The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-09-27
Philosophy annal Cure OF
HnRGc2pnpcrAlnc


We give below an essay on the
interesting and absorbing topic of
temperance reform. To many of our
readers the views there entertained
will be found moral and worthy Of
serious consideration:
For the present, would discuss
an evil which deuastates the ,corld at
all times and seasons, and which it
requires all the worlds wisdom and
philanthropy to meet, with all the
legal power and scientific information
which can be brought to bear. In
temperance, the almost universal
scourgc of humanity, sweeping aunu-
ally to di+honured grave thirty thou
sand of our population, and probably
4 million of the earth'S inhabitants,
has never yet been rightly understood
and thoroughly treated by the philan-
thropists who are engaged i'll arrcsting
its march; and their iabors, in consc-
quencc, have been productive of but
imperfect results, i'll comparison with
what might have been accomplished,
had there been u correct understanding
of the nature OF this disorder, and the
philosophy of its cure.
With all due Difference for tho pre-.
vious Investigations Of Psychologists, |
must express my regret that they have
tailcl to discover IN enforce the
only great and valuable practical truth
which. upon this subject. physiology
can contribute to philanthropy-to
wit: the proiusIlion that in,cInperanc
is strictly curable disease, and that,
10y proper medical and moral RENE
dies, it may b. entirely removed from
the earth, THE necessary remedies are
applied on scale sufficiently cx,cn
sive. | propose, then, to illustrate:
]. The philosophy of intempcrancc
which explains its production and
its cure.
2. The medical cure and prophy-
laxis.
3. The moral cure and prevention.
The cxtravagunt consumption OF
alcoholic drinks, which is the leading
form Of intemperance in our owu
country, is based upon an. appetite,
which manifests itself in many other
modes, none OF which, however, have
been SO destructive as that Of alcohol.
Spices, condiments, and aromaticS;
coffee, tea, tobacco, opium, cth;:r,
chorotorn, and other narcotics, arc
the common Qualifications Of the in.
temperance appetite. In all of these
indulgences, it exhibits the same
essential character, and love Of pleas.
ant stimulation. The universal pres.
ence Of this appetite for stimulus, in
ali countries, and in all ages of the
human'race, especially in those where
man, as savage, is supposed to be
more nearly in Il g ate ofnature, prov 5
that the love Of stimulus is an inhc.
rent appetite, or organic tendency o
the human constitution, and not ;hc
mere production Of artificial CUSTOM
imitation, and disease. II, then, there
be an inherent natural appetite for
stimulation, that appetite must have
its organic locality, and its laws Of
development and decline, which will
enable us to regulate it's manifesto
tions. That the love Of stimulation
depends, like the love offood, upon a
particular portion of the brain, was
one of my earliest discoveries in scvc
raj cerebral physiology. The organ
upon which the appetite for stimulus
depends, is located Immediately in
front Of the cavity Of the ear, at the
posterior margin of the lower jaw
about half an inch below and behind
its socket: Immediately anterior to
the Love of Stimulus is located tho
organ of Aiimentiveness, or the appe
tito for food.
The excitement of the organ Of Love
ofStiInulus, in an impressiblc subject
creates the true drnnkard;s thirst
III its first degree Of excitement there
is merely desire for tho lig tc
kinds of stiinulatiun-to such drink.
/. as cider, wine, and bee'; bat when til,
organ is more Intensely excited, no
thing but the strongest distilled il
4uors will satisfy its desires. Th'
most DELEGATE ielnalcs, to whom
spoonful Of ardent spirits would be