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On Alcohol in Asylums, chiefly as a Beverage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2018

D. Hack Tuke
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Extract

My object in this paper is to elicit the opinions of asylum superintendents in regard to the use of some form of alcohol in the ordinary dietary of institutions for the insane, and to state at the same time what I already know in respect to this question, thanks to the very general replies I have received from medical superintendents to a troublesome circular which I recently issued. It was not without much hesitation that I sent round these queries, well aware as I am of the multitudinous duties already devolving upon the heads of asylums; but the importance of the subject induced me to overcome this reluctance, and I take the earliest opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the kindness of those gentlemen who have taken the trouble to fill up the circular. As to those who have not done so, I readily take the will for the deed.

Type
Part I.—Original Articles
Information
Journal of Mental Science , Volume 30 , Issue 132 , January 1885 , pp. 535 - 550
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1885 

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References

* An indication of the practical importance of the question is afforded by a letter received from a medical superintendent, in which he writes:—“Public opinion in the county is pressing me to make a change, but I cannot yet make up my mind on the question, and am awaiting with interest the result of your debate.” Google Scholar
* The steward of an asylum where alcoholics are used thus expresses himself:—“If there is beer in the way it goes I can't tell you how. Men will take it as they breathe the air. The great difficulty is to keep a hand on the beer barrel. It is extraordinary what dodges and schemes there are to get at the beer barrel.” He does not, however, approve of the practice of disallowing beer altogether.Google Scholar
* The number in the list of non-alcoholic asylums would have been larger, had I not excluded those in which beer is given to workers. Returns have also come to hand since this paper was written, reporting the non-use of alcohol in the Armagh, Maryborough, and Haddington Asylums.Google Scholar
As is well-known Dr. Strange, of the Salop Asylum, holds strong views against disallowing beer in asylums. He, however, says “I see no reason for giving beer to a lot of idle imbeciles and dements.” It is “only given to real working patients and by medical order.” Google Scholar
* i.e. The beer thus given to attendants makes the difference between 2s. and 3s. 9d.Google Scholar
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