Good evening everyone,
This week we've got (you guessed it...) MORE ROMAN NUMERALS!! Numerals xxv - xxxii to be exact. We will be reading the Doctors Opinion.
From On-Line Sources:
- Dr. Silkworth, a graduate of Princeton University, obtained his medical degree from New York University-Bellevue Medical School, he specialized in neurology. He treated 40,000 alcoholics during his career spending his last years at Knickerbocker Hospital in New York.
- Dr. Silkworth saw alcoholism as an illness, a manifestation of an allergy. The doctor's opinion gives us a rational basis from which to begin our examination of the problem of alcoholism. Our own experience validates his view of the physcial aspects of alchollism. When we begin to drink we develop a craving for more alcohol that is beyond our ability to control.
- Dr. Silkworth treated Bill W. for alcoholism the second, third, and fourth times he was admitted to Town's Hospital in New York. Dr. Silkworth explained to Bill the grave nature of his affliction. This information helped Bill to admit his powerlessness over alcohol so that he was open to the solution for alcoholism suggested to him by his high school friend Ebby T.
- In December of 1934, Dr. Silkworth was the Medical Superintendent at the Charles B. Towns Hospital in NYC. He treated-for the fourth time-William Griffiths Wilson, aka Bill Wilson, a formerly successful Wall Street businessman. Dr. Silkworth had previously concluded and had told Bill and his wife Lois Wilson, that Bill was a “hopeless” alcoholic with a very poor prognosis. During what proved to be his last detoxification, utilizing the bella donna (atropine) detoxification regimen of Towns and Lambert , Bill had a dramatic spiritual experience.
The experience frightened Bill, although it also convinced him that he was free from his alcohol dependence. When Bill sought help from Dr. Silkworth to understand this disturbing experience, wondering if he was hallucinating, or perhaps insane, Dr. Silkworth produced, what from this author’s viewpoint, must be regarded as one of the most modest but historically significant clinical interventions in the history of psychiatry.
According to Bill, Dr. Silkworth looked him square in the eye and said “No Bill, you are not crazy. There has been some basic psychological or spiritual event here. I’ve read about these things in books. Sometimes spiritual experiences do release people from alcoholism.” Dr. Silkworth apparently talked with Bill about the experience for some time and finally ended by telling him that whatever had happened, Bill “had better hold on to it .”
All I can say is Thank God Dr. Silkworth didn't say something like "You say you had a spiritual experience?!?! Hmmmm... Must be a Valium deficiency, here take two and call me in the morning!!"
See you all soon!
Regards,
David t.
2014 Meeting Dates
01/29/14 Speaker Meeting <Shane B>
02/26/14 Speaker Meeting <Fred D>
03/26/14 Speaker Meeting <Pete T>
04/30/14 Speaker Meeting <Clive T>
05/28/14 Speaker Meeting <Todd P>
07/30/14 Speaker Meeting <Dave W>
08/27/14 Speaker Meeting <Edwin H>
09/03/14 Preface & Foreword to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Editions
09/10/14 The Doctor's Opinion
09/17/14 Chapter 1 - Bill's Story
09/24/14 SPEAKER MEETING
10/1/14 Chapter 2 - There is a Solution
10/8/14 Chapter 3 - More About Alcoholism
10/15/14 Chapter 4 - We Agnostics
10/22/14 Chapter 5 - How It Works
10/29/14 SPEAKER MEETING
11/5/14 Chapter 6 - Into Action
11/12/14 Chapter 7- Working with Others
11/18/14 Chapter 8 - To Wives
11/26/14 SPEAKER MEETING
12/3/14 Chapter 9 - The Family Afterward
12/10/14 Chapter 10 - To Employers
12/17/14 Chapter 11 - A Vision for You
12/24/14 SPEAKER MEETING
12/31/14 ~New Years~
Group Feedback:
Like your comment at the end...that probably has happened more than we know.
Russ
For sure, would have been a whole different ending for a whole lot of people. Probably worth examining how so many things came together to make AA what it is today...
See you tomorrow!
David
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