The following is offered for your study only because it was written in 1955 and presented by Samuel M. Shoemaker, a minister of the Gospel, a world-recognized Christian intellectual and an early friend of Bill W. and Dr. Bob. If you find it helpful, the next time somebody wants to change the program or its' purpose to further their ends, feel free to quote Dr. Shoemaker from the following or Bill W. who said, "Sometimes the good is the enemy of the best." "... God chose what is foolish in the … [Read more...]

William Duncan Silkworth, M.D. (For those of you who don’t know, Silky wrote the two letters included in “The Doctor’s Opinion” in the Big Book. He worked at Towns Hospital in New York City, where he helped Bill W. & many early AA members detox from alcohol for the last time.) WILLIAM DUNCAN SILKWORTH, MD (1873-1951) The Roundtable Of AA History, January 10, 1998 Doctor William D. Silkworth, called, "the little doctor who loved drunks", began an indispensable contribution to … [Read more...]

The Prevention of Alcoholism By William D. Silkworth, M.D. New York City Rensselaer, 1950 The "Blue Book" -National Clergy Conference on Alcoholism, 1960 Alcoholism, because it is such a profound social problem, has become the subject of considerable scientific and lay research. Many theories are being advanced as to what it is and why alcoholics are the way they are. It has become a very lucrative source of discussion for many. Out of a phantasmagoria of conflicting and often … [Read more...]

By W. D. Silkworth, New York, N.Y. 293 CENTRAL PARK WEST -MEDICAL RECORD MARCH 17, 1937 Alcoholism is considered by many physicians a chronic condition that gradually unfolds itself to a dismal end. They feel that it is a state of mind and advise these patients that it is up to them to discontinue their accustomed drug, which it is assumed they can do by merely making up their minds to do so. Proper attention is not given to the psychological problem as well as the physical condition of … [Read more...]

By William D. Silkworth, M.D., New York, N.Y. Medical Record, April 21, 1937 The allergic nature of true alcoholism has been postulated in a previous paper (1). We there endeavored to show that alcohol does not become a problem to every person who uses it, and that the use of alcohol in itself does not produce a chronic alcoholic. Of those who are able to drink with impunity, however, a certain number will sooner or later develop this anaphylaxtic condition, in which the tissue cells are … [Read more...]