CAN DRUNKARDS REALLY BE CURED?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 133, 3 July 1909, Page 3

CAN DRUNKARDS REALLY BE CURED?

WHAT MR. CECIL CHAPMAN, THE LONDON MACISTRAIIE, SAYS. In ISDB the Inebriates Act was passed, empowering magistrates to send an habitual criminal drunkard to an inebriate reformatory for a term not exceeding three years. And now it is proposed that the non-criminal inebriate—that is, the person who, by reason of habitual intemperate drinking, becomes dangerous to himself or to others, or incapable of managing his affairs shall come within the scope of the law and undergo compulsory detention in a home or retreat.

Whether this plan has much to commend it seems' open to considerable question. There are many people who assert that detention in a home cvin for as long 'as three years effects nu cure, and that the habitual drunkard only returns to his or her bad ways as soon as released and left to his own resources. One well-known authority on the drink question, in fact, told the writer recently that- when visiting a certain inebriate home for men lie found the inmates seated round a flic smoking their pipes, and relating with rare gusto their experiences of past drinking bouts and prophesying the good times they would have when released. CURED IN A MONTH.

It has been repeatedly stated that habitual drinking is a disease and should !bc treated as such—that is to say, cure should he substituted for punishment. Mr. Cecil Chapman, the Metropolitan magistrate, is a firm believer in this method.

"I have a strong conviction," Ire recently informed a Tit Bits writer, "that, a great deal of recurrentf intemperance would be prevented if magistrates were allowed a wide discretion in putting accused persons on probation, with a condition as to residence in a home for a sliort term, say a month, and abstention from alcohol for that period. We have tried it vwth great success whore patients have agreed to take the Normyl treatment. "My experience of curative methods is limited to this particular treatment, but of that I have s cen the happiest possible results. About eighteen months ago I made an appeal for 'assistance to enable me to deal with inebriate cases in a curative jmamier -which it was' cither impossible or inexpedient to send to reformatories from my court. COST OF CURE.

"I received, in answer to my appeal through the Press, very nearly £IOO, and have thereby been enabled to deal with some thirty cases of men and women. For the most part 1 have made i.sc of the Nonnyl treatment, and a period of retreat for a month or slv weeks, with or without work, as the case admitted. Many of the very worst cases are now completely cured, and the victims of inebriety are earning an honest living. ."If the cost of treatment is included, each-case requires £1 lOg-per week for four weeks, but, of course, we insist on contributions where it is • possible, for its disciplinary and moral effects. Every magistrate, however, is hampered by tlip poverty of the- people brought before him, and anyone who could raise a substantial amount to meet what are practically pauper gases would be doing a good service to the State."

This is obvious when it is mentioned that the country spends close upon £l5O upon each inebriato whom it sends to a home for three years with a view fo curing the craving fo alcohol. ONLY 320 FAILURES OUT OF 4000 ; . CASES.

Particulars of tire Nc-rmyl tieatmcntj to which Mr. 'Chapman refers, were .kindly furnished to the writer by Mr. William Porteous, the secretary of the NormjL Treatment Association, at 91, Victoria-street, S.W., the dnlrman of which is the well-known Southwark magistrate, while the committee includes such men as the Primate of Ireland, the Bishop of Southwark, the Bishop of Chichester, the Rev. R. J. Campbell, the Rev. Hugh B. Chapman., "The members of the association," said Jlr. Porteous, "have pledged themselves, to make no personal profits from the remedy, in which they have a ,very profound belief, but to devote any revenue that might be derived from the sale of the troatihent to the further success of this figlit against habitual drinking.. The association was formed Jour years ago, and as many as 4000 treatments were disposed of in the first three year.--. Out of this large lumber of cases the failures known to the association have not amounted to more than 8 per cent. "The treatment really consists of a combination of vegetable drugs, which has been guaranteed to. be innocuous. It is taken by the patient once in every ■waking hour for twenty-four days, and the craving for alcohol in nearly every instance disappears entirely after the first few days. The rest of the treatment counteracts the 'previous effects of alcohol, renews,the will-power, and restores the patient to an altogether found condition.

"No miraculous properties are claimed for the Normyl cure, (but it is contended tliat, if the conditions are faithfully carried out, the treatment after an almost'immediate relief of the craving so restores the energy and will-power that no .patient should thereafter be liable to relapse through Midden temptation. No humaii remedy could conceivably guarantee the patient from return to the drink, habit if he deliberately determines lo resume it."