Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-20
INKBRIETY AND HEREDITY.
Dr.. r. d. Crothers Tells Of the Ultimate
Effect OF Intemperance.


From the New York World Sth.
well-attended meeting was held last night
at the Thirteenth-Street church under the
auspices of the Presbyterian Temperance Insti-
tute. The address of the evening was delivered
by 7. ID. Crothers, NJ. D., of Hartford, Conn.,,
superintendent of Walnut lodge. DR.. Crothers
Is a recognized authority upon the treatment of
inebriety, and gave his audience last night .
synopsis of the result Of mis- scientific researches
into the subject of drunkenness as an heredf
tary failing. and the diseases of mind and body
transmitted by incorporate parents to their
children.
Promising that inebriety is a disease, one of q
group comprising consumption, insanity, cpl
lepsy, hystera, the speaker declared that the
causes OF the latter are often to be found in ex-
cessive indulgence In alcoholic liquors, while
not infrequently the Incorporate habits are the
direct result OF the other diseases that i'm proper
treatment OF the one too often sows the seed of
the other. The disease once developed moves
as regularly from one stage to another as con-
sumption or typhoid fever 1t is only neces-
sary for the expert to know when the case
started and its present stage of development to
Alcohol in any form destroys the healthy &C
Ii ity of blood and brain, and the advisability
OF Its moderate use as beverage. or even as a
medicine, is still an unsettled question among
scientists. alcoholic heredity, or the transmits
sion of special tendency to use spirits, or any
narcotic, to excess" he said, ais much more
common than is supposed"
Dividing the cases into classes, DIR. Crothers
explained that among the direct heredities-
those persons whose parents grandparents
used spirits to excess-the line of the Inherit
ance will be from father to daughter and from
mother to SON. "About one in every three
cases." continued the speaker, "may be traced
to inebriate ancestors" Quite q large proper.
ton OF these parents are moderate or only ex-
ces>ive users OF spirits. If the father is q mod
crate drinker, and the mother a nervous, con-
sumptive woman, or one with weak, nervous
the children. If both parents use wine or beer
on the table continuously, temperate, sober
children will be the exception to the rule. II
the mother uses various forms of alcoholic
drinks as medicines or narcotic drugs for real
or imaginary purposes, the inebriety OF the
been noted of mothers using wine. beer or
some form OF alcoholic drinks for lung trouble
or other affections, and the children born dur
ing this period have been inebriates, while
others born before and after this drink period
have been temperate. This heredity is often
for food and fluids; also in the peculiar tastes
and impusive and early digestive troubles.
Later, wine, cider, and still stronger drinks are
revolutions to the organism in the rest and re-
lief they bring. In other cases q precociOus,
nervous and mental development is seen in
these children, when suddenly from the appli-
cation of some peculiar, exciting cause the
alcoholic heredity bursts into great promi-
nence."
prevalent in certain families, such as minor
forms of insanity, consumption and various
nerve defects, are the result OF the excuses OF
some Incorporate ancestors. Where such Is
the case. the speaker explained, q return to In
ebriety may be expected in the third genera
ton. In the opinion of the speaker a third
class OF heredites is to be found among the
progeny OF insane cOnSumptive people or of
paupers and criminals. "In these cases there
seems to oe In certain families regular cycle
of degenerative diseases. Thus in one genera
ton great eccentricity, genius and high order
OF emotional developments. Extreme religious
zeal, or unreasons bic scepticism, pioneers or
martyrs for an idea and extremists in all mat
tiers. In the next generation insanity, inc
briefly, feeble-minded idiots. In the third
generation paupers, criminals, trarnps, epilep-
ties, idiots, insanity, consumption, and inc
briefly. In the fourth generation they die out,
or may swing back to great genius pioneers,
and heroes or leaders of extreme movements.
Rel, the Canadian rebel, was an example OF
this type. In these families there is in all prob
ability a vital element stronger than the stream
of degeneration, which is strengthened by mar
riase with better blood, but still this degenera-
ton persists and comes TO the surface i'll these
defects of body and mind. There can be no
doubt of the possibility that the moderate or
excessive use of spirits in parents will build up
this very Incredibly and carry a stream OF dis
ease. criminaiity and pauperism down through
the lungcOming generations"
Certain physical deiOrmites or an inharmon-
ious development are indications, DIR. Crothers
states, of the hereditary curse of alcoholism.
Alcoholic heredity, in the opinion of the
speaker, diTninisheS longevity and renders per-
sons with such a faint more likely to succumb
to the attacks OF disease.
As a correction OF the existing evil the doctor
recommends, primarily, total abstinence, in-
and a more humane and practicable method Of
dealing with GrunkardS than by combining them
IN the jais and penitentiaries of the country to
herd with criminals, while the craving for drink
grows tor want of proper treatment OF the dis
ease. Educational advantages tor those af-
hicted with this hereditary faint intensifies the
development OF the nalady, owing to the alb
Sence OF a healthy brain and nerve force, result
ing in abnormal impulses. Education and mar
riage, in the speakers opinion, should be gov
erned by a knowledge of heredity.