Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-08-31
CAN AN NEBRIATE CONQUERHIM-
SBLFl

THE SUGGESTION or ONE WHO HAS TRIED.
This article Is not addressed-fOr it
would be useless, and is sunnecessary-
to those bestial beings, whose animal
passions naturally direct them to
criminal eXeesses, and whose loss 70
the world, should it occur from such
or any other cause, would be MI 1t
Is addressed to those, who, by delicate
temperament, uncOngenial associa-
tiOns, or Over-labOriousness, have fall
en- from their high and holy estate
through the very means which they
have adOpted by which to sustain
themselves and to keep Rlight, yet a
little longer, the fires Of hope.
Suppose, then, one OF these, a SAD
and fran relic Of departed nobility,
with the slumbering and nearly dead
ashes of his intellect and his aspira-
tons fickering up with spark Of old
vitality. Suppose one who, for years,
according TO the strength Of his con-
stitution, has battled, with the aid Of
this deeeitful ally, against host Of
trials and annOyances, suddenly by
one of those occasional visions Of HIM
self, which God graeiOusly grants
sometimes to the most degraded, finds
within him a new determination
awakened, to burst out Of the chains
that have enthralled him, and to be-
come again what he has been, and
more; and then finds the old, sinking,
crushing feeling esme over him, that
tells him he is slave. What shall he
do!
One thing is certain; there can be
no dimfnuendO in this. There is no
"tapering of" with the devil. Either
he has got you, or he has not got you.
The first part Of the medical treat
ment in this physical disease requires
the immediate removal Of the patient
from all disturbing influences, Of
whatever nature. There must be no
noisy children about, no quarreling
women, no scandal-mOngers pouring
out their distilled venom to jar upon
his nerves, and disturb his spirits he
must have absolute quiet and repOse.
But to obtain this, there need not be
recourse TO an asylum. There IS none
so Door, who is worthy to be saved,
who has not friend. Let him then
reach some such friend, trust and con-
fide in him, and obtain the required
shelter. rest. and attendance, for few
days. Not for months, during which
new habits Of thought are formed and
old business relations become broken
off. and the man falls again into his
old Mace utterly forgotten, and unable
to gain the threads Of his lost indenti-
ty. Notfn constant, daily association
with such, from every walk in life, as
have no other eogeniality with him
but the painful one of similarity OF
disease. an association of demOraliza-
ton in its very nature; but among his
friends, and those who know him.
and form a constant bond OF union
with thegreat world he loves ana lives
in.
He may continue his relations with
business and society by correspond
ence and by visit and sOOthed and
strengthened by the knowledge that
he is not forgotten and that his hard
fight is being fought among those
who love him, and admire the renew
ed strength which daily animates him
and enables him TO struggle success
fully; and not among strangers who
treat his case purely from q seientinc
and routine point Of view his earn
estness and determination are redoub-
led. and he nears the victory.
Having then gained this temporary
asylum, we will say that he drinks
his usual allowance Of liquor and re-
tires to bed in his usual condition Of
inebriety.
He has taken care, in his steady
moments, to provide himself with
twelve twenty-grain powders Of BrOm-
ide Of Potassium, which he will get
at a first-elass drug store.
Now il has been the regular custom,
and the daily necessity OF this unfor-
tunate, fOrmonths-peFhaps years-tO
stimulate into renewed power the
brain and nerves, suffering after a
nights abstinence from their daily
food, perhaps with one, two, or more I
cocktails or quantities Of greater |
or less extent Of clear spirits. He
Wakens from his stuDOr or troubled /.
slumber, with. his nerves all iarring, I
his muscles refusing to carry his tOtter- 1
ing frame acrOss the room his tongue /
nearly paralyzed his stomach nau-
seated (; his brain erazed and inflamed; |
and he has recourse to the only thing
he lxnows-pOOr creature, abandoned
Of men that will enable him to set
about his daily and requisite tasks
But now he has given himselfa a two
weeks holiday, and his friends have
promised to "see him thrOugh"-and
will keep their promise, fOrtt Is sacred
and so he need not get out Of bed at
all and one horrible fear is removed
at once. -
Now he takes OIe Of his twenty
grain powders Of bromide Of Potsssi-
uul, and the internal conflict begins. .
It is a mortal fight with the foul !
FIend himself The patient has no
cares, no thoughts Some one /
smooths his pillows, shuts out the
bright light which would torture his