ived alcoholism as a disorder occurring primarily among derelicts, and tended not to recognize alcoholism in others. Thus, there were convincing reasons to believe that the social class of the drinker was still a significant factor influencing the diagnosis and treatment of alcoholism. This becomes particularly apparent, even today, when considering the patient populations of many treatment facilities operating in large metropolitan communities. For example, today, as in the 1930s to the 1940s, the Salvation Army facilities cater primarily to the derelict alcoholic; Alcoholics Anonymous serves alcoholics mainly from the middle class; and private alcoholism clinics admit the upper class who can afford their services (Schmidt, Smart, & Moss, 1968, p. 6).
It is also interesting to note that the change in public
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