"Skid row" syndrome: a medical profile of the chronic drunkenness offender

From skid row, 227 chronic "drunks", inmates of the Toronto Jail, were studied to determine the physical features and illnesses of this group. Complete physical examinations, liver function tests, routine hematology, urinalysis, chest radiographs were carried out and previous hospital records were obtained for each man. The data were analyzed by IBM computer and reported in terms of body systems. Items that occurred in sufficient frequency were separated out and listed to compile a "skid row" syndrome. The men averaged 45 years of age, had been drinking heavily for 20 years and had four drunken convictions a year. Tuberculosis was found in 8.8%. Epilepsy was confirmed in 8%. Cirrhosis of the liver was definite in 3% of the group; 75% were under the Canadian average weight, and 25% had significant body deformities. It was estimated that, if necessary therapy was carried out, 90% of the men would be able to perform useful labour.