Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-01-30
takes effect successfully upon its several
Liquor produces Insanity.

Liquor produces hlsdnity.
Now if alcohol acts thus uneuually upon
the minds organ, it must Of course act in
the same manner upon the mind ITSELF It's
| first G feet through the brain upon the mind
is to ostimuate or excite it to increased action
but this effect is far from being general and
equal invigoration, or uniform sire ngthening
of all the mental powers it is on the con.
trary partial and unequal action which is
subversive Of their harmony. Alec hoi takes
sides wltb one portion Of the mental consti
tuition against another. Perhaps the high
e. Ett-il ate .ssiLd is tl,skcs-Rer of vspnta-
/ ~ control which IL has over itself, BY whIen
distributing forces are held in check, and it's
energies may be steadastly directed to a
continuous train of thought or difficult sub
| .iect OF investigatiOn Now, the effect of
| iiqu"r is by no means to give increased
strength in tbie direction. 1t neither imparts
dxedness to the purposes, nor persistency to
the will, nor the power of rigid subjGctiOn
over the passional nature. IT'S effects, on the
contrary, are all in the opposite direction.-I
The more volatile faculties, the imaginative
and ideal powers, are quickened under its
influence to excessive exertion, and 90 off
into spontaneous bursts Of w.t. humor and
fancy. There are brilliant corruscations of
ny. But this artificial tumult of the mind is
not favorable to the calm and sober exercise
Of the graver faculties. AS the spontaneous
or automatic activity of the mind, occasion.
ed by brain stimulation, is increased, there
is decrease of its selEcOntrolling, self-reg-
ulating power. The mind cannot serve two
masters Just IN propotion as it is surren-
dered to the influence of an external force,
which invades it through the brain, it ceas-
es to be in its own keeping. With the spar.
kles and efervescenee of alcoholic excite
ment, there is a weakening of the regulating
and restraining forces by which the mind
manages its own movements, a partial loss
Of that voluntary control over the mental
! operations, which, as DR.. Carpenter remarks,
must be regarded as an incipient stage of
insanity At the same time, the lower pas
siOns and propensities are aroused to inordi-
nate activity. In healthful mental conditions,
these press powerfully upon the higher con-
trolling sentiments, and from their reaction
results moral equilibrium of character. The
influence of alcohol is thrown entirely in the
scale of the animal impulses, against the
reason, judgement and conscience, and it is
evident that, where these aIe Just able to hold
the baser passions in subiection and main
tain the minds equipoise, the effect of the
disturbing agent must be to destroy the men,
tai balance and tell disastrously upon the
conduct. That, when Liquors are taken in
sufficient quantity TO produce their charac-
toristic and desired effect, the mind is in some
way Jostied and disturbed, no observingper.
son can doubt Shat, this disturbance,
however trihing IL hay be. consists in repia-
cling the reasoning ard voluntary powers by
blind passional fnrces in the minds govern
ment, is proved Ivy the fact that, if more of
the stimulant be taken, the revolution be
comes complete, reason is entirely prostra-
ted, and brute impulses is in the ascendant
In intOxicaton the action of the brain is so
f deeply perverted rs completely to unhinge
the mind, thought is confused and bewilder-
ed, sef-directing power is lost, the passions
t are stimulated to unrestrained fury, and the
| whole mental fabric is swamped amid the
surges Of delirum. Intoxication is univer-
sally admitted to he a state of temporary in
sanity. To int0xicate,' says Webster, is
to excite the spirits to a kind Of delirium ;
to eate to enthusiasm, frenzy or madness. ,
That such is the effect of alcoholic liquors is
shown by the fact that they are universally
2 known as Intoxicating liquors. Thus the
I common term by which they are designated
/ connects them at once with mans mental
: constitution as cause of frenzy, delirium
1 and madness.
Liquor engenders Malignant forms Of Nervous
disease.
In ordinary intoxication the insane parox-
ysm is transient, ccasing when the provoca-
tive has exhausted itself, or is burned away
and expelled from the system. Yet mental
quetude is hy no meaps Immediately regain
ed the bIllows continue to roll after the
; storm has passed. Exhaustion and prostra.
! tion follow the high wrought excitement
The intellectual powers are torpid the TEN
per is sour and irritable; the passions NOR
bldly excitable and the craving for more o
the stimulant to arouse the depressed ener
y ges is almost irresistible. That the habitu
:, al or frequent plying Of the brain and nervout
y system with this fiery agent, even though
: not taken in excessive quantities, should in
terfere with their healthy nutrtive changes
and give rise to more permanent form O.
;, mental disorder, is what might well be ex
pected, and what experience sadly confirms
There is class of horrible maladies of tht
u nervous system, involving the most melan
choly perversions of mind which are dlrectl,
u produced by this cause. In some instances
! the delirious excitement continues and great
:, ly increases after the immediate effects of tn
}. LIQUOR have passed awav This is the cas-
u with what is termed Delirium Ebriosuns. O
: drunken madness, which is marked, anon,
" " other symptoms, by an uugovernahle and fu
y rous violence of temper. In dcliriun1 tre
!, mems, or delirum with trembIings, the men
~ tai perturbation is characterized by the mos
l distressing anxietes and agoniz,ng appre
! tensions of injury and danger. The victim
"' is under the influence nf frightful illusions
sleeping or waking. His passions, particu
larly those Of fear. jealousy and anger, hav
ian uncomfortable mobility his desires an
~ aversions are equally morbid and the wi
-. ~ displays wild and sleepless energy of ~
us ton" A common hallucinaton is that {
az being haunted by fends and demons, and ,
us feeling snakes, spiders and vermin crawlin
IL over the naked flesh. Under the influence
'e' these horrible delusions, the victim often fit
~ to suicide, or kills others in fanccd self-d
VI =, fence. Delirium tremens is simply the r
"a suit Of disOrdered brain nutrition. 1t ma
81 he brought on by habitual tippling, man
iy having been attacked BY it who were nev,
Nv positively drunk. 1t may he the result
Ie- the nervous exhaustion which follows a d
bauch, or it may occur from want of liuuo
y" and the brain being 50 completely pervert,
!" as to be incapable of anything like resul
~, action, except under the influence of the Stir
nu ulant. DipSomaRia is a kind of paroxys
ne or mania brought on by drinking. in whi
J the individual is consumed v an overwhel,
lu- ing passion for stimulants lie is driven
,wse w seek them 10y the most headlong and resi-
oe- less impulses, which makes him reckless
-" all consequences.
iVb l..