Evening star., 1947-08-18
A Better Way Than Drugs


TO the Editor Of The Star:
Any one with an alcoholic history Is bound to
be excited by George Kennedy's articles on
treating alcoholism.
Alcoholism is disease, like cancer or tuber-
culosis.. A person addicted to alcohol is sick
person. Consider the plight of the hung over"
Thousands of butterflies fiutter about in his
stomach on the morning after: his mouth
tastes like a wad of cotton; the chances are
he has the jitters and even If he wants cup
of coffee, which he most probably does not, he
can't get the thing to his lips; he can't see in
the mirror to shave; even before he has
chance to recollect a few things about the
night before, his wife, mother or mother -1n-IaW
is on his neck berating, scolding, begging, ac-
cusing going through the old song and dance
without any variation to tighten the ritual.
Now armed with Mr.. Kennedys articles the
fond relative undoubtedly will feel equal to the
occasion and 80 chances out of 100 the un-
fortunate alcoholic will be importuned to go to
Freedman's Clinic so they can cure him by
making him sick. Some OF the more subtle
relatives will throw Mr. Kennedys articles,
saved for just such an OCCASION at the poor
hung -over" one and shout Read this!' more
or less In the tone Of Arise and Walk!
Whereupon the hung lover" one probably Will
get sick on the spot without benefit OF emetine
hydrochloride.
No. alcoholics cannot be cured with drugs.
Such an admission Is made in the Kennedy
articles OF course, the alcoholic wants drink
of whisky for his hang over. He'll go to any
length, even to taking hydrochloride in his
whisky. in order to get lift out of his jtters
and away from the butterflies. You can create
in him a revulsion to liquor and condition his
reflex so that even the smell OF after-saave
lotion will make him throw up. But when he's
been treated and the patient leaves the clinic
he'll be back again in a few weeks just about
three times as drunk.
Why? Because all the while the reyulsion
lasts or his condition is ref1exed the alcohonc
will build up a tide of resentment against the
doctor, against Mr.. Kennedy, against the pa
tents relatives, society and everybody. so
when his reflex is dulled and his memory OF
the taste of hydrochloride is dimmed you can
count on his going on the one binge to end all
binges. He'll remember while going on this
last binge that at the end OF 1t he Is likely
to have to take the drug cure and then
you'll have terrible time getting him to go
through with 1t a second time. Literally, he'd
rather drink himself to death.
A real vote Of thanks would be due you for
publicizing this drug" method for treating
alcoholics, If this were the only known treat
ment or even If 1t were a good treatment. But
it isn't good and it is so outdated that 1t is lit
tie short OF surprising that there are qualified
medical people who still fool around with it.
1t is ali the more surprising since there is
total cure" for alcoholism that for ten years
has been gaining adherents all over the coun-
try; this cure guarantees the hung lover" his
all-necessary tapering- of shots of pure and un-
adulterated whisky. But instead Of tackling his
disease through the stomach, it hits the
alcoholic where he Is sickest when he is sickest
No one who is not an alcoholic knows what
physical and mental anguish besets the path
illogical drinker, for alcoholism Is without ex-
ception the cruelest and most painful disease
that ever beset man because it attacks the
total man and penetrates the inner reaches OF
his physical and spiritual being. Alcohol wages
total war against the total personality For this
disease the remedy suggested by Mr.. Kennedy
hasn't got the chance of the proverbial snow
ball.
To those who are 5eset with the alcoholic
problem whether afiicted personally or con-
cerned for another whose addiction Is like