legal authority of his day, wrote:-“A drunkard who is voluntarius damen hath no privilege thereby; but what hurt or ill soever he doth, his drunkenness doth aggravate it." But Sir Mathew Hale (middle of the seventeenth century) wrote:"Although the simplex frenzy occasioned immediately by drunkenness excuse not in criminals, yet if by one or more such practices an habitual or fixed frenzy be caused, though this madness was contracted by the vice and will of the party, yet this habitual and fixed frenzy thereby caused puts the man in the same condition in relation to crimes as if the same were contracted involuntarily at first "-thus recognising the important distinction between mere drunkenness and that more advanced stage when the habit has turned into disease.

Perhaps the best description of the inebriate, as distinguished from the ordinary drinker, is that given by Dr. D. G. Dodge before the Select Committee on Habitual Drunkards (1872):"We make a great distinction between the two classes. One man when he has taken one drink loses the power to control himself in that direction; another man can take several, and be able to stop. But we cannot for the life of us tell why it is that because a man

Coke. Institutes. 247. Blackstone's Commentaries. Bk. IV., ch. 2.

"The laws claim that the drunkard is a voluntary madman. This is incorrect. The inebriate does not voluntarily renounce control; on the contrary, he believes he can control his actions, while he cannot. Though he does not know it, alcohol paralyses inhibition."—Dr. T. L. Wright, Bellefontaine, Ohio. Society for the Study of Inebriety. Jan. 6th, 1891.

It will be seen from the following extracts that the law on this point is still unsettled :

"Leeds Assizes, December 11, 1891, before Mr. Justice Wright, John Routledge was indicted for causing grievous bodily harm with a red hot poker to Elijah Holmes, at Doncaster, on July 18th. His counsel, Mr. B. G. Wilkinson, urged that it was done while the prisoner was drunk, and unable to tell what he was doing. His lordship said it was impossible to accept the statement that the prisoner was drunk as an excuse in law. For doing a thing of this kind a man must answer whether drunk or sober. Society could not exist if such a plea were to be allowed. There was not however, evidence showing that the prisoner was in a completely helpless state intoxication."

"On the same day, before Mr. Justice Lawrence, Liverpool, John Miller was tried for the murder, under shocking circumstances, of his wife, Jane Miller, on the 13th November. Miller, who was a blacksmith, was a heavy drinker, and under the influence of drink when he battered his wife's head in with a hatchet without any apparent cause. His lordship, in summing up, said: 'It was quite right that a jurj should consider whether a man could drink himself into such a condition that he wi incapable of forming any intention, and that he had no control over himself. If the was proved to them satisfactorily, then the crime would be reduced from murder that of manslaughter.'"

has taken one drink he must go on until he is saturated with it, without any power to stop. We look upon that man as actually diseased with alcohol, and only that class.""

The Inebriates Acts, imperfect as they are, have, at any rate, formally recognised the disease element in inebriates, who are thus defined :-"Those who, notwithstanding the plainest considerations of health, interest, and duty, are given over to habits of intemperance so as to render them unable to control themselves, and incapable of managing their own affairs, or such as to render them in any way dangerous to themselves or others. d "

For practical purposes, the inebriates for whose treatment we require extended powers may be divided into two classes :

I. Those who cannot resist the temptation to drink, but will at any cost or sacrifice gratify the craving.

We all meet such cases too frequently, and know the difficulty of influencing them. I have frequently explained that to go on drinking meant death, and have convinced the patients of the fact without at all altering their habits. I have stood by whilst patients were told that they were getting into financial difficulties and that nothing but a sudden pull up could avoid a crash; they have acknowledged and deplored the fact, but made no change. I have pointed out to fathers how they were destroying the happiness

Answer 3072.

A commission of lunacy was supported against a person who, when sober, was a very sensible man, but, being in an almost constant state of intoxication, he was considered incapable of managing his property.-Collinson on Lunacy. Vol. I., p. 71. Quoted by Dr. R. B. Grindred in Bacchus. P. 505.

**LAW OF PARENT AND CHILD IN JERSEY.-The Attorney-General appeared before the Royal Court, on Saturday, and called on the judges to deprive Mr. Nicholas Anthoine, clerk to the Impost Office, of the right of control or management of his children, he being an habitual drunkard, and that the said Court should appoint fit gardians for the said children. The Attorney-General stated that the persons frected to inquire into Mr. Anthoine's conduct had reported that he had often been een drunk, and, whilst in that state, had danced in the streets, gathering a crowd around him, and was, consequently, unfit to be an example to a growing family, and stit also to be entrusted with its control. The Solicitor-General, on behalf of Mr. Anthoine, contended that the articles exhibited were insufficient to warrant the Court in inflicting so serious a penalty on any man as depriving him of the control of his wn family, and instanced his being able to conduct the affairs of his office as a reason against granting the prayer of the citation. The Attorney-General replied, again arging the prayer of the memorial. The chief and other judges confirmed the Attorney-General's demand, and ordered that the defendant's family be given into the guardianship of a proper person chosen by their nearest relations, with the approba tion of the Court."-Quoted from a Jersey paper of 1837 in Bacchus. P. 506. * Report. P. v.

of their wives and children; I have pointed out to mothers t neglected condition of their children and the dirt of their home Both fathers and mothers have heard me, assented, mourned t fact and continued drinking. Indeed, in many cases so hopele have I felt that I have longed for a complete physical break dow such as an attack of delirium tremens, in the hope that the utt physical prostration might give a chance of cutting off the supp of stimulants, and that possibly after such a shock some impressio might be made on the weakened moral nature, so that the hab thus broken might not be resumed.

Such cases as these are sometimes hereditary, sometimes acquire II. Those who suffer from intermittent attacks, from mania potu, who go on for long periods, even months, with apparently desire for drink, and then having tasted drink suffered ment trouble, or sometimes, with no discoverable cause, break out a drink, morning, noon, and night for days, perhaps even for a wee In one case I have noted, the attacks used to come about twice year. The gentleman would lock himself into a room with a supp of brandy, no one daring to interfere with him until at the end two or three days all noise ceased; his relatives would then bre open the door and find him comatose. Between the attacks attended to a large business, and took a leading part in religio and charitable work. The description of such a case given Besant in "The Demoniac" is scarcely an exaggeration of t reality.

These cases are generally examples of hereditary neuroses. In both classes of cases "total abstinence is the only safe a sure road to recovery.""

In the first class nothing else will stop the craving. As long alcohol in any form is taken the wish for it will continue, when it is given up for a time the craving becomes less. Ther also improvement in the physical and moral condition, food can better taken, the strength improves, and the patient's promise to some extent be relied on.

" Dr. D. S. Dodge, Physician to the New York State Inebriate Asylum, the Select Committee on Habitual Drunkards. In Answer 2973 he says:-"It physiological fact that when a habit has been formed or contracted, an abs removal of the agent that produced the babit is necessary in order that a new sta things may become possible. Place before a patient a liberal supply of tempting nutritious food, and ask him to starve himself to death; nature is stronger than will it is an impossibility. Place alcohol before him and ask an inebriate to himself gradually; it is equally an impossibility."

In the second class of cases the natural tendency is for the attacks to become more frequent, and their effects more lasting, so that gradually the system breaks down. The only hope in such cases is to reverse this process, to tide over attacks, and so prolong the intervals and render the impulse more easy to resist.

To keep either class in their own houses from drink is more than difficult their ingenuity, their unscrupulousness, and the certainty that some about them will help to supply drink, render treatment nearly hopeless. Not long ago, whilst helping to place a patient suffering from alcoholic paralysis on a water-bed, I found a bottle containing whisky under her pillow, and yet for days she had been unable to leave her bed, and everyone who had access to her room professed to be trying to keep drink from her. In another case, which also ended fatally, nine brandy bottles vere hidden about the bed. Even in hospitals we all know how difficult it is to prevent stimulants reaching our cases. For successful treatment such cases must be admitted into institutions where they can be controlled-not allowed to have drink sent in, not allowed to go out for it. Our power in this direction is certainly limited. Patients must either go voluntarily into a unatic asylum, where they cannot be detained if they wish to leave; or be sent to Belgium -a course which has manifest disadvantages; or be treated under the Inebriates Acts, 1879 and 1888, which, unfortunately, impose so many difficulties that they are made but little use of in England, and are altogether unused in Ireland. During 1890 only 109 patients were admitted into Retreats under the Acts, and this was a higher number than in ay previous year.

b

The powers given by the Inebriates Acts (the expression "Habitual Drunkards" was struck out by the amending Act of 1888, which also made the former ten-year Act permanent) are briefly as follows:

Justices of the Peace may grant a license for any period not exceeding thirteen months to any person or persons to keep a retreat for habitual drunkards. One of the licensees must reside n the premises and be responsible for its management, and if the censee is not on the Medical Register a duly qualified medical *Under 29 & 30 Vict., cap. 57.

*CL. British Medical Journal. November 7th and 14th, 1891.

*Eleventh Annual Report of the Inspector of Retreats under the Inebriates Acts, 1879 and 1888, for the Year 1890.

1885, 77. 1886, 73. 1887, 66. 1888, 99. 1889, 78. 1890, 109.

man must be employed as attendant.

No such license can b

granted to any person licensed to keep a lunatic asylum.

An habitual drunkard who wishes to be admitted into a Retrea must apply in writing to the licensee, and state the time durin which he undertakes to remain. The application must be accom panied by the statutory declaration of two persons that the appl cant is an habitual drunkard, and his signature must be attested b any two Justices, who must state that he understood the meanin of his application, which must have been explained to him. Th applicant may then be detained for the whole of the specific term, which must not exceed twelve months.

From the passing of the first Act medical men have constant complained of its inadequacy, and the very small improveme made by the amending Act has been deplored. The subject the deficiencies of the first Act has already been brought befo this Section by Dr. Tweedy." The frequent discussions of t subject by the Society for the Study of Inebriety has educat public opinion in the same direction, and has helped to formula our requirements. The special committee of the British Medic Association has also done good work."

In Scotland feeling is so strong that, in 1890, Mr. Morto excellent Restorative Homes Bill, approved by leading members the medical and legal professions, was introduced into Parliame A similar movement is going on in other countries—even America, where legislation on this matter is much in advance England. An important bill, in which the Emperor is persona interested, is likely soon to become law in Germany.

Now to deal shortly with what is required.

I. Voluntary entrance into an inebriates' home should be ma much easier. The necessity of appearing before two Justices especially odious. It is not at all easy to get two Justices, and 1 consequent delays and disappointments (added to the dreaded p licity) have kept many cases from treatment. Surely one Just

a State Control of Chronic Inebriates. Transactions of the Academy of Medi in Ireland. 1884.

"For years past your committee has, with the Society for the Study of Inebri been urging on the Government the need for an inquiry into the working of Inebriates Act, 1879."

"Existing legislation has these chief defects: There is no provision for the p admission of a voluntary applicant for reception in a licensed retreat is rendered bidding by an enforced appearance before two Justices; and an inebriate received and detained in such a retreat only at his own request."-Extracts Report of Inebriate Legislation Committee to the British Medical Association.