Newspaper Page Text
The Southern Cross, March 3, 1966—PAGE 5
FAMILY CLINIC
By JOHN J. KANE, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
University of Notre Dame
For the past four years I
know my husband has been
taking barbiturates. He has an
independent income, doesn’t
work and does nothing but go
to church on Sunday. He has
all kinds of excuses for the
medication, sore shoulder,
cold, etc. Last night when I
came home he was in a stu
por and it took two hours to
get him out of it. Can he be
cured? Shall I leave him?
* * *
Barbiturates include a num
ber of different drugs. Among
them are phenobarbital, pen
tobarbital sodium, secobar
bital, amobarbital and a mix
ture of seconal and amytaL
In the argot of the addicted
they are called “goof balls”,
“Christmas trees” and “Blue
Heavens”. They have a legiti
mate use in medical treat
ment, but it is estimated that
about half of the nine million
pills produced each year go
into illicit trade.
The person under the in
fluence of these drugs acts
as though he were intoxicated
with alcohol. The amount
necessary to produce this
state varies with the indivi
dual. Those who have become
habituated to their use, may
consume enough to kill one
unaccustomed to their use.
A small amount of these
drugs at first makes the per
son relaxed, sociable, out
going but he is slower to re
act and becomes less alert.
If the dosage is increased
he tends to be sluggish, de
pressed perhaps querulous.
Just as the intoxicated indivi
dual gets a “thick tongue”,
so that this speech is affected,
so does the excessive bar
biturate user. He may stagger
and eventually go into a coma.
At this stage he is indeed in
a bad way and medical help
should be sought at once. If
not, he may die.
Unlike the person who has
become drunk and then sick,
thus vomiting the alcohol, and
eventually reviving, the bar
biturates are not vomited. A
stomach pump is necessary
to remove them.
Some individuals take bar
biturates and alcohol together.
The danger here is that if a
person lapses into a coma,
he is believed to be drunk on
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alcohol. Nothing is done for
him, and he too may die.
Usually, barbiturates are
taken orally, but some dis
solve the contents and inject
it with a hypodermic needle.
If this is the case ulcers
may be found on their arms,
particularly since many who
inject drugs are ignorant of,
or careless about observing
aseptic techniques so that in
fection may result.
Even those who are taking
them under a physican’s pre
scription should be careful.
Directions are to take one at
bedtime to induce sleep.
Later, the per son awakens and
in accordance with in
structions takes another pilL
If he awakens again, he is apt
to be groggy, forget that he
has already taken two pills
and again swallow one.
If enough of the drug is taken,
the person may die ac
cidentally. It is not wise to
leave the pills close to the
bedside for this reason, and
if ordered by a doctor, should
only be taken in absolute
accordance with his instruc
tions.
The use of barbiturates as
well as “pep pills” is becom
ing a serious problem in the
United States. Legislation in
troduced by Senator Dodd and
Representative Harris would
make it illegal to posses these
drugs in large quantities.
At present such laws exist
in several states and police
are reporting an increased
number of arrests of persons.
for possession. College stu
dents have been known to use
them, sometimes mixing the
“goof ball” with a “peppill”
for kicks.
The reasons why persons
become addicted to narcotics,
barbiturates and other drugs
are far from clear. Research
on this matter literally fills
volumes but, unfortunately,
some of it is pure specula
tion. For example, some au
thorities claim that per
sonality defects cause this
addiction. But studies on the
personalities of users has not
been carried on prior to ad
diction.
Undoubtedly some acquire
the habit as a result of
association with users who
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urge them to try these drugs
for kicks. They do, and if
the reaction is pleasant, may
try them again and again until
they are “hooked”.
Other addictions may re
sult from medical treatment.
At first, the drugs are used
properly but when the “kick”
follows, there is a tendency
to increase the dosage. Even
tually, these people cannot
live without them. They suffer
a withdrawal pain which only
the drug satisfies. In fact,
some undergo convulsions and
delirium.
People who suffer acute
anxiety,and are severely tense
may turn to barbiturates after
they have been heavy drinkers,
even alcoholics. They dis
cover that these drugs can
have the same effect in lower
ing anxiety or in relieving
tensions that alcohol had. But
in reality, the ultimate danger
is even graver.
If you are certain that your
husband is addicted to barbi
turates, then he is a medical
problem. Consult your physi
cian at once. He will be able
to make a proper diagnosis
and recommend treatment.
Your husband can probably
be cured if the matter is faced
realistically by you. I doubt
he can do so. But his environ
ment will have to be guarded
carefully after he returns
home because the number of
relapses is large.
Of course, you should not
leave your husband. At pre
sent he is a sick man, and he
needs you now more than ever.
See that he gets medical help.
You may also help others if
you discover and report the
source of his supply which is
certainly illegal. This is an
increasing problem, i.e. bar
biturates addiction. Unfortun
ately, it probably goes unre
cognized in too many cases.
Dr. Kane will be unable to
answer personally. However,
he welcomes your suggestions
of topics that would particu
larly interest you. Address
Dr. Kane in care of this news
paper.
NUN TRIMS BANGS
No ‘Beatles’
In Her School
ST. LOUIS (RNS)—Earfier
this year, Sister Charlotte
Ann, principal of St. Ann Ele
mentary School in a St. Louis
suburb, did what she consider
ed a necessary but com-
partively unexplosive thing.
She warned boys and girls
that if they didn’t get their
bangs above eyebrow level,
she would go throuji the class
rooms with a pair of scissors
and do the cropping herself.
She did just that. Some 20
girls and a handful of boys
showed up on deadline, as un
cut as ever. Some laughed,
some whined and some tried
to bluff. But when the deed
was done, the children laughed
it off.
A couple of disgruntled
parents told her she had gone
too far. She explained her
action with the statement:
“My sole purpose was to
protect their eyes. Some of
the children had bangs which
hung so low they could not
look up at a teacher without
constantly batting their eyes.”
The story of the nun’s ac
tion to date has drawn more
than 100 letters from many
areas of the U. S.
“Hurrah for you,” wrote a'
Tulsa fan. From Detroit: “A
big Yea, Sister!
Louisville, Ky.; “I wish
hundreds more teachers and
parents would do the same.”
Camden, N.J.; “Bravo for
the fine barbering job you
did.”
“I had many telephone calls
too,” Sister Charlotte Ann
said. “The people were all
nice except for the young man
who wouldn’t identify him
self—“all he asked was, ‘Is
this St. Ann’s Barbershop?”’
“But there are so many
things in education that are
important,” the nun added.
“If there is no discipline, how
can you uphold educational
standards? Such a fuss about
a little thing like hair-cutting
takes you off your feet.”
Parish Scenes
Pacelli Mardi Gras
The freshman class at Pacelli High School won the Mardi
Gras competition and their representative, Helen Brennan,
was crowned Mardi Gras Queen.
Waycross Altar & Rosary
The monthly meeting of St. Joseph’s (Waycross) Altar and
Rosary Society was held recently. Plans were formulated for
a desert sale which was held last Sunday and for a Spring
Rummage Sale scheduled for March 26th.
St. James Home & School
A movie entitled “Mary’s Day” was shown to members of
St. James Home and School Association. The movie was pre
pared by the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters to illustrate
a meaningful manner of celebrating May Day. A nominating
committee was named to find a successor for the resigning
president-elect.
Macon Officers
The following officers were installed at the monthly meeting
of St. Joseph’s (Macon) Council of Catholic Women: President-
Mrs. Robert M. Young; Vice-president-Mrs. Donald Benton;
Treasurer- Mrs. Robert Hurley, Jr.; Secretary-Mrs. Joseph
Hammonds. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas Sheehan is advisor of the
group.
St. Mary’s Home & School
Brother Robert, of Aquinas High School, was speaker at the
February meeting of St. Mary’s on-the-Hill Home and School
Association. Brother’s topic was “Catholic Book Week”. The
science projects entered in the Science Fair by St. Mary’s
students were on display at the meeting. Winner of the school
competition was Rickey Bowles, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard
N. Bowles. His project will be entered in the area Science
Fair competition.
Catholic Book Week
Catholic Book Week, February 21-26, was observed with a
variety of interesting activities at Blessed Sacrament SchooL
Each afternoon over the Public Address System a “C.B.W.
Broadcast” gave pupils from all the classes the opportunity
to share with the listeners their book reports, essays, biograph
ical sketches of famous authors, and original poems and songs.
For the artistically inclined, poster, book jacket and book-mark
contests were held. The presentation of a play “Tom Sawyer”
by Sister Mary Chrysostom’s sixth grade and awarding
prizes to the contest winners was the culminating activity on
Friday.
OPTIMIST ORATORICAL CONTEST — Charles. McKenzie was the winner
of the Optimist Oratorical Contest at Sacred Heart, Savannah. Pictured (1.
to r.) Rev. L. G. Cleverdon of the Bull Street Baptist Church; Mr. Authur
Gignilliat, member of Georgia House of Representatives; Mrs. Dorothy
Ayers, supervisor of program for exceptional children public schools in Chat
ham County; Mr. Joseph R. Jones, chairman of the Oratorical contest; Char
les McKenzie and other school finalists Billy Brennan and Jake Virgil.
(Staff photo by Bob Ward)
SUPREME KNIGHT ASKS
‘Cooperation, Friendship’
Between K.C. And Masons
SHARON, Mass. (NC)—The
supreme officer of the Knights
of Columbus called for “co
operation and friendship” be
tween the Knights and the Ma
sons, and outlined three areas
for joint efforts.
Supreme Knight John W.
McDevitt told a brotherhood
breakfast co-sponsored here
by the Knights and the Ma
sons that the fraternal or
ganizations should cooperate
in “the spread and defense
of a belief in God; the pro
motion of patriotism; and the
safeguarding of a national mo
rality.”
McDevitt said: “It is high
time for the dissipation of any
recriminations, disaffections
or petty jealousies that may
have formed a barrier to co
operation and friendship be
tween the Knights of Columbus
and members of the Masonic
order.”
McDevitt said the bond be
tween the two societies is “our
mutual belief in God and the
paramount importance and
eternal destiny of the human
souL”
He warned against “a pro
fessedly atheistic political and
economic philosophy” which
has seized much of the world
and is infecting the U. S.
“Believers in God and eter
nal values must close ranks
to prevent our nation from
becoming a scourged earth
pillaged of its religious heri
tage,” he said.
“We must fight to keep
religion from being pushed
back into the catacombs where
spiritual ideals and principles
can be shared only in whis
pers behind the private walls
of our homes.”
He also charged that “ttie
precious precept of patrio
tism” is “in serious trouble
today.”
“We have come to a sad day
when some misguided mem
bers of our youth would rather
hoist on their shoulders the
draft card burner than the win
ner of the Congressional
Medal of Honor.”
He also urged that the
Knights and the Masons coope
rate “in stressing the para
mount need of a fundamental
morality.”
License and opportunism
“are eating away at the basis
of morality,” he said, and
added:
“Both the sins of license
and opportunism reach be
yond the realm of private
concern because they erode
the foundations on which a
nation’s grandeur is built. No
nation can rise to eminence
or hold to it if its citizens
have become infected with the
cancer of petty opportunism or
depraved license.”
SOUTHERN
VENETIAN
BLIND CORP.
REPAIRS - RE FINISHING
LAUNDRY
Paulsen & 69th EL 5-6675
Savannah
MAIM FROM
HUNGER
THE HOLY FATHER’S MISSION AID TO THE ORIENTAL CHURCH
Prime Minister Shastri of India swam the Ganges
as a boy, his school books strapped to his head,
because he lacked the ferry fare to ride across
the river to school. He was still penniless when
he died in January. All his life he had accepted
just enough of his paycheck to support his family.
The rest he gave to the poor. ... In suffering
southern India this month more than 12 million
people (children included) face starvation. At
least 100 million more are hungry all the time.
... Do you wonder the Holy Father asks us this
Lent to share the crumbs from our table—in his
own words, ‘to free man from hunger?' Hunger,
he says, is everyone’s enemy: It "perhaps con
stitutes the most serious threat to the peace of
the world.”
NOBODY
NEEDS
YOU?
SISTERS
EATON
THE
GROUND
HOW
TO HELP
THEM HELP
THEMSELVES
MAKING
A
WILL?
"WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT INDIA?"
□ In the hands of a thrifty native Sister your
gift in any amount ($1,000, $750, $500, $250,
$100, $75, $50, $25, $15, $10, $5, $2) will fill
empty stomachs with milk, rice, fish and vege
tables. ... If you feel nobody needs you, help
feed these hungry boys and girls!
4*
nw
□ Sister Cornelia reports in Cherpu village the
barefoot Franciscan Clarist Sisters eat on the
ground because they lack a kitchen-dining room.
To build and equip a convent will cost only
$1,425. ... In memory of your loved ones?
Name it for your favorite saint.
4fc
□ Archbishop Mar Gregorios will write person
ally to say where he’ll locate it if you enable him
to buy ($975) two acres of land as a model-
farm for a parish priest. Raising his own food,
the priest can teach his parishioners how to
increase their crop production. (A hoe costs
only $1.25, a shovel $2.35.)
4fc
The Holy Father uses stringless bequests where
they're needed most—this month in India, for
instance. Our legal title: Catholic Near East
Welfare Association. . . . $10,000 will build a
‘parish plant’ (church, rectory, school and con
vent). Name it for your favorite saint.
£•)
Dear enclosed please find $
Monsignor Ryan:
FOR
Please name_
return coupon
with your street,
offering
CITY.
STATE.
ZIP CODE.
THE CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION
CATHOLIC BOOK WEEK Assembly Program at
Blessed Sacrament School featured a play, “Tom
Sawyer”, presented by Sister Mary Chrysostom’s
sixth graders. Pictured on the front row, left to
right, are CHUCK — Doyle Crider, SID — Harry
Connally, BECKY — Mary Ann Haslam, BEN —
Tim Robertson, TOM SAWYER — Jimmy Woods,
and AUNT POLLY — Lollie Mock. Standing are
the owners of the prize winning book week posters,
book jackets, and book-marks.
NEAR EAST
MISSIONS
FRANCIS CARDINAL SPELLMAN, President
MSGR. JOSEPH T. RYAN, National Secretary
Write: Catholic Near East Welfare Assoc.
330 Madison Avenue • New York, N.Y 10017
Telephone: 212/YUkon 6-5840