The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1881-04-23
TFroia the Farnily Phvsicinn.


fFrom the Family Physlciant
The most frequent ciuse of this
complaint is spirit drinking. When
alcohol is introduced into the stom-
acl III the ordinary way, it nearly
all passes through the liver. I'm
diluted spirits are much more injH-
IRONS than when mixed with water,
and produce greater irritation.
Alcohol consumed as wine or beer
Is far less destructive to the liver
than when taken in the form of
ardent spirits. "A hot climate in
tcnsifies all the syieions effects of
alcohol. The symptoms of cirIlio-
sis of the liver are in the early
stages often obscure, but later they
are sufficiently well marked. At
first the liver gets slightly enlarged,
and the patient suffers from pain
IN the right side, indigestion, wind,
and costive bowels. He is OCCASION
ally feveIish, his skin is hot and
dry, and hehas peculiar unhealthy
sallow look, which he probably fails
to notice, but which is sufficiently
obvious to his friends.
Theneeessity for makinga change
in his habits is forced upon his at
tention, and for a week or two he
is under the doctors orders, and
not feeling able to drink any more,
he consents to follow a restricted
diet, and to take a course of purga-
tiyes. Soon the most prominent
symptoms are relieved, he faneies
himself well again, and quickly re-
turns to his old habits. Gradually,
however, he notices that he is get
ting thinner and weaker, and ocea
sionally he has a good deal Of pain
in the side. He is nervous and out
of sorts. He has no longer the
pluck he used to have; first his
friends notice it, and then he grad
ually becomes aware of it himself. |
He finds that he is not eft for
business" and he is afraid to see
people. The patient has occasional |
attacks OF diarrllea, his appetite
fails, and the emaciation and debil- |
ity increase. He tries all kinds of |
treatment, but never sticks to one
for long at time. He consults
every one of any note in London,
but derives little if any benefit from
their advice. He would give up
the drink if he could, but he can't.
His selfreliance is gone, the alec
hol has stolen away his will, and
he is utterly incapable Of giving mp
the dangerous fascination. lie will
take an oath today that he will
never touch another drop of spirits,
and he will probably break it to-
morrow.
Sometimes he wishes that some
one would lock him up in an asylum,
or that by some chance oRotler he
could have six months Tthprison-
ment, but lie never feels able to
put himself under restraint. After
a time the liver gets smaller, and
this, instead Of being a good sign
is bad one, for it is contracting.
lie would willingly enough consent
to knock off drink now, but it is
too late; the mischief is done, the
liver is in a state Of cirrhosis, and
no medicine can restore it to it's
natural condition. Is there any
remedy for this horrible complaint?
Yes, one, teetotalism absolute alb
stinence from alcoholic liquors of
all kinds. This remedy must be
applied early. If he waits till his
liver has undergone serious organic
change, it is too late. No half
measures will suffice; he must give
up drink Of all kinds. If he does ]
this he will recover, but if he goes
on in his eold plan an early and
painful death is the ineyitable
consequence.