ADDRESSES OF REV. HENRY W. BELLOWS, D. D. AND PROFESSOR ROSWELL D. HITCHCOCK, DELIVERED AT THE BROADWAY TABERNACLE, NOVEMBER 7, 1855, IN BEHALF OF THE INEBRIATE ASYLUM. DR. TURNER'S ADDRESS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, CHARTER AND BY-LAWS.

8vo. 54pp. Pamphlet with paper spine strip, no wraps. Paper toned with a number of marginal markings in pencil. Title soiled otherwise clean. Very good. “The drunkenness of this country is almost a part of the national character and policy.” [p.2]. Contains addresses, treatment, effects of alcohol on the stomach, liver, lungs and kidneys. The authors correlate alcoholism with insanity and estimate that by 1950 (nearly a century in the future), the United States will have a population of 243, 839, 285 of which one in twenty-one people will be “insane and idiotic.” [The U.S. population in 1950 was in fact just under 153 million]. Dr. Turner gives an example of his schoolmate, Dr. H., who graduated with the highest honors, became a medical doctor and travelled to Europe studying medicine in all the major cities. He spoke French, Italian and was well versed in Danish and German. Upon his return to the United States, he started drinking and became a homeless drunk. Dr. Turner did everything to help his friend, even sharing his bed with him. Dr. H. partially recovered but soon relapsed and was found dead. Includes the charter of the Inebriate Asylum, passed March 27, 1857. By-Laws, list of trustees, resolutions of the New York State medical society and a petition by 1,300 New York physicians to the NY Senate, with over 120 signatures [in print]. The New York State Inebriate Asylum was the first institution of its kind to treat alcoholism as a mental disorder rather than a moral failing. Rare. [Alcoholism-United States].…