The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-11
Drunkenness a Disease.


attention Of moral reformers than tile use
and abuse Of alcoholic stimulus Scarce.
" any two Of these reformeH agree upon
the policy that should DO adopted to con.
troll II. Total abstinence men, local op.
tionists, "prohibitionists," moral slasion.
lists, and even the moderate drinkers"
have each in turn found sturdy advocates
and followers. r.... ..f,.,it
All admit that alcohol iSa poison-use-
full, like other poisons, as a medicine.
Nearly all admit, too, that It's habitual use
as beverage creates 8 diseased appetite
and morbid craving. II penetrates the
system and affects all the functions, organs
and tissues. II affects the mental iacul.
ties through the brain, and takes away
the strength Of the will and the power Of
self control. It reaches the vital organs,
the heart, the liver, the stomach, kidneys
and bowels. The longer q man INDUCES
In It's excessive or immoderate use, the
less restraint Is he capable Of exercising
over himself until, Ut last, tue quantity
which he drinks Is only limited by his
physical endurance and the capacity Of
bis stomach. Yet this class Of drinkers,
who have lUst their force Of will and self
control, are not beyond redemption. In
most cases they are entirely conscious Of
their state, and would reform If they
could, but lack tho moral strength to
push away the poison. II they could be
surrounded by restraining Influences
fresh air, wholesome and varied diet, ind
careful medical help-lt they could be
placed under the judicious control Of
those who would supply to them the
Judgment and will which they have i'm.
paired, they could be cured. What the
habitual drnnkArd needs Is the moral
power TO stop drinking. lie knows his
condition, and secs the damage he Is do.
ing to himself every day. -r
Habitual Drunkenness was formerly
considered an affair quite beyond the
reach OF cure, and entirely out Ct the
sphere of the doctor Of medicine. A vic
tim on whom Incorporate habits had
taken q firm hold was looked upon as be-
yond reclamation. The man who had
wallowed once In the gutter was held to
he irreyocably lost. The regular, habit.
ual drunkard was looked upon as only fit
to be given over to the jibeS Of bad boys,
and ruled out, as an OutCast beyond tho
pale of consideration, by society. Thirty
years ago none but scientific professors
OF the most advanced school Of medicine
looked upon drunkenness as a disease,
and even twenty years ago tho applauders
and admirers Of Coughs eloquence would
have been shocked If told that inebrity
was a disease for which the habltuRl
trunkard has In one sense ceased to be
responsible.
Happily all this has changed, and the
wisest opinion Is that drunkenness Is . dis.
ease like most Of the other ills that flesh
is heir to, and should be treated, as they
are, by the most accurate and scientific
knowledge. Inebriate asylums have
demonstrated the value Of the treatment
OF this great curse as disease, and ex-
perience in this country has shown that
Il Is as futile to endeaVor TO extirpate the
disease Of intemperence by legislative
prohibition against its construction, as Il
would DO to make similar legislative "pro-
hibitions" against other diseases.
In those asylums for inebrlates that
have been established for years in this
country, tho most benefcent results have
been manifest. Thousands Of victims to
the vice have been entirely reclaimed, and
and are now valuable members Of society,
and are the most enthusiastic advocates OF
treating drunkenness as q disease. In
these establishments the patient first un-
dergoes, as do the insane, q proper com.
pulsory restraint, until he becomes aware
Of the disease that has possessed him.
There he will persist in tue abstinence
which he knows Is his only salvation. He
Il supplied with good diet, and, as far as
1t is possible, his mind is put at ease. he
has occupation suited to his tastes and
past life, society and recreation, books,
music, walks, drives and every other
wholesome amusement. His appetite for
alcoholic stimulants gradually subsidies,
while the strength Of his will Is fortified
and increased. Healthy blood takes the
place Oh the poisoned, natural tastes the
place of the depraved. The whole
physique resumes It's original elasticity.
and strength. The wildness Of inebriety
| Is replaced by cogent thought andnormal
sentiments. The disease Is commonly
cured in few months, and the de6ased
patient returns to the walks of usefulness
and honor, ...,.aL. sti
These are the results Of the treatment
OF this disease In skilfnl and scientific
manner by the best regulated Ssylnms In
tho country. Isthere not Q great Held al.
Gorded In the proper understanding ofthiS
matter, IN 0 broad and catholic spirit, tor
the exercise Of private as well as a public
beneiciencyH "-. 0t
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