THE HAGEY INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10514, 6 August 1897, Page 6

THE HAGEY INSTITUTE.

A BOON TO SUFFERING HUMANITY.

THE, TREATMENT ; A PRONOUNOEI ' SUCCESS.

The Hagey Institute for the cure of persons suffering from alcoholism,. and those addicted'to the use of morphia or 1 cocaine, has now been established in Auckland since May 27th, and news of the successful results attained is now common property; indeed so much has the matter been talked of that a Herald representative yesterday called at the institution to gain information concerning the work carried on. He was most courteously received, and shown through the building, a fine, spacious, comfprtable, well-situated residence of twelve rooms in O'Rorke-street, and was at once impressed with the fact that, despite the excellent accommodation, the usefulness of the institution was so rapidly becoming recognised it would be necessary to extend the building or seek some even more commodious premises, and on putting the question was informed that the management were already looking about for much larger quarters. One of the managers said: '• We need a place of twenty to thirty rooms, as we shall without doubt soon have a class of from fifty to seventyfive patients, so rapidly are they increasing." The first matter to strike the eye was the fact that the management are making ample provision for the entertainment of patients; in fact, & run through the interior gives the idea of a club of the better class, the object evidently being to make, the inmates feel that they are not deprived of the ordinary enjoyments of life, and at the same time to establish a good feeling that may attain that permanency, so rightfully accredited to the cure itself. In the billiard, card, reading, and other rooms are to be seen groups of patients, whoso' happy and contented appearance and exuberant spirits denoted that life to them •at the present time was a joy, and worth living, and at the same time plainly evidenced that they were breaking away from their old associations and habits—indeed, one would hardly think, whou looking at those present, (that the curse of strong drink had but so .recently held them in its iron grasp, so changed wore they in appearance. The best possible advertisement to the institution are the patients themselves, and. it is safe to say no single person leaves, who has goiie through the treatment, that is not only willing, but anxious, to testify to it« merit and efficacy. The tour of inspection completed, our representative asked: "How many patients have passed through the trentmont here, nnd with what measure of success

" We have received 42 patients up to this morning," said Mr. Coward, "and new patients are arriving daily. Of this number 27 have been discharged cured, and the balance are still undergoing treatment. Would you like to hare a chat with some of those who have gone through our hands? I can call in one or two in it moment if you feel deposed to question them. Our representative acauiosced and a patient was ushered in, who in answer to question said: " While I would not liko my name published abroad I am' only too pleased at) an opportunity to speak of the efficacy of the treatment. I am now thirty-six years of age, and from the age of fifteen years have had a craving for strong drink. With me it was hereditary and the desire grew so strong upon me that I could not live without my beer, and I frequently drank from ten to twelve glasses per day. My frici)d« stood by me' and did all they possibly could to rescue- me from the clutches of strong drink, but all efforts were unavailing, until at lafet we heard of the Hlgey Institute, and I was persuaded to become an inmate. I did so, 'and to-day I stand a living testimony to (ho efficacy of the cure, having had no desire since I received' the treatment. Ju fact I have been frequently asked by my friends to have a drink, but have always given them the same answer. ( ' No, 1 don't want it.'" The voluntod having retired, the conversation was again resumed.' " Is there any guarantee as to the permanency of the cure!" was next asked. Weil, us matters stand (here in Aucli-; land, we can in a great measure only give you our word for it; it is a matter of time,'' then you will see for yourself; There are, however, already several who have gone through from a month to six weeks since, and if yon go to the trouble of asking them they will be. only too willing to tell you what has been done for them, while it mipht alio be mentioned that the testimonies of 6. F. Hill and 6. H. Campbell have already been published in the daily press. We regard the craving for alcohol and narcotics as-a disease and treat it as such, guaranteeing to completely eradicate the desire and leave the patients in an improved mental and physical condition. We have during the past five years treated over 2200 persons, and every one of them is a reference. It might also be mentioned at this stage that although we have opened a number of institutions at different places we have never treated a more reputable class of men than in Auckland— on* of them has some standing in the community." " Is there anything in the treatment to which the patients might take exception!" " No, absolutely nothing. It is mild in the extreme, and not in the least degree objectionable to the most sensitive." " Will the cure reach the moat depraved and hardened case}"

" Yes, it) will. So long as a man's intellects is amenable to reason during his sober moments we can and do perform as effectual a cure in the case of a person having been addicted to the use of alcohol or narcotics for a period of 30 or torty years as we do in tht case of the comparative novice. We have treated four patients in this institute who were over sixty years of age, one'of whom was addicted to the painkiller habit, and had been for the last sixteen years taking no lass than four bottles daily. He has now been cured over a month. Another had been a heavy drinker for more than thirty years, and in hi* case we were equally successful. We can give you the names and addresses of both, and you can sue them for yourselves." " There are those amongst the public of Auckland who are under the impression that with your institution it' is a case of here to-day and gone to-morrow. Is that so?"

" No, sir, certainly nob; we are here to stay. Wherever a Hagey Institute opens its doors they never close. I can show you proof positive that our institutes have existed in America for over five years, and are still going on and growing and likely to do so. But if you will just excuse me a moment I will show you a paragraph that appeared in the Honolulu Daily Independent of June 19th, 1887, which will giro you some idea of what has been done there within eight months, long enough surely to guarantee the permanency of the cure. The paragraph referred to amongst other things said :-r' It is worthy of remark that out of the 183 patients enrolled since last November it,is difficult to count up ten who have backslided, and in each and every case of the derelicts the treatment cannot be charged with responsibility. This statement is made on an accurate knowledge of individual facts- and contingent circumstances in possession of the directorate and others personally interested. Another interesting feature in connection with the institute is the social club, which is separate from the. medical portion, bub whose parlours are open to the patients undergoing treatment. Under its present directorate the "ex jolly old topers" members have to keep very strictly the path of enjoyable rectitude, or to find other pastures more congenial to their wandering fancier Reliable members can be safely recommended for positions as mechanic* or clerks, or the higher fields of plantation work, on application being made to the executive and employment committee.''" The reporter then , thanked Mr. Cowart for the information volunteered and withdrew. , ,