The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-04-20
Inebriety.


long since delivered, before the American
Association for the Cure of Inebriates, an
address on the "Causes of the Recent In
crease of Inebriety America, in whichin
he embOdies many of the conclusions
which medical men have reached relative
to the disease superinduced by alcohol.
Inebriety he holds to be a functional
disease of the nervous system, and should
be treated on the same principle as other
nervous diseases. 1t becomes classed,
therefore, with dyspepsia and neuralgia;
and like neurOsis, it possesses periodiclty,
and-the fact is a startling one-is hered-
itary. When hereditary, it is all the
harder to combat; in conformity with
the laws of inheritance, it may take the
place of other disorders, or may, in turn,
lead to them; and it often conduces to
various forms of insanity. The periodic
ity of the desire for liquor, the feeling
which impels the drunkard who has alb
stained for certain period to enter upon
prolonged SPREE" is too we'll known to
need more than mere reference.
1t is curious and somewhat paradox
cal circumstance that, while drunkenness
as vice-public opinion to the contrary
observation-disclosures actually decreasing,
the disease of inebriety is on the increase.
'There never was time" says DR..
Beard, Gin the history of our race, when
in proportion to the population there
was so little intemperance and so little
drinking among the higher classes as to-
day." The nervous systems of Ameri
cans are now such that we cannot bear
alcohol as our fathers could; and there is
no doubt but that the efforts of reformers
and the general progress of culture has
exercised potent effect toward tenn
perance. Cases of drunkenness were rare
among the thousands who visited the
Centennial. But on the other hand that
very heightened nervous sensitiveness
which prevents our indulging in alcohol,
for pleasure equally heightens the sus-
ceptibility to nervous diseases; and OF
these, inebriety not being considered, 1t
is we'll known the increase of late years
has been marked.
1t is not necessary here to repeat the
facts, which every observer of American
habits has noted over and over again, in
order to prove that we live too rapidly
For the pursuit of wealth, we concentrate
an enormous quantity and intense quality
of work; we carry the seriousness OF
labor into our amusements; we crave the
sensational end the fever of constant ex-
citement AID under the terrible tax put
upon it, the nervous force necessarily
weakens. Thus, in accordance with all
analogies, nervous diseases increase with
the progress of modern civilization; and
hence the greater prevalence of the nerv
Gus disease known as inebriety during
the present time.
DR.. Beard further supports his views
by inductive reason based upon extended
examination. BY comparing the higher
and lower classes, he shows that, among
the latter, such functional nervous diseases
as sick headache, neuralgia, and hay
fever are wanting; while the vice of
drunkenness abounds in its most revolt
ing aspects. Comparing the prevalence
of functional nervous maladies now with
the same half acentury ago, he points out
various diseases, such as hay fever, now
common but then unknown. He also
suggests various refnements in nervous
troubles, which are peculiar to the pres
ent, but not to an earlier period. Going
back still further, for purposes of COM
parison, he shows that mot only were
many of the nervous maladies SO preva-
lent now quite unknown three centuries
ago, but those eras and ours are far less
abundant than now" Lastly, he points
to the multiform nervous disorders now
found among women.
There is no specific for inebriety. 1t
is constitutional ailment, to be treated
constitutionaly. 1t is not necessarily
due to alcoholism. Chloral and opium
inebriety are already becoming danger
ously common; and there are hundreds
of other stimulants and narcotics to
which resort may be had. The only
remedial course is to place the inebriate
where alcohol or the provoking cause of
ailment cannot be had; for the sight of
it, or the smell of it, will excite all the
desire for it. To this treatment, seda-
tives, tonics, and nutritious food to build
up the system may be added. To per-
sons having any tendency to inebriety,
the only safe course is absolute absti-
hence during early life. AS regards the
human race, the disease finds its remedy
in itself; for degeneracy in any direction
cannot go on indefinitely; and after any
qualities, good or bad, attain a certain
stage of growth, they cease to reproduce
themselves. The excessively feeble and
nervous stocks must perish, and the fight
for existence be maintained between the
less feeble and less nervous and the we'll
balanced and strong; and thus, by a
process Of successive Examinations, a race
may be developed that shall be every
way adapted to the complex conditions
of high civilization.-N Y. Home Journal.