[nandm]

1879-1951

We begin to wonder why it is that we cannot control our drinking. We believe ourselves weak willed or morally deficent. 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.

Following Bill's spiritual awakening, Dr. Silkworth allowed Bill to share his experience with alcoholic patients at Town's Hospital. Bill was having no success in passing on his life saving experience when the doctor suggested that he, "Stop preaching at them and give them the hard medical facts first." Bill followed this advice when he had his first meeting with Dr. Bob. Bill told Dr. Bob of what he had learned from Dr. Silkworth of the hopelessness of his own alcoholic condition.

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 working with his nurse Teddy.

Dr. Esther Richards of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore suggested to Bill W. that an introduction by a specialist in the field of alcholism would be a benefit to the book. Nine days later Dr. Silkworth wrote the first letter of endorsement for this program of recovery that appears in this book.

Just three months after the book Alcoholics Anonymous was printed Dr. Silkworth published the first medical paper on A.A.: "A New Approach to Psychotherapy in Chronic Alcoholism" in Journal-Lancet in July of 1939.

Dr. Silkworth lent A.A. money to get started and spoke in favor of the fledgling society at meetings with potential financial backers. Dr. Silkworth was a great friend to A.A. throughout the remainder of his life.