Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-28
A TRUE STORY.


DrumLemneSs-A Graphite Narrative of tn
Torsures OF DipsOnianiG.
To the Editor of the Globe.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Oct. 6, 1SS0-SIB: 1 hav
clipped the following True Story" fron
the San Francisco BWlletin, and ask you t
give it as widespread circulation as You cal
for humanity's sake.
The following is true story. The Al
thor is known TO many readers of the BuH6
tin. Az narrative of personal experience
it is almost as graphic as DsQuincey's Con
LESSONS of an Opium Eater:
EDITOR BULLETIN: My experience OF the
effect of Cinchona Rubra seems likely te
prove of benefit to others, and have there,
fore. and for that reason alone, requested 6
friend to submit this true recital TO you fol
publication. Such confessions can only be
made reluctantly, and ought to be taken as
the outgrowth or wish to help other suf-
ferers to the attainment of new peace,
health and sanity.
A wear ago, seemed hopeless wreck.
had lost business and social position, was
without employment and was drinking hard.
NY own misery and The wretchednessi IF those
at home was beyond expression, and beyond
belief by any who have not closely watched
the work of alcohol. Every friend was just
Iy alienated, and and mine we're eating the
bread of charity at the hands Of those who
pitied the wife whom had sworn to protect.
Ic3nnot describe how bitter slave was to
this bad appetite, nor the mean devices /
would adopt to satisfy il. One eplieptiform
attack succeeded another, my mind was going,
my nerves were shattered, and the great mys'
terry of my disgrace was that had not suffer
ed pronounced attack of delirium tremens,
or even sunk into drunkard's grave.
By the blessed sorcery of q Peruvian twig,
this unspeakable curse, which had hung up
on us for thirty years, is at last removed.
Removed, not through any change of heart,
or will, or intellect, not through my own
sharp agony, not because of the awful
shrinking from me of my little ones, not by
the just damnation of public scorn, not by
the sacred SORROWS and wrestling supplica-
tons of my noble wife. For would to-day
be as powerless as ever in the grip of this
fierce thirst, if nay physical nature we're not
changed and renovated. On the Goth day of
May last begun taking the Cinchona Rubra,
in doses during the first four days. of q tea
spoonful every three hours. During the three
intervening nights 1 gradually ceased to
dream that I aoGS Grunk-a horror which
had for about year made me shrink from
bed time, and which rivaled De Quincey's ell
oquent opiom dream of "crocodiles and all
Shiny things conf bundled in Nilotic mud
My appetite for food revived slowly, but
seemed to require more than anything else
hot bowls of beef ktea from Liebig's Ex-
tract, and plentiful slices of buttered toast
The fourth night dreamed again, but the
menace of foul monsters yielded to boyish
thoughts of icy brooks laughing through alder
copses, and leaping trout, and the drum of
the ruffled grouse.
On the fifth day, dimly hoping that my re-
demption was beginning. dared to face the
$500 grogshops of the city. The roar and
rush and crowd of the streets pierced me
like lancet; but with my shiver of unrest
came no accustomed thirst, and when throb
of positive hunger came to me, went into
barroom for my lunch, feeling safe. There
stood facing me the naked Establishments of
all choice vintsges and Oscillations and
brews, and white-aproned master of the
mysterious formu@ of all mixed drinks.
But their invocation seemed merely like the
murmur of a Memnoa, about whom I feel
neithsr knowledge or curiosity, neither ter
ror nor reverence, neither longing nor dis
like.
Dazed by this novel insensibiliiy to temp
tation, went home, but do not care to en-
large upon the surprise and Joy of the well
come which awaited me. / had terribly IN
dercalculated d nervousness which ought to
have kept ma in the house q day or two
longer; but quiet came toward nightfal, and
the assurance that WAS less possessed of
the devii'' gave peaceful sleep again.
That day was the crisis. From then until
now it has been RS impossible fer ne to
drink as though whisky were molten iron. I
feel neither horror nor disapproval of the
long list of intoxicants. l simply cannot
touch them.
Were to phrase this fact of absolute in
difference a myriad ways, they would do poor
Justice to IFS value, however much its tier
alton might tire you. For it is this which,
proves to ny entire conviction that my
drunkenness was disease, and that am
cured because 1t is durable disease.
If, in other words, there had occurred dur
ing the last eleven months one momentary
impulse toward relapse, l might we'll join the
experienced Cough in pronouncing even
such reformation as my own q delusion and
a sham, bubble to be pricked by some
provocative at some devils opportunity or
other. Agreeing that no man is safe SO
lOuB DIS Ills udbuto lS CudIdCLtfIZSu Nv ILLS
"dipsomenia'' or thirst-madness, am proof
enough that, ct any rate in certain cases,
the appetite may be killed while the individ-
ual is alive. Such an one is saved because
he has no will left to himself in the matter;
he is sobered and restored. so to speak, in
spite of himself.
Beginning with a teaspoonful every three
hours, have gradually reduced my dose to
present quantity of quarter-t easpoonful
three times a week. Beside its safeguard
against auy return of the old curse, this con-
queror of the qainine tree is superb tonic;
and would have died outright from exhaus
ton and over-work during the ill-paid
months which next succeeded my recovery,
but for its strengthening aid.
speak of all this not In spirit Of prolix
egotism, but because some seemingly slight
symptom or fact may possess actual and
special Importance to some one else. How
profound and merited was my fall some of
the friends who now cluster around me know
to the full; and they share the Joy of my
wife and innocent children in my present
success. Stripped of the dead drag of this
poison of mind and body and soul, every
faculty seems equipped with vigor; and to
perfect my comfort it only remains that He
who has saved me may SO save another
through my agency. f.