Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-08-13
From the Baltimore American.

INTzMpERANoE A DIsEAsE.-The last numb.
Of the American Journal Of the Medical Scien.
ees contains an essay on incompetence consi-
dered as a disease. Other diseases, saws n.
writer, in which natural appetites and passions
are morbidly excited, have found their pIacesin
all systems OF medical nosology, while a NOR
bid thirst for intoxicating liquors has been CON.
sidered a moral disease, 10 be treated with NO.
raj remedies. They have found sympathy ion
while i%ntemperance, instead Of icing cured
with medicines, has only been branded with in.
fanny.
The scar Of this disorder is the stomach, and
is produced by . perverted or distorted ac,io,
Of that viscus. In other diseases, palliative,
are useful; not so in intemperance, While N.
thing so quickly relieves the gnawins pain 4,
the stimulating draugh,, the remedy, ultimate,
ly, and indirectly, increases all the symptom,
of the disorder. The class OF lonics, par,icu.
larly bitlers, with or without wine or spirit,
so often prescribed in dyspepsia, is considseI
liable to the same objection.
ain every intemperate man there is an i'm,
mutablc association in his mind between s,imp,
latine liquors and the relief they afford to all
the unpleasant sensations which | have descri.
bed as forming his disease. To him The bo,r,.
is a catholicon; it relieves anorexia, ga,rroSy.
MIA, hatu'ence, nausea, vomiting, choIic, and
those gloomy feelings which are worse than III
II PRODUCES an instant change from BAN "a
pleasure, from despair TO hope, and transform,
hi, ,horny, rugged wilderness OF a world i7o
a paradise. In vain do we prescribe ,enpe,.
ance to such IA patient. He suffers wha, ,6os
who have not had his disease 10 the same ey. |
.o.. oo.no, ,o, Rut hi. ,a,,.J.
hand. s. ne flies 10 It as TO he only con.osi,, |
left him. 10 cure him We must break up this I
association, and convince him by actual ser,a,
| lions, that his remedy has lost its effect. ". {
must likewise change The action Of the .ton,
ach, and restore il to its healthy standard"
DR.. Rush relaies an anecdote Of his having !
cured a negro man Of iasre for spirits by the 4
use Of emetic tartar. 1t required no d~i,ipatiU 4
10 discern that Chamhers's nosrrum possessed Z
This ingredient. The t~artri,e Of %an,imony, By
communicating a disgusting quality 70 the 81.
ids it is dissolved in, readily breaks up he a.
ISOLATION in the patients feelings, brtwrsH bis
| disease and the relief from stimulating liquors
These liquors, with this infusion, increase II.
stead Of relieving the disgust and l%Oa'hirs d q
the stomach, ard produce an indGmitsDt II
| 3ugnance against them. But the best mos d
administering The tartar emetic, is not enc So
tic doses, as in Chambers's medicine, bu' n.,
~:erarive and slightly nauseating doses. "Chr
mic diseases require chronic cures"
"a convenient preparation of the medicines
grs. Of ~tartrite Of anlimony dissolved in ~ S
Of boiling WATERFALL an ounce OF he soIarr
to be put into a half pint, pint, or quartz Of III 3
PATIENTS %favorite liquor, and to be taken, dlIt 81
in divided portions. If severe vomiting
pureing ensue, | should direct laudanum TO!
Law the irritation, and diminish the dose.
every patient it should be varied According a
ils efft e!s; II one instance, in a pAten W
produced, more, ! think, from excessive dmt
ing than the use of the remedy He rrcour!
from 1t, however, without any other bad cfa
In some cases the change suddenly ~produoil
the patients habits has produced c]on,ider..
lassitude and debility, which was Of bur ,1 4
duration. In a majority Of cases no other !
fects has been percep,ibIc than slight n,uyl
some diarrhGa, ard a gradual vi very unia;
distaste 20 the menstrum.
I'm answer TO the question, will il alolr
cure? my experience does not enable me to
a positive answer. That it will always, VII
fairly tried, produce a temporary benefit, lh'
no doubt. have as little doubt lhIt lhrl
medy in :he hands Of intelligent medical r1f
Judiciously administered and cautious, rH
vered in, will do more 10 eradicate lnerf''
ance than all the merely moral causes she
can be brought to bear against The pracic,.