NBWTA Report 1904-052
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100 101 the services of an influential committee, in order to aid me in the It has always been my strong responsible work of managing the home. feeling that the success of a colony of this sort demanded a free hand and unfettered scope, and I am glad to say that the committee are fully of this opinion, and that the work remains as individual as ever, although I emphasize this, because I have the benefit of their help and advice. I think there has been some misapprehension as to my position at It remains precisely what it was before the committee Duxhurst. I have, however, the great benefit of the services was appointed. of the most excellent treasurer. Sir Colin Scott Moncrieff, whose name is so widely known, is giving time, trouble, and thought to this most important office, and I cannot say how highly I value his I know that you will be glad to hear that co-operation in this work. out of the eleven members which form the committee four are members of the B.W-T..A. In accordance with the wishes expressed by the British Women’s Temperance Association, I have obtained the reports of the three homes which I believe to be affiliated to their work. 1 am interested to learn, from the report ot the Grove Retreat at Fallowfield, under the presidency of Mrs. Hughes, that during the last year 125 applications were made for admission ; 26 were admitted, 21 left having completed their time, 4 left for other causes, 1 stayed a second year by her own desire. Of the 66 patients with whom the Matron and Committee are in constant correspondence, some left the Home as long ago as 1891, and Some left during each succeding year, down to are standing well. Eight out of this number only relapsed for a short time, re- 1903. newed their pledge, and are now keeping true. In the Avenue House Retreat, established by the East London Women’s Christian Temperance Union, affiliated to our Society, I see by the second annual report that the Home is now full, and that most The report states of the patients seem anxious to redeem their past. that they have found comfortable situations for four patients, who are doing well, and two have returned to their husbands and families, that others have gone out, but that it is too early days to speak of their cure. The Hermitage, South Cave, East Yorkshire, established four years s‘nce by the Hull Branch, is licensed for ten patients under the Inebriates Act, and also provides accommodation for six private patients, The Home is undenominational, and in the interests of the patients and their friends is strictly private. The wish has also been expressed that I should siy something about a treatment for alcoholism which has lately been started in London, and which is known as the Oppenheimer treatment. I have given several months to the study of this method, and I have seen many patients treated at the little Hospital next to the Settlement in Bow Road, where the system has been in operation under my supervision At the outset of what I will say, I wish to make a clear statement that I deprecate the fact that the remedy which is used by Dr Oppenheimer is kept a secret, and is not given to the faculty. At the same time I, in common with many others, feel that the disease of alcoholism is so wide-spread and is so terrible a scourge that if there is anything to be found under the sun that can in any way lessen the evil and mitigate the craving, we are obliged to make use of it. When I first enquired into the details of this treatment, I wrote to some of the fore- most physicians in New York, and although they deprecated the fact that the remedy was a secret one, they admitted that they had found nothing which afforded so prompt, so potent, and so safe a cure, and that they had availed themselves of it for many of their patients. I have seen some of the worst drunkards that had not had any natural sleep for months, brain, and mental power, in an could regain incredibly short be found, men who normal sleep, a clear space of time. I specially would emphasize the fact that I consider this treatment is invaluable for men who cannot leave their business, or their trade or calling, but who are able, perhaps, to spend two or three days in the Institute, and then to be treated as out-patients and continue their work. I could give instances of extraordinary cures obtained in this way. The doctors who absolute necessity With regard to the of the opinion that than it does over a It 1s more strongly warped. carry on this treatment are emphatic as to the for perpetual total abstinence for each individual. women whom I have seen treated, I am still firmly alcoholism obtains a far greater hold over a woman man, that her nervous system being more delicate, affected, and above all, her moral nature is more Her standard to start with is higher, her fall, therefore, is more complete. In New York the cases of drunkenness amongst women are SO Comparatively rare, that they have had little experience of it until they came to England ; but all who have studied the question here agree with me, that most women require to be detained in homes after receiving the treatment. What I think this treatment can do for them 1s, that it may shorten such a stay by fully three months, as the elimin- ative power of the medicine (which is, mind you, a medicine, and not a hypodermic without the injection) remedy is the so immediate brain would equilibrium, restoration can be effected and so effective, take far many weeks that whereas, to recover its more speedily by the aid of wu peeeee delight to feel that we are bound together under the command of our one Master in this beautiful bond of love and service, and that as we have done what little we could for these sad, spoiled, sorrowful lives, we have done it unto Him. As I look back over the record of this past year, I am filled with Four of our patients have gone to Canada, and are now filling hope. Many have gone to service, and some excellent posts and doing well. I I see constantly, and know that they are giving every satisfaction. rarely go to any place to speak at a meeting that a little note is not brought to the platform to tell me that one of our women is in the room, and many and many a hand-clasp has been a help and refreshment after a tiring evening, telling me of the link of affection and gratitude that has been forged at Duxhurst. I am also glad to be able to state that I have been able to secure |