TO devote
a whole chapter 70 a description OF the
process. even if il were necessary TO
cite a considerable number Of cases, as
IL undoubtedly would be. since It IS
clear that Nr. Towns is too intelligent
and has too much discrimination 70 put
his trust in any established and infsX-
ible routine.
For want Of some such methodical
plan the book is disappointing. nor -
ID in any way recompensc 20 have the
assurance of Dr. Alexander Lambert
md Dr.. Richard Cabot that Mr.. Iowns's
treatment has proved singularly sue
oessful. On reading DR.. Cabots preface
one &, L.! TO expect a more or less
clear description of the authors way
O. dealing with his cases, but in reality
this can only be vaguely inferred
Ienc, the book D., inadequate iu what
many readers will consider the most
.1vrr..ns part. for while we have the
'c3ri'c testimony Of several expert
C~eel ~ars.,.a.s IN favor Of his unique
-r"e-r-l. Of drug addiction, his recon-
.-rndst,ors $50 the matter Of legislation
--. IN the main uutriel and, however
resting. tha- can handy be consid-
.e1 rr particular importance. We
.-r ra reason t1 believe that NJ
E, wiser or more taseeng in
.s matter than the generality Of
.-auE.nd. We have some reason 10 be
acve .tat he is not
Dr. Cabot applauds the wider appli-
cations and congratulations Of the
book" but IT'S chief value lies IN that
part of it which deals with the su-
thor's experience in :ho treatment Of
drug takers. There are passages which
Justify doubts regarding his power Of
generalizing. One or two may be
SINGLED ont a. examples 10 put the
reader on his guard. Mr.. Towns is as
invetcrate an enemy OF tobacco as Of
any drug. "Morphine,' he says, "Is the
legitimate consequence of alcohol, and
alcohol is the legitimate consequence
of tobacco. Cigarettes, drink, opium
is the logical and regular series He
means that this is the regular course
in persons temperamentally predis-
posed TO the abuse of drugs, but he
goes further. lie declares that as to-
bacco prepares the way for physical
diseases of all kinds" so, too, IT is
commonly the first step in drug addiC-
ton, and ought, therefore, TO be avoided
by all as something full Of potential
mischief; nay, he even goes so far as
10 say that TO his thinking cigarette
smoking is the greatest vice devastat-
ing humanity to-day
Now, il is quite conceivable that the
very prevalence Of cigarette smoking
las blinded the public to its perils.
indeed It is indubitable, as ne insists,
hat many arc guilty Of Inconsistency
in regarding tobacco smoking with
oomplete equanimity while expressing
he utmost adherence of opium smok-
ing among the Chinese. II is unrea-
enable, however, TO conclude, as he
Toes, that their unqualified condemna-
on Of opium ought to be extended to
.gbacco. The fact IS that II Is not
generally understood how very mod
crate many Chinese are in the use OF
opium; il 10 were, those who regard
tobacco with more or less indulgence
would doubtless be less violent IN cen
surfing those who use opium only In
the pipe, and only in extreme modera-
ton. II is certain, at least, that some
employers in China have tolerated the
hsbi. among their workers. clrcum-
stance which justifes us IN doubling
the Justice Of Mr. Towns's conclusion
that il is condemned in the West, "be-
cause the West Is able TO look with a
new and unbiased mind on a drug
habit that is not its own" Is II not
possible that the West is in reality
BIASED by It's experience Of opium con-
sumers at home?
IN justifying his adherence Of to-
bacco Mr.. Towns uses arguments that
uggest doubts about his powers OF
ieasoning. Thus: "a tennis player be-
~an TO smoke a. the age Of twenty
one. and found that men whom he had
3cfore beaten with ease could now beat
him" How many tennis players and
players Of other games have made the
anne discovery without beginning 10
moke? Again: "a great billiard play