New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-13
Pathology Of lnebrie;y.

The proceedings of the American Asso.
citation for the Cure of lnebriates contains
a paper ON the pathology of lnebriety,
written by DR.. George Burr, of Binghamp-
ton, New York, in which he contends that
lntemperenCe ls a disease of Authorization,
by which he means that the nerves which
supply the nutritive apparatus are disor-
dered, and that they demand certain I'M
natural and injurious drinks, as well as
certain conditions. Instances are given
of disOrdered appetites in females in
certain nervous diseases. and mention is
made of the condition in which the appetite
demands enormous quantities OF food.
commonly denominated g!uttOny. DR.. Burr
holds the belief that there exists in man a
natural inclination for the moderate use of
ardent spirits, and TO a certain extent the
desire for them may be SAID to be morbid.
When diseased, however, this inclination
becomes iuordinate, and an unnatural cray
ing fnl alcoholic drinks is developed. 1t is
here that, according to the writer, we must
look for the first departure from a healthy
condition, and for the first manifestations
of diseased action. This early stage is
marked by an occasional desire to drink
which recurs at shorter and shorter inter
walls, and propensity likewise gradually
increasing for a greater quantity at each
time.
This habit DR.. Burr looks upon as the
first intimatiOn of the approaching disease,
and as affOrding the stage for active inter
ference, when recuperatiOn is most easy.
when restraint, prohibition, quarantine
may be resorted to, and the consequences
of indulgence vigorously pressed upon the
subject, who may be held justly respon-
sble if he neglects these efforts. When,
however, the impulse to drink OvercOmes
all obstacles the power of the will is over
thrown, and the entire organism becomes
subject to the fearful demands for stimulus.
The moral sentiments become also involved
in the general impairment. Dir. Burr re-
marks:
$50 decided has been the impression Of
this habit upon the moral sentiments that
they have been regarded as the seat Of the
disease, and their changes have been noted
as giving character to it. Hence the sub
iects of inebriety have been termed de.
based, besotted, lost, without self-restraint,
to domestic claims, and wanting
in integrity and character. Even the com
missioners of charities and corrections for
the city of New York in their report for
1870. refer to inebriety as a moral disease
and class it with other forms OF licentious-
ness
But it is evident that this is mistaken
view of the subject. Depravity does not
excite men 10 uflnk, HoE uOcS ulSAOheStE
transform them into drunkards. If such
was the legitimate consequence. We ought
to find inebriety succeeding every case of
moral obliquity But we know that this is
rot the case Many villain, whose whole
life has been a continuous series OF crimes.
whose moral sentiments have become ut
-erly depraved, and who has been capable
Of murder, robbery or fraud, has never
frank, at least to excess. The most sue
,essful bank or bond T0bber is usually a
man.
Drunkenness. then. according to this
theory, is not moral disease, neither IS II
4 form of righteousness, as stated by the
of charities and corrections
.or the city of New York. Of course this
5 an opinion on which doctors, both OF
medicine and theology, differ. Those who
dissent from DR.. Burrs conclusions will
loint out that Intemperance IN food or
rink is treated in the Scriptures as an Of
ense for which the transgreSsor Is morally
'esponsible. The important practical fact.
10 Wever. remains that Inebrlate asy.ulns
rave been instrumental i'll restoring
yoOdly number of those committed TO their
are, who needed restraint from inclination
o. or actual indulgence in. Intoxicating
thinks. to sobriety and usefulness.