Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-12-30
Drunkenness Anleng W0Eaen.

Drunkenness Among W0Eaen.
The disastrous ef;o!s upon WomcD CT the
drinking customs Of fashionable s,ciety," said
| prominent physician recently, "are not halt
knowa or appreciated. Whether iotempcr-
ance among educated women is decreasing or
not, it is sufficiently Common to baoomo alarm.
ing"
A New York Tribune reporter recently visit
cd number of prominent physlcaD5 whose
acquaintance and practice wouli elTo them an
opportunity to form CORRECT .iad gmcots, 10 CO.
tain their views 10 regard to The rcportod IN
crease of intempeTancc among W2oleo Of tue
better classos. Tho majority confirmed the
opinion of this incress, Of habits OF dT!okiag.
A professional gentlemao With large sCc.a-
ty acquaintance said: 81 had ny attention
called to this subject several years ago, l look
upon it az very important cns. The pernl
cious habit is very commoD. At fashionable
resorts during the past summer, hs7a ire
auently noticed young ladies' and matron7 v!si
bv under the inlasnoe Of sicoholic drink. It
ia COMMON habit for ladies' to d1iok Hioc az
fashionable parties. 10 fashionable rsstsu
rants one may observe the sam, use OF vino by
ladies, especially after attending theatres and
coucsrts. believe that beer drinking is also
generally INDUCED 10, especially at home, "hcEe
ladies take it for weak constitutions or to round
out their forms. iadeed, | thiak beer GriGs-
ing is the great natioual evil amo5g a! c!asaes.
la country tha. srcnds considerably G7er
$500, 900. 900 q year for b:eT. ach where
the consumption ct beer has Increased
5O7 Der cent in ten years, il tnust "a
tursl,y have ita cf:G. upon women
as we'll as mec. This effect IS rauca srearor
aud moro rapid Gu w0ai2n, oWiog to the peeu~
liar sersitivenssj oi their nature. Their ep'
petitcs grow 30 rapidly chat beer SOON fails to
satisfy them. If women gcaers!;y were gi7ep
to drinking as nen are, ard i;Qlot Tal plaead
as easily within their reach, tn3Ea would na q
much larger proDer;ion of d!urkara5 aa;o1g
them than there - among meE. = sad case
camc under E'y personal u5.arTation ia thts
city, showing tho rapid ard terrible effect di
wiue drirklue co w3!DaF. ISo yoln. inco
who were 1c3ustGpiCd 10 me uSa or ;rlGD 01
their fathers table, married listers Of good family
and began housekeeping ;oerlher. i>ha y2rrg
wives we're uuaccust0med 10 ,7i0e. They were
urged By their iodiscrees husbands. wt3 pre-
yided wire st table, 10 tax, il as 4 Ionic. a9G
sherry and ether stimulants scnD became q DULY
necessity rs their moral self coatrol bcca;ne
weakoueG, their iGdugcuciaE r:eT plGre irc-
uueot' aud 5000 it was 30 a3c6nu0u clrcu8l.
stance for either CT the two husbands 70 cou!s
home and fad bis wifo stu2i2Iy drunk. The
| women consented to enter 3 private icou!iafc
esylum in dstaGt State, but ih2 treatment
| did not cure them. Ooc might be aaii! to have
died IN doliIum treE9orS while :i7lrg birth 10 a
child"
Al cid physician, 4hen QUESTIONED or shis
subject, rcpled "I eS. there is prlat deal
| of this fashionable drickisg, much marc than
is generally believed but while it is g:c2t
evil, | am inclined 10 think it il net growing
| ono. fhe sentiment OF tho better classes Of
the public, thiok, is setting against iGtem-
| perance in all forns rs its evil effects be
come better krowc. | have Professionally
treated many women TO. ills tlat were the
direct results Of iotennaracce. Not logg
ago prosperous dewn town merchant fail
ed ia business, aud his home vas hrakcn
up, the direct rtsalt Ct his Blfa'; t.
temperate habits, Of whieh | valny triad 10
cure her. Another la5taccc CT 8 Tlle's d!uak.
cnuees resulted 10 tie husbands dcspoadcacy
aud iotempersrce. Their bright little Child
VAS rescued by the Society for the Prevention
cf Cruelty to ChiIdrsn. The nau taa siuce
parted from his wife, AID is again cri3Jiog
prosperity, while bis wife still clio2a to d!:Dk. !"
|
second street, who has given much thought to
this sutject, s.id "rhcughtfsI medical ricn
| frequently express much apprehension a. the
prevailing tendency of wcncn, aud especially
young womer, to Indulge 10 the a5e Of s!c3:ioIie
| liquors. The cau5eB Of in,cmpcrata !labits
among the better class arc tTotcId: The frat IS
| social wiue Griuk;oC cusocls. These exert cn
especially ssroDg ich1succ upon youts Waueg.
At the period Of budding Wcmanhaod tie pcIv
Gus system is peculiarly npres*ib!e, AID any-
thing which produces state ct nervous cx!ta.
.ioo viii, if repeated, readily b:coms fxea
want. No ono cxsept physicaa cac lIiy ap'
prcca.e the susceptibility CT youcg ladies' Ct
| the age when they are conTcniionaliy iG:r5cu;.
| ed TO fashiopablc society. There ls scarcely
! auythirg so Liable 70 iGlrrass the DerV1us s;s
| TEN ct this time as mild but cxhiIaraticg vi pea
Confirmed habits OF Crackepnesg ugy pot BOW
be formed, lut permanent impressions $50
made which will never be Loaf. and which TOO
ofteu revive at soDc later period aad make sad
havoc Of personal cha,ac;cv aud domestic hap
piDes4 a sscoud ezciios csuso is ;ha i,;c-
scri ption OF a!cohoiio sic u *uts hy rh:slI=Us.
| Reference Is lot made TO he scicatiGc uses ot
alcohol in medicine, bus to the reckless hatis
of recommending stIron'aots for aIl the ,rf!pg
ailments cf womeo. The phyticilr, weaGied
with the i'm po7'u cities Of bis patients. rccoU?-
Inencs Hine or baer, brandy or wh;skcy. a pre-
seriptioa easily uaG1 sn1 generous!g coEep'ied
with. y
The ed%c:s Of io;e;Gps-a5c,, ha added,
upon the constitution oi 'se:Uen ara ct Tie
nOss decisive ohsrectr. lo.emDci"ue: fca15
to shol,eo lie ucre in nouSa than IL NON.
Compeeu. su horny ..vas ;hr gc2rsgr InrArp0
OF Ess OF the 'utempa:atn. a:'c: the RABBI ;"
| forme1, as icil1ws -
Among mechanics. wn,kiAg ard I.bo::ag
men. IS vears; smoGg traders, dealers and
merchants, II years; amoDg Professional m:n
aud gentlemen, Is years: srnorg Wonep, IA
years.
"Ihe Ills OF womcn accustomed to !ha habitua
use Of alcoholic beverages arc ianumera5e.
The effects of iotemperacce upon the ncotc
iscuitiss Of womao are nos ;cya disastrous thar
u7on tho physical system. L; vary rapidly
brDgs her will power under iis suhjastion aud