The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1871-12-09
Miseellaau.
drunkenness as "a disease.


The American Association for the
Cure of 1nebriates, with DR.. Willard
Parker at its head. appears to be formed
of no hair Drained theorists, but OF
sober, practical, scientific and profession
al men; and yet the theory which they
advance viii be regarded by most people
as extravagant, if not absurd. Any man
without the knowledge of the human
frame and the thousand natural shocks
that it is heir to which these gentlemen
possess would be presumptuous to pass
any positive Judgment on their theory,
and the mere fact that they hold 1t is
sufficient to induce US to consider the
matter seriously. DIR. Parker says that
drunkenness is as much disease as
yellow fever or scarlatina, and vastly
more destructive than any other maiady
that affliets mankind. Temperance ora
tors exhibit an appalling array of stats
ties to show the widespread evils which
result from this one cause. 1t is not
worth while to dispute their figures a
fewsciphers more or less annexed to the
integers IN their tables matter little. We
all admit that suffering, crime, loss of
property, accident. and sudden death
all the direful catalogue of the ills of
hfe-are due in deolorable measure to
the reckless use of intoxicating drinks.
No one denies the commonplace state
ment that intemperance is giant evil y
The disputes and the differences of opin
ion are founded on the question, How
Is it to be dealt with One class is IN
favor of treating it as crime and stern
~ enforcing prohibitory laws against tae
sale of liquor and penal laws agaii ST It's
use. Their measures are theoretically
vigorous but practically impotent An
other class, including a large proportion
of intelligent and sensible people, believe
1t to be vice and advocate moral reme-
dies, such as education to a better knowl
edge Of the effects of drinking habits
and the incubation OF a higher sense of
duty and responsibility. These accom-
plish more in the way of prevention than
cure, and perhaps their proper field of
labor IS with the rising generation. 1t
was exceedingly doubtful of moral
suasion ever reclaimed one confirmed
drunkard. Then comes these scientific
doctors and declare that the treatment of
the whole class of confirmed or incipieut
lnebrlates belongs to their province. In
temperance IS a disease, aud no more to
be cured by legislation than consumption;
no more to be conjured away by moral
lectures than liver complaint. Excessive
indulgence in stimulauts produces an ab
normal condition of the whole physical
system, especially of the brain and nerves,
and a consequent debility of the will
which places recovery beyond the IN
aided power of the patient. He is fl
subject for his doctors care, and
healthy condition can be regained only
through scientific treatment In this
case as in all other cases of disease the
physician should have full control over
the diet and regimen of the patient, and
to secure this 1t deems necessary to place
him in an institution specially adapted
for his treatment Hence homes and
asylums form a necessary part Of this
system, as it does in the treatment OF
the insane. This is the theory of some
of the most intelligent and learned medi
cal scholars in this country and Europe;
and who shall presume to gainsay them
If they can propagate a belief in their
doctrine until it becomes general it may
lead TO a more effective treatment of the
'giant evil of modern society than has
hitherto been tried They have already
made a beginning, and profess to have
met with a degree of success that proves
them to be on the right track.