The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-09-11
INEBRIETY AND 1NSANITY.E

Some of the Many Evil Effects of Alcoholic
Drinks-What the Children of the Intern
perate Inherit.
The following extracts are taken from
one of the series of articles on The
Temperance Teachings of Science" by
Prof. A. B. Palmer, M. D., LII. D.,
published in Vide Aaoake:
Insanity is another morbid condition
of the brain caused by chronic alcoholic
indulgence. The statistics of all in
sane asylums bear evidence of this fact.
In the list of causes of this most terrible
of calamities, intemperance occupies
prominent place; but those who have
given most attention to the subject ex-
press the opinion that this disease is
more likely to attack the offspring of
drunkards than the drunkards them
selves. These latter cases are not
usually charged, in the statistics, to in
temperance, though they are the re-
mote consequences of it.
The first attack of insanity in the
drunkard is usually recovered from,
under asylum treatment and where
further indulgence is prevented; but the
patient too often returns to his drink
when released, and subsequent attacks
are very liable to occur, from which the
patient is far less likely to recover. Oc-
curing in the children of drunkards,
the first attack is more liable to be per-
manent. Idiocy, blindness, deafness
and other defects of the nervous system
are painfully common in the children
of the Incorporate.
In what is called chronic alcoholism,
paralysis from brain and nerve impair
ments is a not infrequent occurrence. 1t
takes different forms as it affects differ
ent parts, and usally indicates such an
advanced and extreme state of alcoholic
poisoning as renders recovery very rare,
Fits of apoplexy, often speedily fatal in
the first paroxysm, and almost inevita-
bly, so when repeated, are another re-
suit of intemperaDce; and when partial
recovery takes place, brain impairment
remains. frequently accompanied by
palsy. Epilepsy is another disease of
the brain and nervous system some
times produced by alcoholism.
The term inebriety, or dipsomania,
is applied to condition in which the
subject ofEit is supposed to be incapa-
BILE of self-control, and is given up to
periodical or constant drunkenness.
But whether it should be
called disease or vice, it is the effect
of alcohol upon the nervous system;
the tendency to the condition often
being hereditary-general from alco-
holic indulgence in parents-btlt devel-
oped into the actual morbid state by
the indulgence of the individual.
Whether a disease or a vice, it is
very difficult of cure, and if temporary
ly relieved, either by physical or moral
means, it is exceedingly liable to re-
turn, and result in moral and physical
death.
Space fails, and the object of this
work does not require that all the dis
eases which alcohol is capable of infiict-
ing should be even mentioned, much
less dwelt upon. But, after all, it
should be understood that by far the
most frequent evil effects of alcohol do
not consist in the production of special
diseases peculiar to itself, but in gen
eral perversion and lowering of vitality
which renders one more subject to dis
eases of various kinds, and causes dis
eases and accidents to be more fatal.
In all reports of the causes of deaths,
the different diseases and accidents are
named, but the. alcoholism which rem
dered them fatal is not mentioned; and
even when the disease and death are
caused by the alcoholism alone, the
truth and the warning example are sac
rificed to what are regarded as the
properties of the occasion--a sentiment
of respect for the dead and the feelings
of friends. In public reports alcohol
and alcoholism do not receive Sithe of
credit or responsibility for the evils
they accomplish.
In some of these cases of habitual
tipping, as distinguished from drunk
enness, only functions or actions are
perceptibly changed, while in others the
structure of the brain and nerves is more
or less profoundly affected.
Often among the first symptoms will
be observed a perversion of moral senti-
ment. There will at least be an indif-
ference to the dangers of drink and a
general recklessness of conduct. This
is a natural result of the narcotic. be-
numbing influence of the poison. There
are apt to be improvidence, sensuality,
an absence of restraint of the lower
passions, nlalfeasance in office, unfaith-
fulness to trusts, Indifference to the
feelings and claims of parents, wife and
children, and disregard of the advice of
friends. There will generally be no.
ticed unsteadiness of the hands, and
often of the movements of the lower ex-
tremities, inquietude, especially if the
doses be not regularly increased, want
of refreshing sleep, at first fitful but
often more constant, particularly when
the accustomed amount is diminished
or withdrawn; and now the general APP
pearance and expression of an habitual
drinker appear. The irregular mo-
tons can, for time, be restrained
by decided effort of the will. They
are worst in the morning, especially
when the sleep has been broken, but
are steadied by food and the usual
dram. Headache, buzzing i'm the ears,
irritability of temper, cloudiness before
the eyes, and, in more severe cases,
flashes of light and various hallucina-
tons may follow There are uncer-
tainty of purpose, mental instability,
though sometimes logged obstinacy,
feelings of dread, but without the pur-
pose to avoid evil or danger.
Partial paralysis of the nerves which
cause contraction of the blood-vesseIs
of the face, consequent enlargement of
these vessels, and redness and erup-
tons of the face are common. There
is foulness of the breath, not so much
from the simple smell of the alcohol
passing off, as from its yapor changed
in character and mingled with efete
and decomposing matter from the sys-
tenn; and if a strong odor of tobacco
be added TO these, the effect upon the
senses and feelings of others, especially
upon wife with delicate nerves, l
shall not attempt to describe.
All this may happen 10 a steady
driDker who would warmly resent be-
ing called a drunkard. and whose
friends would feel greatly scandalized
by such charge. He may never have
Keen so mu.h under the Influence of