The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-10-02
Best Cure for Intoxicating Habits

simply medical point Of view, how the llaL-
1t OF mtoxication is best averted or cured
! 1t is well known to all physicians that some
persons are constitutionally more disposed
! TO II than others !; some hcre,litariy and
some from tho effects of iu.lulgences long
since abandoned so far rs is. their mower :,
yet 50 inclined to it that their self control
their sanity and strongest powers of will
though they may be perfect at all other
points, are completely frustrated here. 1t
may be said, indeed, that this, being ,l.
result of former induigenccs, is their own
FAULT but this even does not make it less
their misfortune, aud if such are sincere in
their ctfo'ts to abandon it, so much the
more are they deserving Of all the assist
/ ance that can be rendered TO them.
1t belongs TO all wrong doing thus to
generate Il tendency to reproduction. II
the man who has thus Injured himself is to
be esteemed ever SO guilty, the question
might yet remain in morals precisely whe,h
er the guilt lay chiefly in The present as in
the past acts of his life, whether he is not
now to be reylrIel and treated rather as
morally insane OH this topic, than immc,li
ately and simply rcprcl:cnsible. Almost
all men have their weak spots, anl few can
h'ast Of II perfect v sounl physical, mental
and moral constitution. The physician ran
sometimes cure these cases best, be-
cause it is not his duty to consider where
the fault lies, but only how it is 10 be rem.
e.lied.
1t is well known that C"lrri,lge hal be.
! come SO infatuated ly, .and AFFLICTED to, the
use Of opium, tlIa. his friends had all given,
him up for lost. One Of his war,nest aI-
mrers hired a man to watcl, him night and
dny, and prevent his gctlin. access to the
pcrnicious drug. But he balilr,l his guard
again anl again. At last, ,attcr suffering
agnncs OF rcnorSc, such MS even his own
grapli: pen rontrssrs itself unable to .lcs-
crbe, in the depths Of humility nlrl contr
ton, he sought ont Il jult:io,,> physician, to
whom he revealed his whole c;.S,, his slrug-
glcs aud Ills desires, placed himself under
his control and care, and ivcl, and finally
died, i'll that mans house, after Il successful
retor"a''o" Of five and twenty yssrs. The
confession of his weakness, and lie realiz;.-
tion that however gully in its causes, it
was now a case of moral insanity, we sup
pose WAS what saved him to be cured by
medical means.
There arc many men, who, from various
causes uf earl y habits, Seem periodically to
require some great excitement, either phy>,-
cal, mental, or moral. Hence the uncon-
trollable spells Of drinking into which some
men will fall occasionally, in tle absence of
T, mental slimulants, bitterly as they regret it,
! and mourn over it at other times. resolve
against it, or VOW against it. The butler vf
the celebrated William Pitt used 10 ,eate
that his master would first of all give him
strict orders before dinner not to bring up
more than So much wine, and afterwards,
when it was gone, he would call for more,
order, threaten. rave, and once dragged the
butler down stairs to the cellar, Ly main
force, to get more wine.
Very frequently it is found that great
mental exctiemcn: and eXer;ions may be
substituted for these physical paroxysms.
Thus it WAS remarked vi tho late Senator
tusk, that, although in early Iife mucI, nd
dicted to occasional rcvcls nf this kind, vet
that, as l,e warmed into political life, these
periods became more aud more rare, and
| that i'll proportion 10 the,cxcitem,cnt OF any
occasion, lie would rise 10 it, calm and clear.
, Strong mental or moral excitement, them
seems to form ono OF tho very best counter
; ir,itants or remedies against this cravn.
thirst for physical stimulants. The only
danger is, that in any moment uf reaction
; AIRY depression, always liable to recur after
great excitement, tho danger Of falling into
tho use ofstimulants is proportionably great.
With proper medical care and walclfulness,
these periodical cravings for excitement, will,
however, become less and less frequent, and
also subside in violence.
The strength of this craving, however,
when once aroused. is so vehement, that We
can only conjecture that without some mode
Of satisfying it, it ould perhaps prove fn,al
Indeed, the sudden and total cessation OF
tho use Of stinulants is ono of the Most fre.
qucnt causes OF frnania-a-potu. But tho sub
stitution OF one form of excitement for an.
other, gradually tapering oil tho whole i,to
"a healthful regular activity Of the whole
man, is what is TO be aimed at in AL sucl,
cases, while care must be taken to allow full
ocope for this excitabiFty of te,nl,cralpent in
some other way than by drink, until i, sub,
sides ofitself. @@f ~" rs'-ni
A mere physician Of the body would ut.
terIy fail III such work as this. Ths
whole man, physical. mental and moral
| "Voe w SOhSiucscoS oluuIcu, WutCtIeu, cA-
cited or claimed to Just The proper degree,
rs the only neans of restoring to his righ,
mind aud true nature one who has wanduse
ed from the paths of reason.at 10 s,,a,,
+ Could a. private hospital be formed, un.
der the charge Of some physician Of ability
TO reach thai whole complexities Of tliese
eases, study their history, and desire, arr hun.
dreds, perhaps thousands of families Of largo
fortune, WHO would willingly payahy fai,
amount and who would irsjoice 10 place
their friends, and some to =, enter Of them
selves, ,uDdeEtbs care of so valuable afrieul
as such a physicisn wonld prove. s;at y >
ssaf ,.,..s - r. r. - ss,,s hilddslpAia kesysr. >
T q, T~o'youhgiladies.of this ely, swslkine
into new icecream saloon, |. few day.
I since. - Al 81 attepdant ssyidshuy y very
i araw-naitedto Tor iheir orief kse,4 - vi I. 70 =