Daily globe., 1883-08-09

other country in the world, still there is
more inebriety. The explanation of this is
found IN the fact that from climatic and
other surrounding circumstances, alcohol
can scarcely be taken by a nervous tenn
permanent, even in moderation, without in
ducing inebriety. There is universally
an absence of alcohol at all meals in the
United States.''
Atmospheric influence is another nm
doubted exciting cause of this affection, as
sometimes indicated by the production of
paroxysm from exposure to sea air, east
erly winds and other similar changes. We
have the most striking examples in the
lives of individuals to prove that there is
such disease as dipsomania, and the most
marked one now in mind was Edgar A. Poe.
'sLet temperance advocates fall in with
the current of scientific opinion on this
subject, acknowledge intemperance to be
disease, acting at the same time in harmony
with this doctrine, and, while they will gain
the support and cooperation of the most
enlightened scientists of Great Britain and
Europe. as well as of the same class IN
this country, they will be, above all, forti-
fed by an important radical truth, which
will demand unity of purpose and method,
ana secure ultimate success" 1t has been
said that there is an inborn element in the
nature of man which develops inebriety.
Could we trace the cause of this, we should
doubtless find that the whole racels tainted
with this disease, coming down to us
through the ages, in obedience to the laws
of heredity. Our fathers from earliest his
tory, we find, were addicted to drunken
ness. ! have a book before me now, con-
tanning two sermons preached in Belfast,
Ire, 200 years ago, by bishop Of the
Bnglish church, the purport of which was
to tell the people that sit was wrong to get
drunk on the day Of the funeral of a
bishop" but when ruler or king died it
was mot sin to get drunk" The Anglo
Saxons and their near relations, the Teu
tonic family, have for ages been addicted
to habits of Intoxication, and we, their
descendants, almost, | dare say, without
individual exception, are tainted with the
disease, inebriety. This fact is lost sight
of in efforts of Christian communities to
reform men and crush out this giant curse,
intemperance. The streets of all our large
cities are lined with liquor shops, and
their traffic defended as no other business
is fostered, simply because people demand
it, and the generations to come will
demand the same as the former. We're it
now possible to deprive every map, woman
and child of intoxicants in the fCture
believe it would require more than Gen.
tury to eliminate by the natural laws of
evolution, the disease produced in tbs past
by alcoholic indulgence. This will &C.
count for the failures which are such
source of astonishment in the present age.
We have not sufficiently studied the causes
which are such dead weight holding back
the car of civilization. The community
must be educated. Our Efforts must be
educational The laws of hygiene must
be taught in their highest and breadest
sense, curative measures must be adopted,
and moro humane treatment must he
given the unfortunate inebriate. He must
not be branded as an outcast, one without
the pale OF human sympathy. de must
be treated as other diseased human beings
and not branded as criminal. When our
countrymen adopt these means We shall
not be called upon to mourn over failures
and disappointments. The public mind
will gravitate toward the idea that, as a
sanitary measure, the custom of using in
toxicants must be abolished, and as posi-
tive necessity; for the preservation Of life
ana health, liberty and true happiness, the
use Of intoxicants must be abandoned.