The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-04-24
Intemperahce a DiSeasC--TestimOny
of British Physicians. s-11s7-

VI DIlbAbu AHyolSluA8s
Dr.. James Crichton Browne says that
alcohol, taken in excess, produces four
different forms Of mental disease:
l. Mania .potu. 2. The monomanla Of
SUSPICION. 8. Chronic alcoholism. T.
Dypsomlnia, or irresistible craving for
alcoholic stimulants.
lie has known this latter form to be
produced in perfectly sober and sedate
men, by "iDjuries 10 tho head" by "sun.
stroke, and ia one case it twas attributed
10 taking draughs Of cold water on
no! summer day, which caused fainting
aud AL entire change oil character"
Dr.. Francis Edmund Anstie discrim.
mates between the frequent drunkard,
and the man who has drunk himself into
u state OF perfect want OF resisting power"
but there Is another affection connect.
Ell with drink, which Is separated abso.
lulely us u mHtter Of kind, namely, the
kind o! drinking whichJis entirely par.
OxySmai, and which $50 far as he knOws)
never occurs except in persons Of GER
tain hereditary conformation, and it comes
upon men 1T intervals, who are otherwise
not inclined TO drink ut all, and there are
spaces between their times OF drinking In
which they arc perfectly free from any
tendency 10 drink"
DR.. David Skac believes the causes Of
this latter form Of intemperance 10 be
mostly hereditary, although some were
caused by blows on the head, by hemor-
rhage and tho loss OF large quantity OF
blood, sometimes by disease OF the brain.
lie had known lady, in whom the era
wing was so strong, that she drank shoe
backing and turpentinc,"
DR.. Alexander Peddic says: Some
times the habitual drunkard may have
some natural defect or weakness, although
not distinct faint 0! insanity or preds-
position TO intemperance; aud his mind
aud his will may have been i'lrcgulatcd,
Unbalanced or perhaps over regulated by
too much and indiscrimin8tO discipline in
youth" "SOmetimcs wasting disease u
severe nervous shock, u stroke OF the sun,
blow ON the head, heavy grief or reverse
Of fortune, will bring Y mind which is 10 q
somewhat weak state into tho condition
Of an habitual drunkard, Just because re-
course IS had 10 stimulation In the first In
stance, in order 10 overcome teCbleness, OF
to exhilarate or to comfort in some way OF
other" DR.. John Nugent says: "rhC
population Of Ireland had decreased two
millions in the last twenty-five years, but
there Is the same amount Of insanity now
that theIe was when the population was
larger by two millions"
III there is u prcdispositiOn to insanity,
drink Is sure 10 dcvelopc it, and, on the
other hand, there are persons who show
their insanity by u disposition to drink"
DR.. Arthur Mitchell, speaking Of Dyp-
somania, says that 'its characteristic Is
an uugOvernable and unremitting craving
for drink; and in great many cases fire..
Quent hRbitual drinking preCcdes this
state, but not necessarily so; 1t sometimes
appears without previous habits Of drink.
log, as tho result oil cerebral injury; the
result, for instance, Of fever, Of hemor-
rhage, Of mental shocks, &c"
Dr. Forbes Winslow said that from his
extensive experience among the upper
classes Of English society, he had formed
the opinion "lhat II establishments were
organized for the reception OF persons
addicted TO chronic habits Of intemper-
NnCG, hundreds would avail themselves Of
such institutions, and would voluntarily
surrender themselves for timO TO con-
troll and treatment. To his mind such
institutions arc ono Of tho grea! and cry.
Ing wants Of the age"
Dr.. Thomas B. Christie says that ut is
utterly useless to fine drunken man and
scthim adrIIt again, but he felt convinced
that hospitals for the care Of inCbriates
should be established" &c,
DR.. Robert Dewitt says at Is the peO-
pie who arc "a little cracked who furnish
the most obstinate and inCurable cases o
habitual inebriety," and he has reason tC
suppose that "lhesO have frequently in
heri,cd q very feeble, or very exOitablC
nervous system, and consequently any
excitement of woe or happiness, which
would tall harmlGssly upon q tolcrNbly
sound brain, leads in their case TO III,
habit OF drinking"
These are extracts from the testimony
otthc distinguished gentlemAnnamed, be
tore Committee OF tho British Parlia-
ment, selected especially TO consider The
subject Of drunkenness and It's remedy
No men are more eminent in their pro-
lesion than the gentlemen whose thought
Iul conclusions are here briefly noticed
and we submit them as OF inCnlculablC
value to tho physician and the phIlan-
thFNHiaI