Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-09-08
Best Cure for Intoxicating Habits

The question has often been asked. in a sim. ' medical point of view, how the habit of toxlcation Is best averted or cured. It is well aown to all physicians that some persons are |nshutionally more disposed to it than others; ome hereditariy and some from the effects of |ndulgences long since abandoned so far as in |eir power, are yet so inclined to it that their |eIf-control, their sanity, and strongest powers will, though they may be perfect at all otb. | points, are completely frustrated here If ay be said, indeed, that this being the result | former indulgences, is their own fault: but |nS even does not make it less their misfor- ihe and II such are sincere in their efforts to ahdoh IT, so much the more are they deserv- z ot all the assistance that can be rendered l them.
 It belongs to all wrong doing thus to gene- llte tendency to reproduction. If the man ho has thus injured himself is to be esteem. ever so guilty, the question might vet re- laan in morals precisely whether the guilt lav lnehy m the present, as in the past acts of his ie, whether he IS not now to be regarded and felted rather as morally insane on this tonic nan 'nlneaiatey and simply reprehensibe. Al. post all men have their weak spots and few lan boast of perfectly sound physical man. fll and moral constitution. The physician lan sometimes cure these cases best because it I not hls duty to consider where the fault lies ! ut only how it is to be remedied.
 It Is well known that Coleridge had becomn I infatuated by and addicted to the Use of ium, that his friends had all given him mn | lost. One of hls warmest admirers hired a an to watch him night and day. and ure- nt ms getting access to the peruicious drug. ne oallied h1s guard, again and again. At ' alter suffering agonies of remorse, such as len hls own graphic pen confesses itself una- to describe, in the depths of humility and triton, he sought out judcous physician whom he revealed his whole case, his stru9.
 and his desires, placed himself under his rol and care, and lived, and finally died z nat mans house after successful reforma. II of five and twenty years. The confession nls weakness, and the realization that how guilty m Its causes it was now a case of h Insanity, we suppose was what caused Eto be cured by medical means
 mere are many men who, from various f'eS ot early habits, seem periodically to re- 'e some great excitement, either physical. fAtal, or moral. Hence the uncomfortable fs J d'1nking into which some men will I occasionally, in the absence of mental stim- ltS, bitterly as they regret it, and mourn ilt at other times, resolve against it. or VOW ast It. The butler of the celebrated Will
 Pitt used to relate that his master would Iot all give him strict orders before dinner
 70 bnng up more than so much wine. and
 awards, when 1t was gone, he would call
 more, order threaten, rave, and once drag
 me butler down stairs to the cellar. by
 force, to get more wine.
 cry frequently It is found that oreat men Hclte ment and exertions may be substitu- Eior these physical proxyisms. Inns if was parked ot the late Senator Rusk, that al- lsh in early life, much addicted to the oc-
 nal revelS of this kind, yet that, as he iAed into political life, these periods became
 ana more rare, and that in proportion to l&cltement Of any occasion, he would rise
 calm and clear Strong mental or moral
 ement, then, seems to form one of the
 pest counter-irritants or remedies against fcravlng thlrstfor physical stimuants The
 danger IS, that in any moment of reac- iFy depression, always liable to recur after A excitement the danger of falling into the
 oi stimulants is proportionably great.-
 proper medical care and watchfulness.
 @ periodical cravings for excitement will.
 Fer, become less and less frequent and 's abSide into violence.
 @strength of this craving, however, when
 NouSed, IS so vehement that we can only
 'ture that without some mode of satisfy
 Ut would perhaps prove fatal. Indeed,
 '~laen and total cessation of the use of st- -E1ts IS one of the most frequent causes of
 +a-potu. But the substitution of one
 of excitement for another gradually ta-
 oti the whole into healthful regular
 " of the whole man, is what is to be
 ~ at Tn all such cases, while care must be
 to allow full scope for this excitabilitv
 Snperament in some other way than by
 until It subsidies of itself.
 mere physician of the body would utterly
 2 such work as this. The whole man,
 zeal mental and moral must be considered,
 H, watched, excited and camed to just
 roper degree, as the only means of restor
 70 ms right mlnd and true nature, one who
 'andered from the paths of reason.
 %ld private hospital be formed, under
 NarSe ot some physician of ability, as to
 the whole complexities of these cases,
 thelr history and desire, there are hun
 perhaps thousands of families of large
 .le who would rejoice to place their friends
 "me to enter of themselves, under the
 U so valuable friend as such physician
 prove Ihliadelphia Leiger.