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It is not easy to see what should be done to prevent symptoms of the kind described in this paper. Faced by a patient with a duodenal ulcer who is known to be a moderate drinker and who has had a number of acute complications of his ulcer, the surgeon must choose whether or not to operate. If he does not do so he may endanger the life of his patient. If he carries out a partial gastrectomy he might convert a reasonably adjusted individual into a chronic alcoholic, incapable of work, a burden to himself and his family alike. A warning about the possible effects of drinking after operation should be given, and if the patient is obviously drinking to excess he should be referred for psychiatric help. Undue preoccupation with dumping symptoms, persistent loss of or failure to regain weight, and repeated requests for potentially habit-forming drugs should all be regarded as warning signals indicating that the patient might be heading for a breakdown or addiction.
Baikie et al. (Sat,) studied this question.