The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-08-03
is INTOgIcATIoN A DISEASE?

No subject has engrossed more of the atten
tlon OF moral reformers than the use and abus
of alcoholic stimulants Scarcely any two .
these reformers agree upon the policy tina
should be adopted to control it. Total absti
nence men, local optunists, prohibitionists
moral suasionists, and even the moderate
drinkers, have each in turn found sturdy advo
Gates and followers
All admit that alcohol is a poison, useful
like all other p0isons, as a medicine. Nearly
all admit, too, that its habitual use as a bever
age creates diseased appetite and morbi(
craving. 1t penetrates the system and effects
all the functions, organs and tissues. 1t affects
the mental faculties through the brain anC
takes away the strength of the will aud the
power of selfcontrol. 1t reaches the vital or
gans the heart, the liver the stomach, kidneys
and bowels, The longer man INDUCES in its
excessive or imm0derate use, the less restraint
is he capable of exercising over himself. until
at last the quantity which he drinks is only
limited by his physical endurance and the ca
| pacity OF his stomach Yet this class of driRk
ers, who have lost their force of will and self
control, are not beyond redemption. In most
eases. they are entirely conscious of their state
and would reform if they could, but lack the
moral strength To push away the poison. Ii
ences-fresh air, wholesome and varied diet
aud careful medical help; if they could be
placed under the udicious control of those
who would supply to them the judgment aud
will which they have impaired, they could be
cured. What the habitual drunkard needs is
the moral power to quit drinking
Habtual drunkenness was formerly CON
sidcred an affair quite beyond the reach OF
cure, and entirely cut of the reach of the doc
tor of medicine. 4 victim on whom intempcr-
ate habits had taken "A firm hold was looked
upon as beyond reclamation. The man who
had wallowed once in the gutter was held Ia
be given over To the jibes of bad boys, and
ruled out as an outeast beyond the pale of con-
sideration, 10y society. Thirty years ago none
but scientific professors of the most advanced
school of medicine looked upon drunkenness
as disease, and even twenty years ago the APP
plaudrFs and admirers of Coughs eloquence
would have been shocked il told that inebrlety
was n disease for which the habitual drunkard
has in one sense ceased To be responsible.
Happily all this has changed, and the wisest
opinion is that drunkenness is disease like
most of the other ills that flesh is heir 10, "
and should be- treated as they are by the most
accurate and scientific knowledge Iucbriaic
as,lums have demonstrated the value of the
treatment of this great curse as "A disease, and
experience in this country has shown that Il
Is ~ futile Ia endcayor 10 extirpatc the disease
of iatcuprrance by legislative prohibition
against It's construction, as II would be 10
make similar prohibitions against other disease.
In those asylums for incbriates that have
been established for years In this country the
most bcucficcnt results have been made man
itest. Thousands of Victims 10 the vice have
been entirely reclaimed aud are now valuable
members of society: and are the most enthus-
astc advocates o! treating drunkenness as 4
disease.
In these establishments the patient first un-
dcrgoes, rs do the insane, proper cumpusory
restraint until he becomes aware of the dis
ease that has possessed him. Then be will per-
sis. in the abstinence which he knows is his on
" salvation He is supplied with good diet
and as far as possible, his mud is put at ease
He has occupation suited to his tastes and past
life. society and recreation. books. music
walks, drives aud every wholesome amusement
His appetite for alcoholic stimuants gradually
subsidies, while the strength OF his will is torti
fed and increased Healthy blood takes the
place Of the poisoned, natural tastes the place
of the dcpraved. The whole physique resumes
its original elasticity ard strength The wild
erness of inebrety is replaced by cogent thought
and normal sentiments The disease is com
mony cured in few months, and the diseased
patient returns to the walks of usefulness and
honor.
These are the results of the treatment of
this disease in skillful and scientific manner
by the best regulated asylums in the country
Is there not great field afforded in the prop
cr understanding OF this matter in broad
and catholic spirit, for the exercise of private
as well as public beneficence!--P Philadelphia
Record.