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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    At the session of the legislature of 1857, the friends of the Asylum ap})eared for the first time before the Financial Committee of the House, pleading for ten per cent of the excise moneys of the counties as a gift to the Asylum for the medical treatment of the “ poor and des- titute inebriate.” The followino; remarks were made before the Fi- nance Committee of the Flouse bv the Founder : “Of all the maladies to which man is heir there is none that recpiires an Asylum for its medical treatment more than dipsomania. Yellow fever, cholera, small-pox, deafness, and blindness; all these, sad as they are, may be success- fully treated at home; while the drunkard, without a hospital, perils his own life. Jeopardizes the lives of others, and dies at last a suicidal case of madness. In no physical condition in which man is placed, either in disease or in health, can we find him cheerfully surren- dering food, raiment, shelter, and friends, to gratify any passion or disease, excepting in a diseased appetite pro- duced by alcoholic stimulants or narcotics. Where is the human being who has the power of mind and deter- mination of pui’])Ose to withstand the torments of hun- £rer and thirst when rich viands and delicious waters are placed before him? Will he not break bars and l)olts to satisfy the cravings of famished nature? Blame not the inebriate then for lu'eaking his resolution, and disre- garding his vows, when, in view of the wretched results of his excesses, he lifts to his lips the poisonous draught, which, if the cause of all his woes, is tlie source of all his consolation. It puts to sleep the torments of his stomach, soothes his agitated nerves, and gives a moment- ary respite to his infernal misery. Can any })erson, who has witnessed the inebriate’s sutferings, believe that the hunger and tliirst of a famishing man are more terri-