Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-02
THE PASSION FOR DRINK.
Recipes That Are Said to Assist in
It's Cure.
New York Sun.

But once week or so the terrible |
gnawing, yearning, goading desire
for drink attacks me, and | dare
not resist it. Is there no substi- !
tute, no expedient, that will tide
me over such attacks? / am told |
your paper has at different times
given recipes for such cases. If so,
viii you not, in the name of God
and humanity, republish them or
give their date /? Don't say" 90 to
a physician" for l have done it.
They don't know, they don't care,
they don't help. And don't tell me
to take valerisn for it, for l have
tried that, and it is ten times worse
than whisky.
My business requires my constant
attention; my family requires every
dollar my business can be made to
yield. / Icannot stop and be treat
ed for days and weeks in some SAN
itarium. l want some help to aid
my own will and power and
strength to overcome this periodi-
cal call and demand of my system
for stimulants.
/ do not give my address. Ifyou
desire it, confdentially, l will. Try
to help a sorely tried man who
wants to help himself. E. V. M.
The writer, like many Others, has
made mistake. We have not at
any time given recipe which is an
effectual substitute for the alco-
holic stimulant. There are certain
tonic and carminative remedies
whici; may be used to aid in the
work Of self-cure, but this must be
effected principally by the exercise
of the sufferers will in abstaining
totally from ali strong liquors,
wines and beer. We do not believe
that any physician can furnish a
prescription which will cure a man
of the desire for strong drink.
Some physicians prescribe broken
doses Of tartar emetic in the favor.
ite liquor of the dipsomaniac pa
tieht to create disgust, but they ad-
NIT that the disgust is only tempo
raw. Still, a heroic man will re-
sort to this temporary disgust, pro-
vided he finds it necessary in the
commencement of his self-treat,
ment.
All drinking men say that the
imperative and uncomfortable
thirst for drink is always preceded
by nervous depression and a sense
of uneasiness, particularly at the
pit of the stomach, and frequently
extending to the hypogastric re.
gion. At that stage some support
must be given to the system. The
hot air bath, is recommended al
this stage. Strong coffee made in {
French perculator, in the proper
ton of two heaping tablespoonful
of the roasted ground berry to
half pint or medium-szed teacul
of boiling hot water, is the best ant
safest stimulant. 1t should be takel
on an empty stomach and withou
sugar or cream, and repeated ever
half hour until the stimulant effec
is observed. Where the nervou
depression is very great, three-grail
doses of quinine may be given ever
two hours until nine grains hay
been taken. When the coffee ere
ates dyspepsia it will not do to us
it except at the tinie of the attack
Extract of beef, taken as warn
or cold beverage, and seasoned wit
celery salt, is one of the best stim
ulants to ward off the attack.
Many physicians have expressed
their appreciation of the followin
tonic carminative: Sulphate of iror
five grains; peppermint water, elev
en- drachms; extract of ginger, on
drachm; take one teaspoonful {
this mixture, well shaken, nlgn
and morning. The iron tones u
the system, thepeppermint strength
ems the stomach, and the extract
ginger Gt must not be a tinctul
made with alcohol, but a simpl
very strong ginger tea, is sufficien
ly stimulant to settle disordert
nerves for the time. The ging,
must be omitted as soon as poss
BILE. At the hight of the attack
few drops of ammonia Or hartshol
may be added to each teaspoonf
of the above mixture. The toni
like all others, should be taken f
not more than ten consecutive da
Or Two weeks at a time; if fullne