Palla Ákos szerk.: Az Országos Orvostörténeti Könyvtár közleményei 19. (Budapest, 1960)

Kárpáti Endre: A magyarországi alkoholellenes küzdelem története

liquors. Gyula Nagyiványi-Fcketc, Gyula Csillag claim in many of theit publications a vigorous intervention of the State

1 in favour of the lessening of liquor consumption. Dr. Gyula Donath calls attention to the degenerative* symptoms caused by alcohol consumption. Even in the last decade of the XIX

th century several physicians find it desirable to establish, following foreign examples, institutions and sanatoria for curing alcohol addicts. Despite all this, social organisation on a broader scale against the ravages of alcoholism started only in the first years of our century. Doctors working in the Good Templar masonic lodge have the leading roles in this work. Some of them were: Dr. Fülöp Stein, Dr. József Madzsar, Dr. József Hollós, Dr. Gyula Donath and many more. In medical circles several antialcoholistic associations are started; doctors study and publish foreign literature bearing on the subject. They cooperate with the Antialcohol-Union of the workers, reccently founded, hold lots of explanatory lectures in factories and trade unions, publish periodicals and pamphlets against alcoholism. The X

th International Antialcoholic Congress held in Budapest in 1905 has among its members numerous foreign authorities on the question of liquor. Propaganda against alcoholism made by the trade unions is supported by the Socialdemocratic Party; many personalities who were to get famous in the Hungarian labour-movement participate in this work (József Madzsar, Elek Bolgár, Jenő Hamburger, Béla Vágó, etc.). - Claims put forward most often against alcoholism are: closing of pubs on Sundays, establishing of sanatoria and homes for alcohol-addicts, instruction concerning alcoholism. The results of a survey concerning alcohol consumption of school-children are published at the Antialcoholic Congress in London in 1909 and create sensation. - The claim of closing the pubs on Sundays is sustained by most of the counties, the Government however, which gets a substantial income out of alcohol consumption, turns them down. The Committee for Antialcoholism gets an unwilling support of the Government, yet this fact shows that through the pressure of public opinion some sort of success can be obtained. Several sharp interpellations are voiced in the Houses of Parliament concerning the ravages of alcoholism and the responsibilities of the Government in this question. The Labor-Insurance-Fund participates equally in the fight against alcoholism; it establishes, in 1913, two institutions for the care of alcohol-addicts. The most important of all of them is, however, the one erected in Rákospalota in 1909 by the Charity Association. This sanatorium treated addicts by deprivation, it worked until 1915 under the able leadership of Dr. Fülöp Stein and cured hundreds of people. In the second decade of our century numerous alcohol-free restaurants were opened in Budapest. Antialcoholistic propaganda was furthered also through several exhibitions organised by the Museum for Sociology.