Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-07-11
ALCOHOLISM
Its Effect on the Mental and Moral Nature
OF Man When Total Abstinence
Is Necessary.
North American Review

NbilH aiciitsh isSN icN-
But ii the physical results OF alcohol
are varied, much more diverse are its
nature of man. Indeed they are as
multliorm ~ man himself. one gen
eral classification only is possible.
Certain individuals fortunately the
small minority lare always pleasure
bly, affected 10y stimulants. Each sue
ces>Iye dose arolISes in hem increased
eshileration and when Intoxication
-upervenes their sensations are de-
liehtiul. Their every scn,e j. exalted;
they fancy Themselves imbued with
every sit-with all power and posses
ron. As ia often remarked. these are
generally men OF the most brilliant
intelect and OF the most charmin.
moral qualities. Once led captive by
alcohol, these unfortunates seldom
have sufficient power Of will to refrain
from renewed indulgence. No moral
consideratio ions avail tor-strain hem,
and with lew exceptions, they yield
wholly, finally and fatally to the
temper. For such men total absti-
hence is lie only refuge. Such man
WAS Cough, thecelebrtted temperance
advocate. who. from the day of his
sciously and immnently in danger of
relapse into his former vice, and only
kept from it 10y II powerful will. aided
by strong religious SEM iment.
Upon the large maiority OF men the
efivcts of alcohol, taken to intONIca-
ton, are clearly and essentially differ
eni: although at first exlliarate,l, re-
I'sated indulgence brings drowsiness,
.ullness OF apprehension, anasthesia,
vert iro, nausea and vomiting-in short
bodily and mental symptoms which
are excessively disagreeaLle. OF this
class very few Income drunkar,ls, and
those are men to whom. .tn;rsth"sia
becOm-s desirable as II temporary
refuge from bodily pain or mental dis
tress. Herein lies I he soleexplanation
of the fact that the proportion OF
driinkar,ls tn moderate and habitual
drinkers remains so small. And hence
most largely and intluentially the sal
walton nj the world from this fearful
vice.
One other idiosyncrasy of alcohol is
noteworthy. "In wing vertas" is an
ancient saw, and it contains truth.
m 4 IL "a 4 titt Ia .tft. nj
The "AutOcrat says that every man
contains a rinity- he real John, John
as he appears to himself. and John rs
he appears to others. Now must he
owned that in { he earlier stages OF in
tOxication real John is very apt to
appear. Alcohol anesthei ICES the mind
a. we'll as the body. And rs. one by
one, environing restraint : lose heir in
iluence. The true mental and moral
characteristics of the man appear.
The lecherous becomes unchaste; the
generous, prodigal the brave, reckless;
the cunning. treachcrous; the senii-
rental, maudlin. But when intoxica-
tion becomes fully developed there Is
little except the animal left; not
enough, often. to make a decent hog.
When the drunkard is also u ,lil,so-
maniac-that is when his brain is
really disea ed-then intoNicatiOn rem
ders him a mailman, indeed-iuriOus,
destructive, murIerOus. Nothing is
more awful To the intelligent drunk
ard, when he has become sober, than
the conception al the possibilities oi
his nature as developed bya debauch.
Ii. then. the proverb he true, 1t can
only be so of the earlier stages of in
tOxication; when reason has been de-
throned and passion is crowned, fall
sitss la. usurped the place of veritas.
We hear much OF dipsOmanla. but few
seem to comprehend its true slsnlIi-
canoe. BY some considerable doubt is
expressed OF the existence OF such Il
disease. They regard it rs n mere
pathological hypothesis or invention
Of physicians in palliation Of crime.
by the Incorporate it is seized upon
as an excuse for Indulgence in THEN
vicious habits.