The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-11-01
LIQUOR DRINKING.

LIQUOR DRINKING.
Its Mischievous Work Among Different
Glasses of People-HabituaI Craving for
Observation-Disclosures of Unfortunate
Inebriates-Periodical SPECIFICATIONS
Resulting From IntOxication.
Physiology has distinctly proclaimed
'ae nature OF Chat habitual craving for
strong liquors which, being gratlfied,
ends in drunkenness. 1t is an abnor-
NAL state of the nerves and brain, en-
gendered by the persistent use of the
stimulant of alcohol, under the opera
ton of law which finds its analogue
in the instances of opium, hashiSh,
tobacco and other narcotics. All such
drugs, without exception, it is alleged,
operate through the subtle machinery
OF the nervous structure, and tend by
necessary law to the creation of an APP
petite which grows by that it feeds
on" While the original quantity, by
repetition, loses its power to reproduce
its first pleasing effect, it is found to
leave a craving void behind. Thus the
sensual nature demands an increase of
the stimulant, both in time and meas
ure, and at the same time the moral
resisting poweris either partially weak
ened or absolutely annulled. Such is
the theory of the history and genesis of
all the actual excess which rational
Temperance reiOrmers deprecate and
deplore. The love of pleasure on the
one hand, ever mounting to transient
crisis, and on the other an aversion to
pain, are the twin forces whereby the
letters of an Unsuitable lust are imper-
ceptibly but surely riveted upon the in
temperate man. In this state of vassal-
age, and in the midst of his misery, the
drinker eXclaims: Il will seek it vet
againn'
Universal history, it is affirmed, at
tests and verifies this dictum of physio-
logical science. 1t records no single
example, amidst the multifarious'c ondi-
tons OF social life, where these seduc-
tive intOXicants, once introduced, have
not been widely abused; or where their
use has remained stationary at some
fixed point of desiderated moderation.
The old Egyptian, the pagan Arab, the
favored jew, the refined and cultured
Greek, the strong Roman, the wild
Scythian and the ancient German, all
III turn passed through the experience
which has been repeated amongst the
civilized Celts and the Christianized
mglo-SaXOns of modern times. No
matter what other socia! conditions pre-
vail, of poverty or plenty, of knowledge
or ignorance, of barharism or refine
ment, of religion or irreligion, the use
OF lntoXlcants always spreads and in
creases. The passion for narcotics,
once engendcred, never dies out, never
ceases; nay, it is forever charging it
self with the supply.
To adopt the language of the great
historian Michelet, we have reached
can age in which the progressive inva-
sion OF spirits and narcotics is an in
vincible fact, bringing with it results
varying according to the populations;
here Obsc>ring the mind and barbara
ing beyond recovery; there fatally penp-
trating the foundations of the physical
life and alta ming the race ITSELF" The
same writer, i'll his great work ''On the
Causes of Physical Degeneracv, -
founded on an extensive survey of the
social condition of the people of Ger
many and France, places the universal
use OF alcoholics and narcotics amongst
the chief causes Of that decay in The
physical existence of the people which
is unerringly indicated by their diminu-
ton of stature and we ght, by the
abridged duration of adult life, and
above all, by an increased proclivity to
mental disaster.
BACCHOMANIACS.
Of those individuals known as inebri-
ates or dipsomaniacs there are unfortu-
nately consid rable number among
us. But the word dipsomaniac, though
in popular use, does not correctly ex-
press w at is meant to be understood.
1t is derived from the Greek words sig-
nifying TO thirst and madness. Dipso-
mania signifies q mania for thirst,
which is obviously the reverse of what
| is intended. In no sense do these per-
sons drink because they are thirsty. A
| more appropriate name fot them would
be that of Bacchomaniacs, since what
| they strenuOusly desire and restlesslv
| seek is the sense of intoXication in
the various stages, and to secure this
they will swallow almost anything,
| laudGnum, spirits of wine, etc, pro
| 'IbSu ~ 10 CdpdDlC VI ptOutNiHS JHdl
condition; they crave for the excite
ment, the pleasure which they feel in
it, and above all for the train of happy
thought which it sets up.
| These unfortunates may be roughly
divided into two classes. First we have
the habitual tipplers. These begin
early in the morning, They commence
with whisky and apollinaris water. OF
gin and soda water, and they continue
at this kind OF game all day. In the
morning they experience tremor, de-
preston and wretched sensation OF
| sinking and exhaustion; they revive to-
ward night and are never quite sober,
and before they go to bed they are com
monty only one remove from being
helples,ly drunk. Toward the latter
part of their lives they become a prey
to various painful diseases. chiefly al
fecting the liver, kidneys and stomach.
Sometimes hypochondfiasis of a very
confirmed character declares itself; at
other times they are attacked by deliri-
UNI tremens or brain diseases. Suicide
or attempts at suicide during the excess