New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-20
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

DRUNKENNESS AS A DISEASE AND CRIME.
VIEWS OF FORMER --coSRINgMESr OF
CONFIRMED DRuNKARDs URGED AS NECESSARY
FoR CURE.
To the Pdftor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The editorial in yesterdays issue OK
TIE TRIBUNE. Disease q Criuef" is, think. In
general sense correct in IT'S view OF the snbect
than anything else have read NJ basis of udg-
ment is that for twenty years I more or less
drrnkard, and for ten years confirmed inebriate IN
temperance Ia disease, and one which feeds upon IL
self aud 1t Ia disease which more than any otnef 90
ranges and weakens the whole mental and physical or
ganizaton while n allows its victim to live on In de"
spair and without remedy. 1t disease which sub
dues every faculty and passion to its domiuacn
and destroys all OF life but ITSELF THIS disease. except In
hereditary neither is IL an accfdens
which. like fevers, contagious or rheumatsms,
comes in spite Of Ordinary caution and forcthought.
Every who raises glass OF qucrto his lips knows
that in the end 1t will harm him. Conf mel In the
habit knows that every glass be drinks VIII require
another that effect may be sustained and that as the
effect dimuishes the desire will increase And here 1t Is
that disease becomes crime and IL Is here that
those s progress, AMI thus abolish the
crime will become the greatest benefactors Of this OF
any age This is the question which. above oil Others,
should engage the press. pulpit PLATFORM scientist and
mOralist.
My experience, observation OF and association with
OF oil classes who drink either in moderation or TO
drinking doing to encourage and confirm tina
habit pplng among the young Of the better and
middle classes In cities than all the temperance So
cietes, preachers and reformers counterfeit In
generation. Many will go TO his grave sot who
can without impety them for the announcements
they gave him to drink moderately. Again. my assocta
ton with confirmed nebrates leads me to say that
ninety per cent those who drink moderately In the
third decade OF e are either confirmed In the habit or
become total abstainers before they reach the age OF
forty.
HOW shall this question of disease be met, grappled
with and ovcrcornei might also ask, how snail our
fails and amshOuses be depOpuated and
the annals Of crime bOOdshed, destituuon snd misery
he Oblterated Let me answer THIS question IN part
Nine out of every the drau.shOps which exist in
our towns aud villages exist In open defiance OF known
Tered These laws win be rightly interpreted and Justly
administered only when the public opinion which pro-
community snail rise aud demand their execution TINS,
ana the possibility the disease and crime among the
ureducaIed and improvident classes.
among the educated middle aud better classes
bereclaimed and healed Hardly any Two cases
saO e @as be e basis Of
sIder confinement within limits where temptation does
not exist and where desire csnaOs De an spso
feebed aud deranged by long indu medical ADVICE
has been regenerated ana established by moral consider
atons. iDciJed with tender synpathies ana Irstern
kudness such ADVICE aud prescriptions are ou' tempor
man IN eted with the disease OF incompetence must
IL great extent be his physician. SJDletling must
IL e the place OF what has been taken away Medicines
will not supply the want. The whole system must De
built anew and on natures foundation and WITH
natureS own materials 1t is the testimony Of all men
diseased with alcoholic poIsOn that fool does not dis
seminate through and strengthen the system.
The stimuius excite appetite, but u does not
digest food. Now tue brain diseased by alcohol
must have something to suppant 1t in that locality, 50
with the body
Bromide may quiet the nerves aud induce sleep for
night or two the patients MUD must be entrusted In
its natural channel His body must nave healtoin exer
else and both must have hourshment suited 10 their
wants. Then heart aud brain and BODY arrive at
their condition. he is ready 10 resume the battle
of life strong OF purpose and mind at every point.
NeV York, Jan. 81, 1881. Ed W.