Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1879-04-26
Drunkenness as q Disease.


DR.. Forbes Winslow, distinguished
English physician, with an experience
of 80 years among the insane and ine-
briate asylums of Eng gland, says that inc
briate asylums are the crying wants of
the age; that the morbid desire for stim-
ulants can be cured in many cases, and
that hundreds would avail themselves
of these institutions, and voluntarily
surrender themselves to control and
treatment.
Why doesn't he quit drinkingp is q
question often asked by sympathizing
friends concerning one who is wasting
his best days and talents, in the manner
indicated by the query. The answer is
"he can not quit If this is true, then
is is worth the very best efforts of our
scientists and philanthropists to go to
the very bottom of the subject. DR..
William A. Hammond, one of the most
distinguished American physicians,
Classics alcoholism as disease, and
one of the symptoms noted is a loss of
the will power, which is the very agency
that the drunkard is called upon to use
if he would save himself-the sine qua
non of his very existence. The craving
for alcohol is not because of the patients
want of Judgment, or of conscience, or
of his will. The brain is diseased, as is
the stomach and nerves. This craving
must be met or removed. 1t is no use
telling the tnsn to use his will power
it is gone. As well tell him to use a
life preserver which he does not pos
sess, if he was f1oundering in water over
his head. DIR. Widney of St. Louis,
who is at the head of an inebriate asy-
lum or sanitarium in that city, gives
one or two interesting examples of those
who have been under treatment.
ga striking example of this class is
seen in that of a teacher who came to
the Sanitarium when he had drunk but
one glass in six months, and that one
Immediately preceding bis voluntary
entrance of this hospital. He came
alone, after having deposited all OF his
money with friend and telling him
not to give it back to him under any
pretext whatever for several weeks.
This gentleman was a stranger to all
persons in the Sanitarium, but he en-
tered with quick step, as if in great
haste, called fer the superintendent,
and stated that his time for spree had
come, and he had been fighting it hard,
but he had at last taken one drink, and
that he knew that If he did not have
something to lessen the craving for al
cohol. and to assist him in controlling
himself, he would be 'beastly drunk
in fow hours. He was sent 10 a
room, and such assistance given as he
needed, and soon the demand for alco-
hol passed away and the man became
his own mas er. 1t is two years since
he left, and he is now engaged as a
prominent agent Gn one OF our rail-
roads. Once since the time referred to
he has felt some return OF the spells,
and he came at once for the medic .ne
that he used BEFORE"
Another case illustrates the pee 1liari-
ties of the periodical drunkard. Twas
that of lawyer.
ssHe was not much intoxicat ed ; to hear
him converse, in the dark, no one would
have supposed him to have been at all
under the influence of liquor. Soon
after entering the institution, he made
this statement (that l know now to be
corr,ct): Il am not much under the
influence of alcohol to-day, and could
attend to my business as well as usual,
but in three days have case that l
must win or be ruined; it Is suit for
$1,000. I am now embarrassed and
of money that used while guardian for
some minor heirs; the guardianship has
been taken from me very properly, but
I must make settlement this week, and
the only possible chance to secure the
funds is to gain this suit. Now, if l am
not controlled, will be very drunk on
the day of the trial, and must inevitably
lose the case and be ruined profession
ally, and disgrace my family. 1t is one
of my peculiarities, and when there is
an important time for me to remain
sober and I am particularly anxious to
do so, am certain to be drunk on that
day; if l could be as sober on next
Thursday as 1 am to-day and have been
for three weeks, would be satisfied,
but this is impossible unless am under
restraint. | will pay the Institution lib
erally If you viii keep me sober, and
have me sent down 10 the Courthouse
under guard of a firm man, in three
days, and keep him there TO prevent my
drinking, until this case is completed
| I, of course, consented, and at the prop
er time sent man with him, anJ he
gained his suit"
He is described as man who under
stood the principles of christianity and
believed them; loved his family and felt
his responsibility; knew the value of
money and was keenly conscious that
| financial and social ruin were inevitable
if he was drunk on the day of the trial,
and yet he would have drunk so far as
his own will power was concerned, and
hence his desire to hedge against it.
DIR. Widney explains the matter thus;
he had been partially under the indu-
ence of alcohol for a long time; the
blood vessels of the brain would not
contract promptly without the accus-
toned stimulant; the excitement OF the
occasion would cause more blood to go
to the brain than usual, and therefore
there was greater demand for alcohol
to enable the blood vessels to contract
with more than ordinary force to pre-
vent the fullness of the head and con-
fusion of thought which invariably fol-
low this condition; but freedom from
excitement and temptation and the SUBJ
stitution of non-alcoholic stimulants for
a time, and the presence of man of
strong will to help him carry out his de-
sire to abstain from the use of his acus-
| +o,,,aJ of;p,n1ant aoopnnlishad the mr.