The New York herald., 1922-01-10

but even this is qualified in some
cases, by a reference to the growth
Of the drug habit. 1t should be under
stood. however, that there Is no init
nation that the growth of the drug
habit may be due to lack Of ability to
obtain intoxicanta
The correspondent in Butte. Mont.
writes:
1.-THE use of narcotics is declared by
Federal agents to have increased by
ut least so per cent. In the last two
years. The number Of inmates in the
State Insane Asylum has grown from
1.196 on December 81, 1918, to 1856.
This growth is attributed principally
to the increased use Of drugs and also
to the use Of moonshine whisky"
More Insane in Missouri.
Apparently somewhat similar stu
alton is met with in Missouri, whence
comes this message:
THE increase in the number Of in
sane during the period since 1919 is
greater than for any like period in
the States history. This increase is
placed at 1900 by the State Board of
Eleemosynary Institutions. The total
insane and feeble minded In State in
stitutions Is in excess of 5000, but
this does not include patients in pri-
vate institutions, where the increase
is said to be even greater in pro-
| portion"
On the other hand Madison, Wis,
reports:
! Alcoholic cases admitted to the
Mendoza State Insane Hospital in 1917
totaled 95. Last year the total was H."
| And from Tallahassee, Fla, this has
been received:
THE insanity percentage has been
| decreased as compared with the in
crease in population. The Stale Health
Department shows there has been a
great Improvement in general health
| conditions during prohibition"
Conditions I'm New York.
! THE New York HERALD has received
other dispatches with brief references
to the insanity question which are un-
supported by figures. but generally
favorable. In New York State. thor
oughly wet territory. the situation does
not appear to be as good. judging from
| the following special dispatch from the
correspondent in Albany:
THE number Of persons committed
| to State hospitals as the result of
alcoholic insanity took a big jump in
the last fiscal year, 1t is shown by
figures of the State Hospital Com
mission. This fact has caused consid-
cradle surprise in State official circles
In Albany for two reasons: The fiscal
year ending July last was the second
full year that prohibition had been In
effect wartime prohibition included),
and since 1909 up to this year with
only two exceptions the number of
alcoholics committed to State hospi-
tails had steadily declined.
"In 1909 the excessive drinkers sent
to State hospitals totaled SCI, or 1913
per cent. of the whole number Of first
admissions. The number declined from
that time until July I. 1919, when pro-
hibition went into effect. For the fiscal
year ending with that date the NOM
Der OF alcoholics committed was only
269. which was per cent. of the first
admission. In 1920. the first year Of
prohibition, the number went down to
the minimum of 122. or only 1.s per
cent. The upward trend began the
next year.
THE 1921 fiscal year shows an in
crease TO 1913. or 2.S per cent OF This
number 167 were men and 26 women,
the latter being less than for the year
previous. The biggest increase was In
the metropolitan district. The alco-
holics committed to the four State
hospitals in New York city in 1921
was 1856. as compared to IS the year
preceding.
SHOCK of Wnr 10 BIame.'
"Thc two exceptions to the down.
ward alcoholic trend before this year
were in 1916, when the percentage
went un from 56 to 6.l, and in 1917,
when It t'further advanced to S.6. Dr.
Horatio NJ. Pollock. the statistician OF
the hospital commission. att -ibutes
the increase in those two years to the
shock of the war. Some had believed
that war prosperity was the cause,
enabling many people TO spend more
money In riotous living, but DR.. Pol
lock pointed out that the effect of
war prosperity was not really felt
until 1918.
There had been decline in drink
ing for long time said DR.. Pollock,
because OF the growing con ,cicusrcss
that alcoholic beverages were not
beneficial and should be avoided
"'Do you think that the bad liquor
sold by bootlcggers since prohibition
has been responsible for the upward
trend in alcoholics sent to State hos
pitals?' he was asked.
I'VE have no definite facts along
that line he replied.
Might II not have been caused by
the fact that prohibition has turned
into whisky drinkers many persons
who had taken nothing stronger than |
beor?'
I'VE have no figures TO show that |
either. but ] doubt II. The main rea-
son for the increase in alcoholc cases.
believe. is that idlenesa in the past |
year has caused excessive drinking. |
Economic depression seems to me to |