The history of the first inebriate asylum in the world / by its founder [Jonathan Edward Turner]. An account of his indictment, also a sketch of the Woman's national hospital, by its founder.

  • Turner, J. Edward, 1822-1889.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the first inebriate asylum in the world / by its founder [Jonathan Edward Turner]. An account of his indictment, also a sketch of the Woman's national hospital, by its founder. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    men, judges and coroners, soliciting tlieir experience and observation upon tlie physical, mental, moral, reli- gions, social, criminal and economic status of the drunk- ard. These letters and circulars excited l)ut little inter- est, and brought but few replies from the professional men of that day. During the first three years, more than thi'ee thousand circulars sent to physicians elicited but one hundred and thirt^^-four rei)lies; more than seven hundred sent to the clergy, but seventy-nine ]‘eplies; more than five hundred sent to the judges, but one hundred and seven replies; while to the seventy- four circulars sent to the coronei's, there were sixty-four rej)lies. The fourth year’s labor in this special work brought a better return. Out of fifteen hundred circu- lars se^it five hundred and sixty were answered, and, every year thereafter, there was an increased interest manifested by all addressed upon this subject. The circulars addressed to the ])hysiciaus embraced the following questions: How many inelwiate patients have you treated in'your private practice for the last ten years? What percentage of these cases had inebriate parents or grand-parents ? What is the number of the insane and feeble-minded who have come under your observation, who have had inebriate ancestry ? What is the number of inebriate patients who have developed homicidal or suicidal mania? And what is the number of cases cured under }mur treatment, and what the num- ber that have died? The circulars sent to the clergy embraced but one question: How many members of your church have been disciplined, or expelled during your ministry for the excessive use of alcoholic spirits ? In the circular to the judges the following questions were ])ropounded : How many ])ersons have l)een con- victed in your court for murder in the first oi' second