Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-01-31
.sInshriLn."

Inebriism Is Q word not found In the
dictionary, but ii is not dfficult to guess its
meaning from its makeup. II is drunk
Ism TO invent word to define an invented
word).
DIR. T. L. Wright. Of Bellcf0ntaine, this
state. member Of the American Association
| for the Cure Of Inebriates. and distin-
guished expert in the physiology and path
ology of the brain and nervous system. is
the author Of book entitled ''Inehriism.
A Pathological and Psychological Study, !"
which Is having. as II deserves to have, .
wide reading. not only among medical men.
but among general scholars, especially those
who are intelligently interested In labors
for the reform Of intemperance.
DR.. Wright sums up the aims of the
work, in the first paragraph Of his Intro
ductory, TO be ITO discover, IL possible, the
usual and most common causes of inebriety;
to determine the pathological nature and as
sociations of the inebriate constitution: to
| observe the laws Of its dissemination
amongst individuals, and Of its descent in
varying forms through heredity.'
He deprecates the ecclesiastical ass,,mp-
ton that inebriety is ''simply a form Of SIN,
fully amenable to the purifying influences
Of religion; for such an assumption,
says he. necessarily precludes the
serious employment Of other means Of relief
than those which are spiritual and religious:
and ii Is practically surrender Of the whole
conflict against intemperance."
Likewise he argues, with . subtle irony,
that, by lone of those fine legal distinctions
which tand to bewilder and coufound tie
common mind, " inebriety Is not . crinse.
For, says he. I'VE perceive that . man has
. legal right TO get drunk-nO sumptuaEy
legislation dares 10 interpOse-but he has -
right b he drunk
But, while he remarks that no excep-
ton can rightfully be taken to the vaiue
of the efforts both Of the legal and
Of the theological profession towards
the suppression of alcoholic inebriety," he
declares that these efforts have been oper-
ative only within certain bounds, and that
Tin the nature of things they must fail in
many particulars 10 include the whole sub
ject. The profession of medicine desires
also to be heard, not In contravention, but
| in add
He then proceeds to show that intemper-
ance results from "a mental state that ID
morbid and unnatnrar'-''the remorseiess
and overwhelming tyranny of diseass;;'
and he goes the full length Of
the most radical prohibition for its
remedy, saying, AN assault upon
the personal liberty Of the inebriate Is fully
justifiable in view Of the injuries which In
toxication invariably infiicts upon the we'll
being OF society,"" And. In the same vein
of suggested prohibition by force, he de-
clares that ''the right to partake Of alcho-
h0lic liquors as habit involves the idea Of
unquestioned license TO destroy the frame
work Of society and at the same time 70 dis
seminate . poisonous taint that will reach
the utmost limit and verge Of the human
constitution Enlightened medical science
teaches that the drunkard ID Liable to beget
direful and hopless ills other than drunk
enness itself. Some of these are epilepsy,
insanity, hysteria, neuralgia, and chorea."
We have quoted enough to show Dr..
Wrights sentimental attitude toward intem-
peraDce. To show his intellectual attitude
toward it. we should have to quote the whole
book. We should like to do 80; but q II
contains 2e3 pages, our readers will perceive
that il is impracticable. They must pro-
cure it and read ii for themselves. No per
son who wants to be intelligent in the latest
and most authoritative teachings Of medical
science on the topic Of intemperance can
well afford 10 be without this book. II goes
over the whole subject in . more
thoughtful met.lodical. original way
than has ever before been attempted
in the English language, or in any other
language.
The work has received unbounded praiss
from many eminent and competent sources,
professional and laic. The following en-
tracts from M appreciative review Of II By
Hof L. d. McCabe, d. D., of the Wesleyan
University. show how. il is viewed from the
moral and religious standpoint Of high in
tallectual authority:
1.-The new work before us is written with
an able analytical pen. The author Eoes
out on pathways of his own, and brings
lore fresh and of the deepest interest. .
The discussion is of great value. Though
scientific, the style Is popular and perspicu-
Gus, and the arrangement so logical - to
make retention easy. ~ss Such books -
this give promise Of more enlightened era
regarding an old evil which has grown to
overwhelming proportions. . = Its Pc
rusal will give comprehensive view Of the
subject in its most important phase, which
will many times repay thoughtful read
ing
As the Quarterly Journal Of I,aebriety
says, ITO those who are only acquainted
with the popular scientific literature Of
the drink-question. this book will be
q revelation and new continent
Of facts not dreamed of before" And
the Aliesist aud Neurological declares
that ''every lawyer, every divine, every phi |
lanthropist. and every sanitarian ought to
read this book
We are impressed that we do the cause of |
temperance a service by thus markedly CALI |
ing attention to DR.. Wright's book and ur- |
ging our readers to procure it. The volume |
is sold at S1.25; and postal order for that |
amount to DIR. T. L. Wright Bellefontaine,
Ohio, viii fetch il postpaid.
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