Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-11-04
Inebriates.

OF those individuals known as inebri-
ates or dipsomaniacs, there are, untortu-
nately, number in the world, both men
and women. The word dipsomaniac,
though in popular use, does not correct
ly express what is meant to be understood.
1t is derived from the Greek words signi-
flying "to thirst and madness" Klepto-
mania signifies mania for theft, and dip
somania should signify mania for thirst,
which is obviously the reverse of what is
intended. In no sense do these persons
drink because they are thirsty; as the ma
tive remarked, 81 do not drink for drinkee; /;
drink for drunkee." A more appropriate
name for them would be that of Baccho-
maniacs, since what they stlenulously de-
sire and restlessly seek is the sense of in
toXication in its various stages, and to Sc
cure this they will swallow almost any
thing-laudanum, spirits of wine, tincture
of hemp, etc, provided it is capable of
producing that condition; they crave for
the excitement, the pleasure, which they
feel in it, and, above all, for the train of
happy thought which it sets up.
These unfortunates may be roughly di-
vided into two classes. First, we have the
habitual tipplers. These begin early in the
morning A man commences with brandy
and soda-water, or pale ale woman with
wine, chloric ether, lavender drops, nc,
and they continue at this kind of game all
day. In the morning they experience tre-
NOR, depression, and wretched sensation
of sinking and exhaustion; they revive to-
ward night, are never quite sober, and, be-
fore they go to bed, they are commonly
only one remove from being helplessly
drunk. Toward the latter part of their
lives they become II prey to various painful
diseases, chiefly affecting the liver, kid
neys and stomach Sometimes hypochon-
driasis of a very confirmed character de
clares itself; at other times they are at
tackled by deIirium treBlsRs or brain disease
Suicide, or attempts at suicide, during the
excessive depression which ensues after the
frst-named malady are not uncommon
The second kind are those individuals with
whom the desire for intoXication is less q
habit or u propensity than a madness
and mania. They are not steady, con
stant tipplers thephage intervals, long 0T
short, of sobriety, and during these periods
they are often the most amiable, friendly
and agreeable of mortais-at least we have
known such. Presently their time comes
and either from some sorrow or worry on
anxiety, oR often without any apparent
cause at all, they become silent, solitary anC
]
they betake themselves to haImts whicl
welcomed them before, and indulge il
| frightfll and incessant drunkenness fo
periods varying from five days to thre,
weeks. These persons are, as rule, eN
tremely abstinent in their sober intervals
and very guarded as toj drinking anything
of an Intoxicating nature in general society
Occasionally they are reformed, or reform
| themselves and we have known severn
who under these conditions have lived TO
good old age and enjoyed fair health
Bat gwhen ii is otherwise, thei
interludes Of temperance or of ahstinenc
become shorter and shorter; the
suffer more in the. reaction afie
each debauch, and are less able
struggle against their craving for stimulant'
The effect of this is often to make ther
shun society, and when this is so th
II downward .career is very rapid. AT las
they lose all discrimination, and will drin
anything anywhere, at any time, on al an
ones expense, if it only promises thel
the pleasure of intoXication Ultimatel
! they die in ditch or work-house or
. hospital, II they are poor--in' a lunat
asylum ii they are better off, or perhaps
=, prison Sometimes a man will jump o.
! of the window and break his neck in
IT state of dalr5uN tren1eRS, and some reaso
5 ers may Say" And so best "' AS rul
!, the Greater reFimes-muraer, bloodshed, al
I violence-are not committed by theseap
G sons; they are too much absorbed in Oh,
,, own sensations to pay attention 20 an
4, thing else and, to use common eNpr'
f sion, they are nobody's enemy but th,
!, own.-PdB Mall (L0adonl Gazette,