The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-31
IAEBRIAIE MANAGES.
A TEXT FOR PROHIBITIONISTS
FROM DAILY LIFE
The Effect That Liquors Have Upon
Some Weak Minds Leading TO
the Commission Of Crime.

Now DIX OOUiWtcTCtut duVdttotI .
T. ID. Crothers, MD, contributes an
interesting article to the Popular Sci
ence Monthly upon "InebIiate Mani
acs," in which ne Classics the vic.
Tins OF alcoholism, and sets forth the
scientific theory Of the mania which
has been 80 much discussed OF late
years, with its causes and the meas
ures to be taken for its cure. He ex-
plains that psychologists and students
Of mental science have long been
aware OF this new division OF the
army Of the insane, but that public
opinion refuses to recoRnizs the symp-
toms because they are associated with
intervals of apparent sanity in acts
and conduct. This he attributes to
the fact that clergymen and moralists
teach that these are only instances OF
moral disorder that are TO bs RENE.
died by moral and legal measures.
The fret class of these inebriate
maniacs, DR.. Orothers states, are VIC
Tins OF hereditary disorder Of the
brain, and many other and complex
causes contribute in bringing them to
the new condition in which they
come bsfore public notice in the
courts 90 maleiaCtors. The writer ex-
plains:
"Any general history OF the crime
reveals delirium, hallucinations, delu-
sions and maniacal impulses. Thus,
in one day, the papers recorded the
following among other cases OF this
class: An inebria.e OF previously qniet
disposition killed his wife, surprising
she had put poison in his food. An
other man in similar state shot a
stranger who differed with him on the
sge OF Queen Victoria. Another man
killed his father, who demonstrated
with him for over driving a horse.
Still another assaulted fatally his
brother, who would not give him
money. Two men, both intoxicated,
MORALLY wounded each other in
quarrel who should pay for the spirits
drank. Another man killed both wife
and child, surprising the former was
going to desert him"
DR.. Crothers thinks that the cir
cumstsnce that the criminal in these
cases is always held in court to be a
free agent, and that the legal fiction
that drunkenness is no excuse for
crime prevails is largely to blame for
the spread OF such disorders since
"the victim is destroyed and the OBJ
iect Of the law, TO reform the offender
and deter others from the commission
of crime, lamentably fails"
The second class OF inebriate mani
acs the author Of the article considers
to be made up of the subjects who do
not come 30 prominently before the
public, but are often held in the police
court for drunkenness, minor assaults
and all grades OF breaches Of the peace,
who "use alcohol, opium or any other
drug for its effect" while their charac-
ter and conduct "are continuous his
tory OF insane and imbecile acts"
Their crimes are Of low and imbe.
cile type, aud the doctor considers
them to be mental and moral paraly-
tics. Their sentence to prisons and
Ieformatories, he thinks, tends to in
crease the very crimes for which they
are punished.
DR.. Crothers's third class Of maniacs
is composed of men who are known
only as moderate, or not excessive,
users OF alcohol, opium or chlora who
will suddenly exhibit great changes OF
character and conduct and do the
most ineane acts, then resume a de-
gree Of sanity that corresponds with
their previous character. He gives
the following illustrations:
"Thus a prominent clergyman OF
wealth and high standing in the COM
munity, who was VINE drinker, sud-
denly began series of Wall street
epeculat ons OF the most uncertain,
fraudulent nature. He implicated
himself and large number Of friends,
and finally was dsgraced. A Judge,
occupying most enviable position of
character and reputation, who had
used spirits and opium for years at
night for various reasons, suddenly
gave up his place and became a low
office seeker-was elected to the Lsg-
islature, and became prominent az an
unscrupulous politician. "A New Eng
land clergyman, after thirty years OF
most earnest, devoted work, re-
nounced the church and became an
infidel OF the most aggressive type.
Later it was found that he had used
chloroform and spirits in secret for
years. A man OF ten years OF tested
honesty and trustworthiness proved
TO be q defaulter. 1t was asceItained
that he used chloral and opium in &C.
cret."
II is impossible In this article to re-
view the minute and elaborate fcien-
tific reasoning with which DR.. Croth-
ers presents his demonstration of the
theory that these men are not free
moral agents, and that, while 10 the
moralist their conduct presents only
phases OF human depravity, to the
psychologist these crimes are "explo.
sions OF masked diseases almost I'M
known and undiscovered" The
remedy, he thinks, will come after the
efforts shall cease OF moraliets, clergy
men aud temperance societies TO re-
move an evil OF which they have no
comprehension. He concludes: "When
all this thunder and roar of temper
ance reformation shall pas away the
still small voice OF science will be
heard, and the true condition Of the
inebriate and the nature OF his malady
will be recognized"
The writer makes It a curious non
tquiittr, however, fer scientific rea-
soner when he belittles the restraint
Of moral and social agents in prevent
ing the aoquirement OF habits that GER
tainly assist to bring on the symptoms
he so graphically describes. As long
ago as Cassie men found that liquor
was an enemy which stole away the
brains. But this does not argue, GER
tainly, that religious and social bodies
are impairment intruders into the do.
main OF science in their lAbon to pre-
vent and reduce Drunkenness. II
science is anxious to remedy this UNI
toward state OF affairs let II demon
strate its ability to do SO and the other