Evening star., 1950-01-25
Country Club Alcoholic Ward
|CoIms Jitters With Sleep Drug
Told by q Potent

Told by q Patient ...
This is the first OF three articles os
told anonymously by potent who spent
six days under treatment ot LouisyiIle's
Norton Memorial infirmary's new depart.
ment for the treatment Of alcoholism.
Special Dispatch to The stor
(Released by North American Newspaper
| Alliance)
LOUISVILLE, KY, Jan. %
It's wonderful, wonderful feel
ing to be out!
But then, you know, it wasn't
too bad being in Norton Memorial
Infirmary's new alcoholic ward.
AS q matter of fact, 1t was more
than wonderful compared with
some of the "sanitariums" about
which I was told while sweating
out q holiday hangover at the
country club" the name the pa
tients have endearingly given to
the latest addition to Norton.
There wasn't any of this salt
water -and- -whiskey stuff chased
with a double shot of gin. glass
of wine and a glass Of hot bicarb.
This wasn't the bucket" system
about which some of the boys
talked. These, of course, were the
veterans of numerous "cure" sys-
TENS.
| I expect had better explain
this bucket" system to some of
you laymen. After the salt wa
ter, whiskey, gin, wine and bicarb
are forced on the patient, you can
very readily realize that a bucket
is in order.
But now to get back to the
country club" On entering one
Monday, 7 thought I must have
been hustled off to no place less
than Hot Springs or one of
those "nothing's- -too-good-for-
the-rich" spas.
Not Kicked Around.
The nurses were cordial, the
orderlies friendly. And, as for
DR.. c. w. Dowden, jr.. physician
In charge of operations, none
could be finer. But probably the
most ingenious fellow of the
bunch was Earl Heron, night su-
pervisor. Then there was the
Rev. MFR. Springborn, inf1rmary
Episcopal chaplain, one of the
finest fellows I ever met.
7 got the shock Of my life when
I was admitted. I was treated
decently instead of being kicked
around as I had expected to be.
There was Mr.. Heron checking
my clothes and putting them
neatly in a locker until such time
as they could be comparatively
sure that I didn't have any ideas
about not liking the place and
perhaps taking off ahead of
schedule.
Give me something to put me
to Sleep" I begged. II haven't been
able to sleep in a week. Oh, If
could only get some sleep!"
Never you mind, Mr.. Doakes,
we'll take care of that shortly"
About that time I heard Mr.
Heron order: Mrs. Johnson,
bring Mr.. Doakes dram OF
paralydehyde." In my condition,
I didn't mind its unappetizing
taste.
Sees Band Leader.
A minute later, the dram was
downed and Mr.. Heron was ask
ing II didn't feel a bit drowsy
I didn't and told him so, and about
that time q young fellow came
walking past the door.
Know that fellow. Mr.. Doakes?'
Mr.. Heron asked. He was some
what familiar and suddenly II
dawned on me who he was.
couldn't believe my tired eyes, but
sure enough 1t was Joe, q more
than small-time band leader from
up East. After a short chat with
Joe, Mr.. Heron told me I would
be surprised at the identity OF
some Of the other patients.
Two more drains of paralyde-
hyde was the next order, along
with a glass Of orange juice. Be-
tween gulps. Joe informed me
there was a fine lounge just down
the hall and that he thought he
would 60 there and sit around for
q while.
Not knowing anything about
this paralydehyde. told him that
I would join him in a few minutes
which I did-but 1T was the next
day. After six tumblers of orange
juice (not canne6 on top of the
paralydehyde, that drowsy feeling
was clouding my already befuddleo
thinking.
Better lie down. Mr.. Doakes;
think you'll sleep now." And with