Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Benjamin Rush and other victories

Ah the joys of going in depth into the hush-hush Victorian era ... found evidence that alcoholism had began being diagnosed by the 1800's, the temperance movement's founding being credited to Dr. Benjamin Rush and his writing: Inquiry Into the Effects of Ardent Spirits Upon the Human Mind and Body. There are several universities that have either archived copies of the 1811 writing or one of its following editions, but alas, they do not wish to share with me. However, I found his main four points in diagnosing alcoholism and his very uncomplicated treatment the disease (and he did term it a disease). Complete abstinence (we'd call that cold-turkey and dangerous, but it was the way they handled drying out). This is what every other source had led me to believe, so I feel like I am making good headway.