WASHINGTONIAN HOME 
No. 41 Waltham Street, Boston. 
In view of the fearful havoc made every year, all over the length and breadth of the land by 
intemperance, which both destroys its victims and robs society of their labor and their influence, 
there are few questions, which, by careful consideration of private and public interest, commend 
themselves to the Christian philanthrophist more than this :—“Can inebriety be cured?” 
There was a time, when unanimously, the public voice, both of the learned and unlearned, 
answered in the negative, and but little effort was put forth to arrest the progress of this evil, or 
secure its victims from its deadly grasp. With the progress of the Temperance Cause, however, 
the opinion of those, who have taken pains to investigate the matter, has greatly changed, and 
thanks to the valuable help afforded by the light, shed upon the subject by science, inebriety is 
now looked upon, not as a vice only, but as a disease, which, with proper care and under the 
right treatment can be cured. 
So mysterious, however, is the nature of that disease, so complex and obscure its character, 
involving as it does, abnormal conditions of both body and mind, and varying in every case, with 
individual temperament and characteristics, that it often happens, that even while its existence is 
admitted, yet less dependence is placed upon medical science for its cure, than upon new sur- 
roundings, new habits and new associations. Thus numbers of men—who on recovering from a 
long course of inebriety, have found themselves in a Temperance atmosphere, and disgusted with 
the past, have gratefully embraced the opportunities offered them, pledging themselves, attending 
Temperance meetings, and on every occasion renewing their pledge by new committals to Total 
Abstinence,—have seemed thoroughly reformed, or cured, although without any aid from the 
physician. But when, of necessity perhaps, their circumstances became different, and they were 
deprived of those outward helps to their strength of resolution, upon which, almost unconsciously, 
they have learned to depend, they soon wavered, and after a while, fell again and again. 
It is evident, therefore, that however useful all those influences may be, as mere outward 
helps, something more is needed; for, even admitting inebriety to be merely a mental disease, a 
species of insanity, inherited or acquired, by some means of which the patient has no knowledge, 
yet, such are the peculiar relations of mind and body,—the abnormal condition of each acting on 
the other—that while the morbid developments of the physical system, which result from ine- 
briety, will effectually paralyze all efforts at restraint, the continued indulgence, which the patient 
is powerless to deny himself, will daily aggravate those infirmities, which render resistance impos- 
sible. No effort for renewed self-control can be made, therefore, with a chance of success, with- 
out the help, so far as possible, of a healthy system, both mental and physical. The first attention then, in any rational treatment, must he given to a searching and patient 
diagnosis of whatever malady may suggest itself, and the application of the proper remedial agents. 
Indeed, post mortem examinations have established the fact beyond the shadow of a doubt, that 
undue indulgence in drink, not only intensifies some already prevailing weakness, but produces 
lesions all through the physical system, so that in reality, there is not an organ of the body, that 
is not impaired in its functions, by this fatal habit. 
The mistake is often made, that in order to cure the disease, the appetite for drink must be 
removed, hence the nostrums and the panaceas, so widely advertised, which profess to destroy the 
appetite. It is safe to say, however, that such assumed specifics are based, neither upon common 
sense, nor upon any number of well authenticated cures. It is not the appetite alone,—that is 
the morbid craving for stimulants—which constitutes the disease, but that craving, and infirmity of 
will in resistance, combined with it. Remove either, therefore, and a cure has been effected. 
As for the appetite, whether it be idiopathic, as is sometimes the case, or induced by the 
habits of the past life, as it more often is, it can never be removed, by any human shill. It may be 
weakened by a long lapse of time, but it will never die, so long as its possessor may live. The 
efforts of the physician must, therefore, be directed towards the other component part of the 
disease; in other words, the will must be stimulated and strengthened up to the point of total 
abstinence, by removing, through all the resources of medical and psychological skill, everything 
which has undermined it in the past, or may enfeeble it in the future. When the power of will 
once more asserts itself over appetite, or in other words, when the power to practice total absti- 
nence is attained, it is of little practical importance, whether the appetite lives or dies. 
The~method of cure consists, therefore in applying the proper remedies to the physical 
condition, thus removing every weakening influence, which past indulgence might have over the 
will. Then, when the physical system is in the right condition, leaving the mind entirely free, 
let no man, however long he may have been a slave of appetite, imagine that he is the helpless 
victim of destiny; he can have power over himself, to repress the cravings of his appetite, for 
human will counts for something, not only in the modification of physical nature, but in the mod- 
ification of a man’s own nature. “But” to borrow, and apply to the subject on hand, the words 
of Prof. Geo. E. Day, M. D., of England, speaking on the prevention of insanity, “ the will can 
only be developed by exercise; cannot be fashioned suddenly, and through reflection only ; must 
be a slow and gradual growth, through action in relation to the circumstances of life. Just, in 
fact, as he gains by practice a particular power over the muscles of his body, associating them in 
action for the performance of complicated acts, which without previous training, he could no more 
perform than he could fly, rendering his muscles in this regard, habitually obedient to the dictates 
of his will, so can he, in like manner gain by practice, a particular power over the thoughts and 
feelings of his mind, associating them in action, for the definite accomplishment of a definite aim 
in life, and rendering them in this regard, habitually obedient to the dictates of the will, in the pur- 
suit of its ideal,” The right scientific advice to any one, who has suffered from the disease of 
inebriety, is then, as soon as he has regained his physical health, to strive before all things to 
develope his will, and by no means to believe that prayer,—if by prayer he means what is too 
often meant, viz : merely a formal or sentimental invocation for help from on high, and not 
the sincere and earnest expression of all the energies of the heart and mind—can compensate for 
lack of will in the conduct of life. It is for the cure of inebriates by the aid of such means,—that is by restoring to the will its 
power oyer appetite,—that inebriate asylums have been established; and the results obtained are 
of such encouraging nature, as to prove beyond a doubt, the necessity of those institutions for 
the cure of the particular disease of inebriety, as there are hospitals for the cure of other diseases. 
It was for Massachusetts, (the City of Boston, in 1858,) to attempt the first practical demon- 
stration of the above theory, by establishing the Washingtonian Home, where all classes needing 
its aid were freely admitted, and care and attention bestowed on all alike. Such favorable results 
were attained as to call public attention to its peculiar work. The State came to its aid, and the 
Legislature appropriated the sum of three thousand ($3,000) dollars, the first year,which enabled the 
institution to enlarge its work and increase its accommodations. Donations were made by indi- 
viduals, and by other means the institution has been enabled to erect a convenient building, well 
adapted to the purpose of the institution. It is located at No. 41 Waltham street, a central 
part of the city. 
The institution is now enabled to offer those who seek its benefits all necessary accommoda- 
tions for the care and comfort of its patients. They will be placed under a proper medical treat- 
ment, and all the surroundings will be such as to lead “him who will” to the walks of a higher 
life. The prices for board and treatment will be fixed in each case, taking into consideration the 
condition of each individual. 
Application can be made in person or by letter to the Superintendent at any time. 
ALBERT DAY, ML TY 
May Ist, 1875. 
Supt. and Physician.