LIQUOR IN HOSPITALS.

NZ Truth, Issue 252, 23 April 1910, Page 7

LIQUOR IN HOSPITALS.

More Power Wanted by Beards.

TheDunedin hospital authorities ate apparently getting tired of having theiT institution used as a recuperating depot Tor too-too solid topers. The other day "Truth" mentioned the ease of a man who was treated at the hospital for over twenty days, the cost of the neccssarv attendants being 84s per djem. Soon uftoj this man had been ultimately packed off to Scacliff another d.t. patient was rncejvtsd at the hospital.. This was a man who makes a more or less jjr'lliaut living by doing very odd jobs, ond- who is well known round town as being one of those. who, after doing a little work iv the morning, spend their few bobs on liquor and then stand round and cadge for further beer. His ■ latest visit to the hospital was the eighth he

nxtd madiß' aa i result of contfnuousi solid! drinking; but he didn't stay long. At the last meeting 61 the trustees the case was ■ mentioned, and a. suggestion was made ifchat Hospital Boards should he given ■power to have d.t. patients admitted to [. their institutions committed to an mii ebriates' reformatory. The house surgeon ; said the ".patient" would come back again : for a surety, and it seemed wrong that I nothing could be done with him. The fellow m question cannot be properly dealt with bf the police, as he is. never fined for drunkenness, never showing signs of intoxication during his pereginations. Regarding the case recently mentioned Dr. Valintrne has written to the trustees asking foz some explanation, as he thought ihs man could hardly have required personal attendance for so long. Dr. Falconer, m the course of 'an explanation said he didn't believe m d.t. cases being treated m a . general hospital. The previous practice at the hospital had been to strap tha patients to beds, thus obviating the necessity of attendants ; but! he had discarded this as being unscientific, being supported m this by Dr. Hay, Inspector-General of Mental Hosprtals- The doctor said he didn't intend to run r isles with the other patients, and quoted a case of a nurse who was followed by a d:t. man, who attempted to throttle her. The trustees . signified their apjHovalof the. doctor's reply. . • < - <