The Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 151, 26 June 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1874.

We have received the second annual report of the Committee of Management of the Melbourne Retreat for the cure of inebriates, which is worthy of notice, the institution referred (o being quite a novelty, in these colonies, although in America, we believe, a large number of them are\ "- ih existence. The " Retreat " referred to is established under a Victorian Act, which provides that the Governor in Council may grant to any person a license to keep a house for the treatment and cure of habitual inebriates, Bnd in the event of any person desiring to be committed to such Retreat, he may make application to a Justice of the Peace, who, on being satisfied tbat the applicant has habitually used exceßBive quantities of intoxicating drinks, and that he is at tbe time of his application sober and capable of fully understanding the nature of his application, may make an order authorising his apprehension and conveyance to some Reif^at, and his reception, detention, andctfr-^tive treatment therein, for sny terra not"Sexceedin!»; twelve months. It is further\provided that, upon the application of s any relative or friend of any person addicjed to the excessive use of intoxicating, drinks, any judge of a County Court may, on the reasonableness of the applicutiiHf being proved, summon such person to appear before bira to show cause why he should not be committed to a Retreat. If, upon tho hearing of tbe summons it is clearly proved that the inebriate is unable to control himself, and incapable of managing his affairs, or is dangerous to himself or others, or is in immiueut danger of death from the continuous use of drink, and if two medical practitioners certify that he requires curative treatment, the judge may order his appre. btLnsion and conveyance to a "Retreat. Under this Act the Melbourne Retreat was established and opened on the 15th of October last, from which date to the end of December five patients had been received who are classified as follows: — One clergyman, one book-keeper, one student, one publican, and one ironmonger. Of these, four were voluntary patients. The establishment being yet iu its infancy tho accommodation is at present very limited, only twelve rooms being provided, and as it ia considerably in debtj the charge for admission is somewhat high being £13 a month. Many who could pay a smaller sum, eay £2 a week, have applied to be taken in, but the Committee's means do not allow of their being admitted at a less sum than the larger one named The Superintendent of the Retreat in his report says that tbe following, after much patient inquiry are ascertained to be facts: — (1.) Inebriety is a disease which alters the structures of the body, injures the neryeß, darkens the understanding, and weakens the will. (2.) The cure of the disease in the vast majority of cases, and \jnder ordinary circumstances, is entirely oeyond the power of the patient. (3 ) Fines, imprisonment, and all other means' ihither to tried to effect a cure have utterlyjfailed. (4.) In a retreat only can tbe necessary means of cure be carried, out. The percentage of cures depends on the length of time persons remain under treatment, ranging from three to twenty-four months. (5.) To render the cure lasting, it is absolutely necessary .that the patient totally abstain from alcohol during the rest of his "life, for in every known disease there is a liability to relapse, or to a recurrence of the disease. (6.) It is essential that the patient have a .desire to be cured, either before ofe after entering the Retreat. (7.) An immoral life i_ a great impediment to the curative treatment, so also is a long habit, of inebriety. The Superintendent further states that he has not the least doubt about the hereditary nature of the disease, and observes that of the five patients placed under his care, three at least had intemperate parents. It will be interesting to watch the career of this no_B_l institution, the Superintendent of which feels confident that he can do much good to his fellow men, and makes an earnest appeal for assistance in carrying out the work he has undertaken.