The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-05-08
Intemperance Disease-The Pathology Of
Inebriety.

perance is a fearful disease, either inherited or
acquired like others, and reprehended the terms
"debased, y "besotted," 'lost," &C., SO generally
applied to its victims. The world is gradually
growing wiser on this subject, and even Vir-
ginia will some day erect home for the care
and cure of this unfortunate class. When
Temperance Societies devote all their energies
to securing such q home, and laws to force the
trafficer in liquor to pay for the harm he does,
a new day will dawn on the victims of alcohol
ism. In this connection, we are glad to find
gentleman of the medical profession, who has
made the subject study, that speaks the truth
and does not deal in the can't of the day.
The proceedings of the American Associa-
tion for the Cure of Inebriates contains paper
on the Pathology of Inebriety," written by
DR.. George Burr, of Binghamton, N. Y, in
which he contends that intemperance is dis
ease of alimentation, by which he means that
the nerves which supply the nutritiye apparatus
are disordered, and that they demand certain
unnatural and injurious drinks as we'll as food
in certain conditions. Instances are given of
disordered appetites in females in certain ner-
vous diseases, and mention is made of the con-
dition in which the appetite demands enormous
gluttony. DR.. Burr holds the belief that there
exists in man natural inclination for the
moderate use of ardent spirits, and to certain
extent the desire for them may be said tie be
morbid. When diseased, however, this incli-
nation becomes inordinate, and an unnatural
craving for alcoholic drinks is developed. 1t
is here that, according to the writer, we must
look for the first departure from healthy con-
dition, and for the first manifestations of dis
eased action. This early stage is marked by
an occasional desire to drink, which recurs at
shorter and shorter intervals, and propensity
likewise gradually increasing for q greater
quantity at each time.
This habit DIR. Burr looks upon as the first
intimation of the approaching disease, and as
afording the stage for active interference, when
recuperation is most easy, when restraint, pro-
hibition, quarantine may be resorted to, and
the consequences of indulgence vigorously
pressed upon the subject, who may be held
Justly responsible if he neglects these efforts.
When, however, the impulse to drink over
comes all obstacles, the power of the will is
oyer-thrown, and the entire oganism becomes
subject to the fearful demands for stimulus
The moral sentiment becomes also involved in
the general impairment DR.. Burr remarks:
$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 danger have been noted as giving char
acter to it. Hence, the subjects of inebriety
have been termed debased, besotted, lost, with
out self-restraint, insensble to domestic claims,
and wanting in integrity and character. Even
the Commissioners of Charities and Correc-
tions for the city of New York, in their report
for 1870, refer to inebriety as moral dis
ease,' and class it with other forms of licen-
tiousness.'
"But it is evident that this is q mistaken
view of the subject. Depravity does not excite
men to drink, nor does dishonesty transform
them into drunkards If such was the legiti-
mate consequence, we ought to find inebriety
succeeding every case of moral obliquity. But
we know that this is not the case. Many q
villain, whose whole life has been continuous
series of crimes, whose moral sentiments have
become utterly depraved, and who has been
capable of murder, robbery, or fraud, has
never drank, at least to excess The most Sue
cessful bank or bond robber is usually tenn
perate man."
In confirmation of what we said above, about
the disease of intemperance being inherited, we
notice that the official report of the New York
ASYLUM shows that one hundred and twenty
two of the patients who were at the Asylum
between October l, 1871, and October !, 1872,
had Incorporate parents or MISREPRESENTATION
H1) Spectator.