Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-08

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fy this appetite? What sane man would
subject himself to the agonies of body and
mind which the indulgence always entails,
and which he knows always entails, upon
the indulgeT? A young friend Of mine,
who has been habituated to 'spTees,' for
some years, had abStained for six months.
De went to bed one night al his house, IN
der circumstances in no wise different to
those to which be had been accustomed.
AT o'clock he got up, went up town and
entered upon spree of six weeks dura-
ton. Another friend, on the evening pre-
vious to his marriage to a most estimablc
lady, who had consented to the marriage
only on his most solemn promise TO re-
form, was in q beastly state Of intOxication,
though he knew that if it were discovered
the happiness Of his whole future life
would be wrecked.
"The mania for drink may rest inVariOus
degrees of intensity, just as any other
mania may be either very mild in its de-
gree or very violent. 1t is also evident
that it it may have many influences at
work IN its production. The disease has
too recently been made the subject of in
veStigation for its etiology to be clearly
understood. Some points, however, have
been pretty definitely settled.
"Heredity has for long time held
prominent place in the list Of causes. The
fact Of numerous drunkards being found
in the same family could not be overlook
ed And heredity does undoubtedly play
an important role in the causation Of the
disease, but not always as pure inherited
dipsOmania.
"The clinical history of the affection
places it among the neuroses, and we find
that its causes and the laws governing its
Development also give it a similar place.
As an inherited neurosis may display itself
in one member or branch of family in the
form Of an epilepsy, in another IN general
insanity, in another in some simple eccen-
tTicity or marked mOnOmania, so undOubt-
edly in many cases dipsomania may be
only a manifestation of neurotic diathesis
which has existed in his prngenitOrs in an
entirely different type. And, on the other
hand, it seems highly probable in fact, 1t
is in strict accordance with this law OF in
herited ReuIOsis-that the dipsOmaniac
may bequeath to his offspring some ner-
vous disease widely different from his OWN
as a marked prediSpOsitiOn 10 hysteria on
the part Of females, or, as has been fire.
quently observed, epilepsy or idiOcy. 1t is
as much, perhaps, TO the operation of this
law Of inheritance as to the general decay
Of the vital powers that the Oft occurrence
Of these forms Of disease in the families Of
dTUnkards must be attributed.
physical disease has an important infiu-
ence in the production of morbid craving
for alcoholic drinks. DR.. Brown ii his
testimony before the committee Of Parlia-
ment said: 4 have known dipsOmania to
be produced by injuries Of the brain in per-
feclly sober men; also, have seen it pro-
duced by sun-stroke and other causes. /
saw a case of a sober man who became a
dipsOmaniac by taking a draught Of cold
water on a hot day which caused fainting
and an entire change Of character
Il have a friend, a physician, who told
me that often he was able 10 tell when an
attack Of dipsOmania was imminent. He
felt bilious; and frequently he had been
able to fuTestall the attack by taking mer-
curial. There are also other DISTURBANCES,
especially of the nervous system, which
lead TO a craving Of artificial stimulus in
some Of the forms Of alcohol.
"But BY far the most active agent in the
production Of the disease is the use Of
alcohol itself The exact manner in which
this is brought about is not clearly .under-
stood, but it must be through the agency
Of the nervous system. Let the dipsO-
maniac take ever so little alcohol, and i'm
mediately an iIrisistable craving seizes him
for more. 1t Is well known Of some kinds
Of drinkers that IF they take one glass they
are gone.'- l know z most estimable man,
man Of fine attainments and liberal cul-
ture who tells me that he does not t3ke a
glass of beer for fear of bringing on an at
tack Of dipSOmania. Some years ago be
visited an Inebriate Institution and after
wards abstained for some six or seven years.
He was troubled, however, with a very
painful affection Of the Tectum, and for its
relief he took some chlOrOfOrm. As soon
as he recovered from the chlorofOrm marco
sis, he felt the iuepressible desire for alcO-
hOl, which in spite Of everything he graft
fed, though he was fully aware Of the dis
astrJUs consequences that would inevitably
follow.
at would thus appear that it is rot the
peculiar and special action Of alcohol on
the nervous system that arOuses the desire,
but some changes in the nutrition Of the
nerve centres, which agents other than
alcohol can bring about.
'.If we have arrived at the correct pathol-
Ogy Of the affective, its treatment need not
detain US long. When we come to lecog-
nize dipsomOnia as a disease, and not a
vice, We are on the high road to the accom-
plishment of good in its rational treat
ment.
obviously the FIST thing to DO is to re-
move the causes, and as these may be Vari-
Gus, each case should be made a subject Of
special and close study. Of course the
question Of iEebriate asylums comes in here
with pertinancy. The advantages of these
are admirably summed up by DR.. d. T.
CrOthers, of Albany, Y. Y, in an article in
tie american Practitioner for Nov, 1874,
as follows:
"'They will enable the patient to isola'e
himself from all excitement and allow COM
piete rest Of the nervous system. They re-
move all care and responsibility from the
patients mind, except that of recovering his
lost health, and make him party with the
physician TO bring about this result. This
of itself is a powerful factor in the treat
ment. Hospitals and asylums give the
medical man complete control over the
habits and surroundings of the patient, and
offer facilities for superior hygienic and
medical treatment"
OTHER PAPERS.
Dr.. LipscOmb read a paper on the use Of
the fOrceps in childbirth.
DR.. 7. l.. Madden one on the subject Of
and DR.. Saudek on medical
electricity, which papers were discussed by
the society, after which the society took a
recess until 2:30 p. NJ.
Afternoon Session.
The society met pursuant to adjourn
neut.
PAY UP, GENTLEMEN.
Dr. Mayfeld offered a resolution instruct
ng the Committee on Publication to drop |
rom the rolls Of the society, the names Of |
Ill members who have not paid their fees |
or tilee years, provided they still fail to |
1sy their dues after being properly no
fled.
TO VISIT THE BLIND SCHOOL.
a communication from Prof. Sturteyant. |
of the Blind School of |
tennessee, inviting the society to visit that |
Institution, was read, accepted and the /
hanks Of the society returned for the |
anne.
DOCTORS AND DRUGGISTS.
On motion of DR.. Alternately, DR.. r. D.
Ninsett was appointed to read At the mkt
Meeting Of the Society paper on the sub
ect Of doctors and druggists and their rela-
ions TO each other.
THAT RUTHERFORD COUNTY SNAKE.
DR.. Burger, Of JOrdaD's Valley, Ruther-
ord county, presented the following re-
narkable statement: