The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY DECEMBER, 28, 1885. Inebriety.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1362, 28 December 1885, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY DECEMBER, 28, 1885. Inebriety.

Ur J. de Aoucne, Honorary aurgeon to the Dunedin Hospital, has just published a pamphlet on inebriety and the duty of the State with regard to inebriates. Dr Zouche gives expression to the latest theory in respect to inebriety, i He contends that drunkenness is not a > vice, but a disease, a disease of which the State should take cognisance and adopt certain measures to lessen its prevalence and diminish its effects. This is not entirely a new view of the .subject; it has been held for many yeajrs by eminent physicians in Great Britain, an<£ yas insisted upon by the late Earl of Shaftesbury, who displayed much energy in the advocacy of the Habitual Drunkards Act 1879—3 measure passed by the British Parliament permitting the establishment of licensed Homes for Inebriates to which any fyabitual drunkard might voluntarily commit himself for a term, not less than three months nor more tH?q twelve months. Dr Zouche, after a critical examination of the different phases of the disease—its physical and mental effects—sums up with the fol'inclusions;—(l) That inebriety lowing ~ ‘ majority of cages, g. is, in the great. .. . Inebriety physical disease. (2) is curable in a large number of cases. (3) That the committal of inebriate patients to prison is unjust, and morally and physically injurious to them. (4) That patients affected with inebriety can only be treated with any measure of success in special hospitals or retreats, where precautions against their obtaining alcohol could be thoroughly carried out. (5) That it is the doty of the Sute eJte to ffcfcWish br license

retreats for inebriates, or to do both. Looking at the large amount of drunkenness and consequent illness and transmitted disease and imbecility we have in this country, it is gratifying to find a member of the medical profession devoting a large part of his tune and ability to the investigation of this grave question. It is gratifying, too, that the result of that investigation is the publication of a scientific and lucid diagnosis of the disease, and the suggestion of rational means for its abatement and cure. We regret that the space at our disposal to-day will not permit an examination of Dr Zouche’s theories and arguments, but we hope to return to the subject again, and in the meantime recommend all those interested in this great social problem to peruse the pamphlet to which we have referred.