Evening star., 1947-08-07

DR.. e. Y. Williams, Howard University
psychiatrist, Is doing pioneer work at Freed
mems Hospital In using the conditioned reflex
method Of creating aversion to alcohol IS
part Of program of recovery for problem
drinkers. The conditioned-redex method
builds up an involuntary aversion to the point
that the taste, sight, or smell Of liquor makes
the patient violently sick. It Is not q cure.
A conditioned reflex dininishes progressively
after the conditioning treatment has ended.
In other words, the patient RECEIVERS from
the involuntary aversion and may lapse back
into chronic alcoholism by voluntarily drink
ing again. DR.. williams is convinced that the
treatment will show a very high percentage
Of recoveries II 1t Is followed by a program
Of helping the patient readjust himself in
society.
The conditioned-refex treatment Is sof In
terest because the Hebert bill, passed in the
closing hours Of the session. and just signed
by the President commits the District to
scientific attack on alcoholism as a public
health problem. The bill taxes the liquor trade
to the extent of $4,000 annually to establish
clinics for alcoholics.
A mahogany portable bar-which, opened,
revealed shining stemware hanging in a rack
above and row on row Of bottles with familiar
labels on the shelves-was the first thing that
met this writer's eye when he entered DR..
Williams laboratory at Freedmen's Dr.
Williams had the most expensive-the bottled
in-bond whiskies. But he had to add others
as his work progressed. He found that adver-
ttsing and lower prices had conditioned his
patients to the products of post-repeal bottling
which distilers call blends" The patients
preferred the one-third whisky and two-thirds
alcohol and water combinations.
Youthful "DT" Victim.
DR.. sSamue, Bullock DR.. Williams youthful
assistant. was busy opening vials of emetins
hydrochloride. Three men were to be given
treatments that day The first man brought
In was only % years old-which is remarkably
young for one to experience acute alcoholic
disturbance. He was in delirium tremens when
brought to the hospital. The son of university
faculty members he was a Junior in a Negro
college in the South. He had started his heavy
drinking during his service In the Army. He
continued 1t after his discharge and on the
night he was brought to Freedmen's he had
barricaded his parents house and was fight
ing off an attack by Japanese"
DR.. Williams selected a bottle. This Is your
favorite, isn't tt?" he asked. He arranged three
glasses on the bar. He poured the middle one
almost 1uu ana poured the first and third
half full. The young man was given . tin
basin which he held in his lap
DR.. williams put the emetine hydrochlor1de
In the whisky in the middle glass. Then he
leaned over the bar and began talking to the
boy. His psychotherapy was Of the simplest
sort. He reminded the boy that such excessive
drinking as he had INDUCED In might harm his
brain. He did not want to go to st. Elizabeths
ho9 M bo,y III -
was toxic state that Is often fatal He did
not want to die, did he? The boy did not
DR.. Williams asked the boy to bare his
shoulder as . hypodermic needle was filled
with the pilocarpine. The shoulder showed
scars Of several needle punctures. DR.. Williams
explained that 1t was the boys sixth treatment
"You saw me pour the whisky DR.. williams
said. "The first is straight. The second is
doctored with drug. And the third Is straight
for chaser. Now put the first one down
How does that taste7 AL right, ehs Now the
second one" s.
The boy downed the second one in turn and
grinaced as If 1t contained straight alcohol
you don't like that. do your" DR. Williams
went on. Now the chaser. What does that
taste likef"
Just like water" said the boy.
That's good" said the doctor. That shows
the drug Is working