, 1861-02-04
Pathological Effects Of Drunkenness
--EpllepsF.

The Paris correspondent OF the n. I. Times
communicates the following:
Dr., Leceur, in IN article on drunkenness,
afacr showing the good effects Of ammonia in
dissipating tho fumes Of alcohol, states that
white sugar will produce the same effect
iluence Of liquor, he should eat Bix, eight or
more pieces Of sugar, Of the size usually served
on the table. DR.. LacG1r, while giving several
hypothesis as tothe mode Of operating this
remedy, docs not, however, fix upon any one
as positive in his Own opinion.
occasions for making the necessary obserya-
tions, has lately communicated most Import
ant paper to the Academy on this subject Of
drunkenness. According to his observations,
running over space OF. twelve years-and he
reports no case In which he las not had the
torlnaland absolute declaration Of me parents
children conceived when one or both the pa
rents are In state Of drunkenness are liable in
much larger proportion than others to cpl
lcpsy and idiocy. OF thlrty-si1 epilcptic per-
sons, five "a large proportion) werc absolutely
conceived under this condition. ,whil0 he re-
ports several cases ofidtocy, congcnital paraly-
SIS, aud other forms Of cerebral disease, which
be traces to the same origin. DR.. Demeaux
demands Of thee profession that attention
should be turned tokhss subject, and he PROM
ises for future occasion more detailed &C.
count of his own observations.
On this subject Of epilepsy, an Interesting
question has iatcly been presented to the pro-
fcsslon by a physician who waa nsked 10 giye
uu official opinion % to the propricty Of the
marriage of beautiful but poor young girl
with certain Count who is rich, but who is
cpilcptic to the point Of occasional mcntal de-
raugemcnt. The question, as applied TO sim
plc epllepey, woull be O. difficult one, but as
Implied TO epilepsy complicated with de,
| raneement of the mental functions, 1t would
scen, impossible that IN affirmative answer
| could be given. Every epileptic Is not ma
| mac: but it IL well known that In alarge mum.
Der Of individuals afflicted with the malady
which CELSIUS calls nsorbtts sae<T, the harmony
Of The The moral sentiments is interrupted, The
character Of the affections is perverted, md
| fhe order of the sensations troubled. Abso
| lute lnnncy is to be feared at any moment, IL
those who have not arrived at this degree o
he disorder, md It SO happens TINT marriage
is cxnctly one Of the things most Gonuue1set s1 te
eyer, have been cpileptic-Eome OF them ever
have made mn abuse Of 1ife-without, however
nrriying at The degree Of lunacy. According
to plutsreh, Julius Caesar was epileptic, ant
| ha6 his f1rstattack at Eordnene. FetaFch dtee
suddenly In fit Of epilepsy: Newtont whs whss
ty. Mahomet, according to certain French
writer's on mental disorders, wns epf1eptsc tn
three sons he had by Khadyd|ah died yer.
youns. Peter the Grcdt Of tRussia had fallinl
Its /; his son By Catherine was epneptic;; ant
oneof his gFandsons. Paui hsa haliSelna mlhs o'
tiors... NAPOLEON l. was subject TO slight epi
leptic accidents, especially aurlng Fene1eal Y
dulgeHces,. and Molis11ei also bad ats .Entcl
sometimes were followed By = fortnight ot IN
capacity to work. ''., =:
1 But this Is the least offensive form Of ID
disease, The more Aggravated form hplda Y
Individual constantly On the confines OF lunacJ
and ne cannot 4ee how q physician gan iaos
| mnrnrnf 31esftate IN pire an opinion adverse t
marriage for ;the wife Ii: not only ensceptibl
Of bringing epileptic. Or idioiie rhlldren Int
| the world, but she is in constant personal da1
ger from. any sudden access of lunacyin he
husband