The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-02-24

ance, il is much more difficult Tor the phyri
clsG to subdno that diseASa, than when it al
lacks constitutions p,eVous good and sound.
Indeed there can be no quss ion but that hOu>
sands cf moderade drinkers as they arc called,
die, every year, of diseases which, The strict
ly temperate would have passed through IN
comparative safety In the one case, The Pe-
cnllar condliion Of the system, arising ifOm
the use Of this unnatural Stimulus, compllcaes
and sggrava,es all the symptoms, counters
acting The effects Of medicine and thwarling
the best directed efforts of the medical atend-
ant lu the other case, there is nothing 10
contend with, bul symptoms Of a simple and
distinct f,tm; which IN good constitution,
the efficacy of medicine, and The recupera-
tive energies of the system, II may be hoped,
will coon sUbdue.
We come next TO The consideration Of MEN,
tai, or Intellectual disease. | have already
remarked, that under The influence Of Alcohol,
the brain, which is the organ Of intellect,
may become diseased. And # the organ itself
be diseased, It would seem to follow as a
Ralter Of course, that it's functions will be-
come so TOO. This fact is demonstrated TO
us by every days observation. The iDiIence
Of Alcohol as exeGied over the powers of
the mind, extends from The slightest ALBERTA
ton, to the most furious derlum. III some
cases, IT hurts reason fr1m her throne lmpa'r5
judgement, petverts the will, destroys the
moral sense, and poisons all tho social sEiec-
iions. ln ohOi cases, the more malignant
passions are called INTO action, the indlVid-
ual being petulanl, quarreIsone and demons
&C. Under these circumstances It is, that the
drunken madman carries wietchettAess, dts
may and terror, to his own once happy fire.
side--imbrurng his hands, perhaps IN the
blood Of his frantic wife, and helpless chill
dren.
But alcoholic drinks, do not always ex-
hibt these effects, Sometimes, as graphic
pen has described il, ''under the influence Of
a moderate quantity, The countenance lights
up with pleasure, and the mind acts with new
interest and vvacity. IL larger quantity of
the exhilersiing fluid be taken, senslby and
sympalhy unfold themselves. The beneVo-
lent affections flow oul upon all surrounding OBJ
jects; Tears fall as tale of common suffer-
ing istotd-and the whole world is not loo
large sphere, for the exercise of The gener-
Gus sentiments which swell the bosom. The
distinctions OF society are now lost The
half starved Vagrant, is transformed into a
lord, and feels that he ls surrounded with pomp
and plenty. Sometimes he expresses hls ex>
iacies in poetry and song But, as The effects
o! alcoho become more deep, he sings or
shouts inarIcuae responses, to music or
voices, which seem 10 come from distance,
but which are in fact, occasoned by violent
beating Of the arteries Of his own brain.
Soon. the scene changes. He now begins to
decline farther intercourse with external crea-
! ';~"---tp6v muu, reIIe5 wlIHlu GImsrif, hood
less of companions and all things else about
him. The body and limbs, are no longer subs
| ject TO yoliuon, but assume that posture,
dictated by the power Of gravllalion, Thus
| he remains for houIs, in deep sleep Of in
senslbluy."
But, TO all this, .bsve is counterpart.
The phenomena which have been des-
crbed, are invariably succeeded, as have al
ready stated, by corresponding collapse Of
the system, and depression Of the InIeIleclu-
al powers: And, it is during tins state of
exhaustion of mind & body, when recollection
callsup the scenes Ofrecent dissipation, when
| deep retnOrse sezes upon the mind, when
conscience goads, and hopes Of happiness and
usefulness flicker, like the expiring taper, that
the incorporate man is often impelled TO The
awful deed, Of self iEmoIallop!
In hs last place propose, TO speak of De-
hrirm Iremens-a disease exceeding in fear
lui interest any | have hitherto mentioned.
Some Of you perhaps have seen The furious
ravIngs of a patient, under the influence of hy-
drophobia; and many Of you no doubt have
witnessed The writings of your fellow men,
under the spasmodc grip of that proiean dis
ease, the AsIatic Cholera. But even these
diseases, though dreadful TO behold are sur
passed in terrific symptoms, by Derium
Tremens. And, though tongue nor pen, can
adequately portray It's character, will attempt
feeb!y to describe some of the phenomena it
exhibrs
The disease is divided into two varieties; tho
one, consisting of nfamma.ory irritation of
The membranes Of the brain, and the other of
irr'ablily, and exhausted nervous energy
The one form ofho disease, shows itself while
| the blood vessels of the membranes en- yeIop-
ing the brain, are in state of congestion or
vascular excitement has sub bsded, and state
Of exhaustion superveued. You will perceive
then that one form Of delirium tremens, is pro
duced by drunkenness, directly, while The other
form; is produced by the same cause Indirect,
Iy-Ihe one being consequent upon OF accom-
| panylng intoXlcaon, The other resulting frcm
| the abstraction of the accustomed stimulus,