Wichita eagle., 1889-04-30
BORN DRUNK.
The Qaeer Story of an Infant Told By ,
New jersey Physician.

New jersey Physician.
III. z. letter.
3 The infant son Of a wel-known citizen
of Westfield, n. J., though old enough to
walk and talk, appears and acts like an
intoxicated person A local physielan N
conversation with a reporter gave his
tory Of the case Ii seems that the parents
were very exemplary young peopaa and
began their married life without cloud
TO dim their future. No one in the town
had better habits than the young husband,
but some months after his marriage ne
iapsed little from the path of strict tenn
Perence.
One win ter evening the man went from
his home ostsnsibly to watch with sick
member of the village Lodge" He really
visited tavern The trusting wife dis
covered at nine O'Clock that her husband
had forgotten to purchase meat for break
fest and she went to the market A stormy
wind was blowing and the snow was fall
ing, bat as she passed the hotel the sound
Of mans voice in song came TO her ears.
She listened but q moment. There was no
mistaking her husbands voice, and, scarce
ly knowing what she did, she looked into
the bar-room window and cav her husband
there in a state of beasay intoxicaEinn.
Some time after this little episode a son
was born to the parents--a fine, healthy in
FAINT, bright and comedy. Some months
later, when the child began to walk and
talk, they took him to the physician. fhe
little one could not walk without stagger-
ing IN a most unseemiy and ludicrous
manner, and could not lisp baby words
withouta strange hic-cough and hesitation
The doctor, aveTTfng that ii he had seen
such symptoms In an adult he should have
pronounced them due TO tntoxication and
nothing else, with little difficulty obtained
an account of the unfortunate impression
that provoked the peculiar malady with
which the child is afflicted No line of
medical treatment could be of use in such
a case and reluctantly the physician gave
,Yp the boy to endure his strangely miseE-
able LIE.
There is nothing like cataiepsy about
the case" the doctor Explained. ~fhere Is
no healthier child in town. As near as
can explain it, the child has muscles and
nerves in that condition of action which
Its father showed when the mothers inn
preston of his INFORMATION was received.
There arc no fits or commissions though
tremor is always present In spite
OF tiris fact there is no mental weakness
There rs no coordination in the movement
of the lower limbs, and the hands are al
most as bad of. His gait is heavy and in
secure, q regular drunken reel or Stagger
As to his speech it is not only incohereni
and rambling. but he has all of the phe
nomena Of exhiiaration or excitemen,
characteristics of the early stages OF m
toxica+ion. His ideas seem to bow rapsdly
and all OF the senses are wonderfully
aeute. but there are the muscular tremh
Kings and the actual shambling gait of the
drunkard."
lis recovery to be hoped forT' the re-
porter asked.
NO" the doctor answered. EFT is q
hopeless case. impossible to cure. That
boy. if he lives, will have the continued
appearance OF drunkenness and it can not
be helped. He is drunk, naturally drunk
and slough he may become great schoaaa
be will newer outgrow this malady."