Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-01-11
Temperanee.
EARLY STAGE OF INEBRIETY

ebriety, men and women who use al
cohol regularly and in limited guam
titles. To the casual observer they
may 90 on for years in this state,
and are apparently no worse, and
finally die at last of some common
disease, leaving the reputation of
having lived what the inebriate
would call an "ideal life" of moder-
ate drinking. Why they drink is
not clear. If they have any reason
it is always sustained by their I'M
bounded faith in their capacity to
abstain at any times lat will. These
cases are inebriates in every respect
except in the prominence and inten-
slty of the symptoms. There is no
difference between the chronic cases
of the lowest type, and the highly
respectable. moderate drinker, ex-
cept one of high degree.
Both are suffering from positive
physical disease. In one case the
disease is developed, in the other it
is in the incipient stage. In the lat
ter from some obscure reason, the
case never goes on to full develop
ment, but is always on the "border
land" awaiting the action of some
exciting cause, which may or may
not be applied.
A repelling power exists, which
builds up and nutralizes the injuries
received from alcohol to a certain
extent. 1t is not will-power which
makes the difference between the in
ebriate and moderate drinker. 1t is
physiological and pathological con-
ditions of the brain and nervous sys-
tenn, which the possessor ascribed to
will-power. Alcohol cannot be used
in moderation without grave injuries
to the nerve centers.
The moderate drinker is always
diseased, although to the non-expert
there are no clear symptoms or
coarse LESSONS that can be seen. A
careful study will reveal physically
an irritable condition of the heart
with stomach and digestive trouble,
also changing and disordered func-
tional activity of all the organs at
times. Psychically the disposition,
habits, temper and mental state slow
ly and gradually degenerate and be-
come more unstable. The higher
mental forces drop down or give
place 10 lower motives and ambi-
tons. No matter what his position
IN life may be, or his objects or
plans, the moderate use Of alcohol
will alter and break down both physi-
cal and psychical energy and precipi-
tate destruction. Moderate users of
alcohol always die from diseases pro-
voked and stimulated by this drug.
They always transmit legacy of de-
fective cell energy and exhaustion,
which most readily finds relief in any
alcohol or narcotic.
But only per cent. of moderate
drinkers remain SO until death. The
disease goes on to full development
in inebriety, in the vast majority of
cases. The boosted will-power tC
stop at all times in powerless before
its peculiar exciting cause. Those
who never go beyond this moderate
use have simply never been exposed
to this peculiar exciting cause. The
moderate use of spirits for lifetime
is q mere accident in the order of ma.
ture, and the ability to stop, resting
in the will-power, is popular falla
cy. A certain number of cases have
signs of incipient phthisis, whicl
may never hurst out into the full dis
ease.
A small number of cases exposed
TO smallpox, or any infectious dis
ease, never take it; but these ar'
the rare exceptions, whose causes
are unknown, from which no deduc
ton can be drawn. Moderate drink
ing that does not 90 on to lnebriet.
is also an exception. The chain o
exciting causes that bring on thes
extreme stages may or may not b
understood.
They always break out sooner o
later in the history of the case. Prac
tically the study of this early stag
of inebriety is of the utmost value il
the treatment. Here remedial mes
ures can be made of the creates
avail in checking and presenting an
further progress of the disease
When inebriety is fully recognized a
a diseased condition, requiring stud
and medical care, the prodromi
period of moderate drinking will re
ceive the attention it deserves.
In the meantime, as scientific mer
we must continue to call attention
this early beginning of inebriety, S
full of indications and hints Of til
march of the disease, whose progres
and termination can often be pr(
dlcted with positive certainty.
POPULAR TEMPERANCE EDU
CATION.
The time for new departure ha
come We must take the matter
hand and educate the people TO ten
perance. The truth is, there is ne
country on the face of the cart
where stimulants are needed so little
and where they are capable of pro
In y,tiob ahiaf ar