The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-08-15

called geE!uS. which give way early to
some disease or form of nerve degener.
alton from various causes. Inebriety,
insanity, or both, are very common
sequels. Alcohol or opium in any form
Is almost always a grateful remedy, and
is demanded in many instances by the
patient. The use of bitters that con-
tain large quantities of spirits is also
very popular, and an unconscious Or
ganic memory is awakened that rarely
dies out.
In some children this craving for
spirits is manifest very early. A case
OF this kind was brought to my notice
by DR.. Smith of New York, where an
infant of two months old could only be
quoted by few drops of spirits. Its
taste was so pronounced that it would
stop nursing at the sight of the person
who gave the spirits and cry until it
was gratifed. Fortunately, such in
stances are not common; but the abb
normal tastes of children, and their ex-
treme sensltiveness or obtusenesS to
sensory impressions, and low powers of
vitality and recuperation, are often
clear symptoms of an alcoholic impress
sion from ancestors.
This alcoholic heredity will be seen
in children that manifest extremes of
activity, particularly where there is a
tendency to the sudden liberation of
nerve energies, as in violent passion
sfgrief or joy) or work, play or study,
which is followed by extreme prostra-
ton. The child is said to be sullen,
morose, or melancholy, then suddenly
! manifest the other extremes, indicating
a great instability of brain cells and
functional control. Its life seems to be
| threatened with feverS, prostrations,
and munitions, accompanied with men,
tai irritations and wandering neuralgias
that tax severely the skill of the physi-
clan. These conditions may follow
other heredities, but they always point
to degree of nerve and brain degener-
alton or retarded development, and de-
fectve co-ordina ton, that must be rec
ognzed in the treatment.
! In all cases where alcoholic ances-
tors, even back to the second genera
ton, can be traced, there are certain
prediSpositions which must be consid-
cred in the treatment.
First. A tendency to exhaustion from
feeble vitality, and low power of
restoration. TONES and nutriments that
have direct stimulant action on the
brain should not be used, such as
alcohol and opium, and meat broths.
These remedies have tendency to
still further exhaust the vital forces,
| paralyzing the nerve centers and in
creasing the carbonaceous matters Of
! the system.
Second. An instability of cell and
nerve function, and strong predisposi-
tion to develop into some particular
form of degeneration, which is prac-
tically an exhaustion of the higher
brain centers with craving for relief.
All stimulants and remedies which act
on the brain centers increase the eX-
listing degeneration.
Third. There is special affinity for
all nerve stimulants by those higher
brain centers. Their use constantly
interferes with the natural development
of brain energy from food. Thus
alcohol, tea, coffee and other sub
stances have peculiar delusive
effect.
From these facts it will be obvious
that the diseases Of children of al
coholic parentage are far more COM
pleX, and require greater care. In adj
dition to whatever disease they suffer
from, there is always neur@sthenia and
defective control of the brain centers,
which may come into prominence at
any moment, from causes both known
and unknown. This hereditary bias
and neurotic instability enters into all
cases.
The general principles which should
govern in the treatment may be
grouped as follows: l. No form of al
cohols are safe, and narcotics of all
kinds should be used with great care.
2. The diet should not include meats
of any kind, because of their stimu.
lating character; while meats contain
much food force, they act as stimulants
to brain already over-stimulated and
exhausted, and increase the peril OF
nervous disease. The pathological ten
dency of all these cases is to become
alcohol takers and meat-eaters, hence
the diet should always be non-stimu-
lating and farinaceous, and should be
carried out with military regularity.
3. The hygienic treatment is also of the
greatest appearances; every means and
measure which can build up a system,
and avoid brain and nerve stimulation
is required. 4. Cases of this char
acter should be guarded against every
possible extreme, both in the sur
roundings and physical conditions that
are under the control of the physician.
The tendency of all energy and nerve
force is to pass off in explosions, which
should be counteracted; the diseases
they suffer from show this tendency tt
concentrate and become intensified in
certain directions, also TO manifest dis
tinct exacerbatlons. Finally, the fact
of an alcoholic heredity in disease O
children that we are called upon t.
treat, gives a wider therapeutical range
of possibilities, both in direct and pre-
ventive medicine.
Recent studies of alcohol cases show
that over seventy per cent are directly
inherited. If this is confirmed by
later studies. the treatment of in
ebriety will in the future begin il
infancy, and the higher science ant