New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-27
DRUNKENNESS AMONG WOMEN.

JECT.
"The disastrous effects upon women Of the
drinking OF fashionable society" said prOmi
nent physician recently, ARE not half known appre
ciated. Whether incompetence among educated women
is increasing not IL is sufficiently common to become
alarming"
TRIBUNE reporter recently visited number OF
prominent physicians whose acquaintance and prac-
tice would give them an opportunity to form
correct judgments, 10 obtain their views in
regard TO the reported increase OF intemper-
among women Of the better classes. The
majority confirmed the opinion Of this increase Of habits
Of drinking.
A professional gentleman with large society &C.
qualntance said: al had my attention called TO this
subject several years ago. look upoI it a very i'm
pOrtant one. The pernicous habit is very COM
mon. At fashionable resorts during the past sum
mer, have frequently noticed young ladies and marons
visibly under the influence of alcoholic drinks. 1t is
a common habit for ladies TO drink wine at fashionable
parties. In fashionable restaurants one mey observe
the OF wine by ladies' especially after attend
ing theatres and concerts believe that beer drinking
is also generally INDUCED in especially at home, where
ladies take it for weak constitutions or to round out
their forms. Indeed think beer drinking is the great
national evil among all classes. In q country that
spends considerably over $500 100000 year Tor beer
and where the consumption Of beer has increased SOY
per cent in ten years IL must naturally have its elect
upon women as well This effect is much greater
and rapid women. owing 10 the peculiar SEN
sltivencss Of their nature. Their appeties grow so
rapidly that beer fails TO satisfy them II women
generally gwen TO drinking men are, ana liquor
was placed easily within their reach there would be
a much larger proportion Of drunkards among them
than there is among men, A sad case came under my
personal observation in this city, showing the
rapid and terrible effect OF wine drinking on
women. Two young men who were accustomed
TO the of wine on their fathers table, married
sisters OF good family and began housekeeping TO-
gether. The young were unaccustomed TO wine
They were urged by their ndscreet husbands who pro
vded wine table, take it tonic, and sherry and
other stmuants became daily necessity. As their
moral secontrOl became weakened, their ndulgences
grew more frequent, and soon it was uncommon cir
for either Of the two husbands TO come home
and find his wife stupidity drunk TIE conscDtedtO
enter private inebriate asylum in distant State but
the dill not them. One might be SAID to
have died in deirum tremens while giving birth 10
child"
An old physician when questioned on this subject, re-
Piled YES there is greal deal Of this fashionable
drinking, much than is generally believed: but
while IT is great evil am inclined TO think IL Is not
growing The sentiment OF the better classes of
the public think, is setting against intcmperance In all
FORMS its evil effects become better known. / have
professionally treated many women for ills that were
the direct result OF intempeTance. Not long pros
porous downtown merchant tailed in business. and his
home was broken up. the direct result OF his we's in
temperate habits, OF which vainly tried her
Another instance OF wifes drunkenness resulted in
the husbands dependency and mtemDerancc Their
bright little child rescued by the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The man has since
parted from his wife, and again enjoying prosperity,
while his wife still clings TO drink"
Dr. Stephen Smith, OF No 30 East Forty -secOnd-st,
who has given much thought TO this subject said
Thoughtful medical men frequently express much APP
prehcnSiOn the prevailing tendency OF women, and
especially young women, 10 indulge IN the use OF
alcoholic liquors. The intemperatc habits
among the better class are twOold The first is social
wine-driDking customs. These exert an especially
strong influence upon young At the period ~
budding womanhOOd the nervous system is peculiarly
mDrcsslbc and anything which produces state of ner
exaltatiOn will. II repeated, readily Dc-
come n fixed want. No except q physician
can fully appreciate the susceptibility OF young ladies
at the age when they arc conyenii9nay TO
fashionable society. There Is scarcely anything so liable
impress the nervous system at this time rs mild
but cxharating wines Confirmed habits OF drunk IL
may not now be formed, put permanent ilnprrs-
sOus made winch will never be lost and which too
at later period and make sad havoc Of
personal character and domestic happiness. second
by ply sican. Reference Is not made to the scientific
OF alcohol in medicine, but 10 the reckless habit OF
women. The physician wearied with the opportunities
OF his patients recommends win" or beer, brandy or
whiskey prescription easily MADE ana generously
complied with"
1.-THE effects OF intemperancc," he added upon the
constitution OF women OF the most decisive charac
ter Intemperance tends 10 shorten life more III woman
than in man. Competent authority gives the average
duration of ne OF the intemDerae. after the habit Is
formed. as follows:
Among mechanics working and IaboIng men,. years
Among traders dealers and merchant J! years
Among professional men and gentlemen years
Among women IA years.
"Thc ills OF women accustomed TO the habtual Of
alcoholic beverages innumeraDle. The effects Of
incompetence upon the mental faculties of woman
not less disastrous than upon the physical system 1t
very rapidly brings her will power under It's subsection
and often before her friends that n habit has
been formed she already and victim
She Will device 10 secure its Indulgence II
destroys her purity OF Thought and makes her nd
the good opinion OF others The use OF alcoholic
beverages by women il growing evil which deserves
ths most serious consideration The Gvi Is not limited
the individual. but perpctuates itself In her Offspring
and thus leads to the degeneracy OF the race. In
England, where wine and beer drinking Is more
common than m this country the voice OF the medical
profession has been raised against H. The reform must
begin in the home and social circles"
Another we'll known physician said "My own prac
tce confirms me in the belief that large share Of the
numerous ailments OF many women Is due to the Of
artificial stmuants while in other cases complaints are
aggravated by their use. The hurry and struggle Of
American life and the high nervous organization pccu
liar American en-, lead them TO the use OF slnu
lans Most Of the tonies eXirs ana bters. so widely
advertised owe extended to the presence OF
smu1nts aud the harm that they do Is incacu'a0le
Dr. Willard Parker, referring to the hereditary effect
Of drink said OF all agents alcohol is the most potent
in establishing hcredy that exhibits itself in the de-
sruction OF mind and body. II transmits appetite
for strong drink TO the children and these are likely 10
have that form OF drunkenness which may be termed
paroxysmal that is. they Will 20 for considerable
period without indulgence until at last all barriers OF
self-contro give way The drunkard by inheritance IL
more helpss than his progenor and the children
he begcts arc more helpless still. Hereditary
effects OF drink are Shown IN insanity, idiOcy,
epilepsy and other affections tho brain
and nervous system. rrtchard and Esquirol, two
great authorities the subject, attribute one-hali OF
the cases insanity In England TO the OF achohO
and the same probably true IN this country Onehalt
OF the idiots OF drunken parentagc. have been ac
0uainted with several men, having brilliant and cult
Waited minds, who inherited the vice, and they have
sfatrd tmat there were tunes WHOM the mpnse 70