The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1885-01-08
,Nesa,erv 4 p,ssAse.


~ Censlusions Bsanhsd b. . Onss h.
vestigator Of the suhjset.
A writer in Popular Science Monthly
describes In q general way : peculiar
mental state following the toxic use Of
alcohol, which has only recently at
traeted attention, and which promises
to be q very important factor in the
medical jurisprudence Of the future.
After making mention Of a number Of
peculiar cases Of alcoholic trance, the
writer concludes by saying that in this
trance state the person is a mere au-
tomaton in motion, either NOV
ing along certain fixed lines Of
conduct, OF acting In obedience to
unknown forces which may change or
vary any moment. Some governing
center has suspended, and all rcmem-
berable CONSCIOUSNESS of time and the
relation Of events has stopped. Chang.
ing thoughts and impulses, the sug-
gestion Of disturbed organ, or the i'm
preston Of q thought or desire felt in
the past, may suddenly concentrate into
action, irrespective of consequences.
Both subjective and objective states, in.
huenced by conditions of health and
brain power, may develop into acts that
will be unknown and unrecorded by tho
higher brain centers.
Clinical facts within the observation
Of any one will indicate, without any
kind Of doubt, that in all cases OF inc
briefly there are defective brain power
and ability to recognize the natural re-
lations Of life in all particulars. The
sufferer is moro or less incapable Of
healthy normal thought and action; he
has opened the door for many complex
nervous disorders, and the natural pro-
cess Of tearing down the structure is
greatly accelerated. If the trance state
Is found to be present he has passed
into the realm of practical irresponsi-
bility and Inconsistencies Of the nature
and character of his actions. The fol-
lowing summary will be found to out
line the future recognition and treat
ment Of these cases:
Inebriety in all cases must DO re-
garded as q disease, and the patient
forced to use the means for recovery.
Like the victim Of infectious disease, his
personal responsibility Is increased, and
the community with him are bound to
insist on the treatment as q necessity.
Inebriety must be recognized asa con-
dition Of legal irresponsibility to a GER
tain extent, depending on the circum.
stances of each individual case.
All unusual acts of crime committed
by inebriates, either in state of partial
stupor or alleged amnesia Tor loss Of
memory, which come under legal recog-
milton, should receive thorough study by
competent physicians before the legal
responsibility can be determined.
When the trance state is established
beyond doubt, the person is both physio.
logically and legally irresponsible for bid
acts during this period. But each case
should always be determined from the
facts Of its individual history.
In the light Of science tho present
legal treatment of inebriety is but little
else than barbarism. The object of the
law, in punishment, benefits NO one
and makes the patient more incurable-
destroying all possibility Of recovery
ana return 10 noaltn again. luoDTlety
in any form may DO no cxcuse for csinl
in legal sense, but II is still less an ex.
cuse for punishment, which destroys the
victim or makes him more helpless and
hopeless. A vast army of inebriatei
lowering along these Lorder-lands Of
disease and crime, who are unknown
and unrecognized except "as vicious and
I desperately wicked" are Q perpetual
menace TO all progress and civilization
unless they can be reached and checked
by rational, effective methods. A rev
olution Of sentiment and practice is dc
manded, In which the inebriate and tn
conditions which developed his malad,
shall be understood; then the means 70
prevention, restoration and recover
can be applied along the line of nature
lawA