Punch,  42 (1862), 97.

Depots for Dypsomaniacs

Tobias Potts

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Narcotics, Hospitals, Crime, Medical Treatment, Mental Illness, Temperance, Gender


    Written in the style of a writer of limited literary ability, the author discusses a letter to The Times about 'a Ome for the Destitute at Edinbugg' (this is possibly St Vincent's Home for Destitute Children, Edinburgh), and the fact that the inmates 'is all Maniacs through their abits of inn temperance'. To support this, an extract from the letter in The Times is quoted in which the correspondent notes the medical consensus on the notion of ranking dypsomaniacs (the habitually intemperate) alongside 'the sick and insane', and the corresponding need for 'compulsory seculsion' of these often dangerous victims of drink. Notes the correspondent's call for 'a Norsepital or lunatic Asyliam' for these individuals and then presents his arguments for establishing an institution for the medical treatment, 'cheerful employment', 'reformation', and 'simple security', of the intemperate woman of the house. Concludes by offering his own and his bibulous friend Bill Snoggins's support for the move.



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