HABITUAL DRUNKARDS.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 739, 13 March 1877, Page 5 (Supplement)

HABITUAL DRUNKARDS.

TAB " Tiirieß" has published the following letter :— ■ ; "Sir,— The evidence which you have republished to-day, arid, which is daily afforded by our Police Courts, clearly sup ports the conclusions arrived s at . ■by - the Select Committee of the House of Commons which was presided over by the late Mr. Daliymple —^viz., "that small fines' and short terms of imprisonment are worse than useless" for the repression of the " habitual drunkard. " A large portion of the time 6f ■the' police is taken up by a. necessary nttehciance upon those poor unfortunates, while criminals, ■> who should be carefully .watched, are enabled to prepetrate their bxfrglarles undetectad. ■. ■ - ; • It has always been the pride of tlie Englishman that a radical ciu-e is to bje, adopted m preference to a temporizing policy. It does appear to- me,;and to those who are acting with me m the formation of " The Society for the Purpose. of Obtaining Legislation on Behalf of the Habitual Drunkard," that the time has : arrived ft which it becomes absolutely necessary that , the powers asked for should be accorded, and that prevention is to \be aimed at ijis' well as cure by impeding the growth of tlie class on whose ' behalf wo plead. We &«jk, that power should now <be given to detain these poor unfortunates under proper super-' vision, for a time long enough to effect! a cure. This power is naked, riot for punitiye purposes, not m a vindictive spirit for the ; ipuuislurierit of wrong-doing, but as; a protection for the. patient against himself as well as for the safety of society, and also as a riieans whereby he may recover his position and his power of self-control. It is not proposed that he shall be kept; m idleness during the time of his detention. The work to which he has been accustomed must be provided for him, so that he may be able to support himself until the time arrives at which alLthe tissues m his body shall have been changed, and a new tissue (fonuedout of a more healthy land of food) be laid down m its place. - Thus his nervous system mayi be restored to healthy action and self-control obtained again. ■ Astill more important result will also be obtaiiried by such lemslation. The ipropag- ; atipn of a,race of unlprturi'ates and ne'er-dp-. welJSj wliose existence has commenced diirino 1 or soon after an attack of dipsomania or dnrilc 1 craving \nll be impeded. The legislation asked for, would assist to diminish the number of inmates m our lunatic asylums, prbvenf some of the increase which is now callingfor new idiot asylums, and decrease the tendency to hysteria which is yearly becoming more manifest among all classes of society., This would be affected by the sep T wation of the sexes when, it is mostriecessary m the interests of humanity, that such separation should be effected, and would be a great benefit tp" posterity itself. Those who are watching these matters know that the progeny of the poor creatures for whom we plead, are weaker than their parents and are more liable to become victims to the dissease m question; or, if they escape that disease; they assist to fill oar goals with criminals .of the deepest dye. Is it notrtime for us, as practical Englishmen, toprovide an eificieet remedy for a growing evil, and noij'to let tlie bugbear of "the liberty of the subject" continue to undermine the prosperity of our country by allowing th uncontrolled increase of those who, at the least, must ha,ve a very defective judgment. It is also useless to disguise the fact that the "proposed alteration of the law isrequireed, not only as a means whereby our police may be releived of, the necessity of apprehending the same individuals more than a hundred times for being drunk and disorderly, but, also, to meet an evil m society which is not visible to the public eye. Surely sir, the ability of our Legislature would not be overtaxed m having . to. provide against the abuso of such a power ? The power exists as regards lunatics, and, except ■m the imagination of the novelist, it is not amised. The power also exists as regards children who have been convicted' of crime. The -.alteration of . the ' law which is now asked for-Tiianiely, that habitual drunkards may be detained m care for a long periodis not a vital change. Is it only an extcntion of ■ present arrangements so that they may include another class of persons. The deputation which waited upon Mr. Cross m 1874, the action of the British Medical Association at the great meeting' held m Edinburgh m- 1875, and still more recently at Sheffield, has shown the almost unanimous 'opinion of the medical profession as to. the necessity for such legislation. It cannot be made a political cry. Surely there is reason, therefore, why the Government should take the matter up, and not leave such an. important question to private individuals^! am, Sir, your obedient sesvant. ; ALFRED CARPENTER, M. D.