The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-11-28
COFFEE INE8RIETT.
Effects Of the Cup which Cheers" When
Used in Excess.

! Effects OF the ..Cup which Cheers" When
| Used in Excess.
Remarking that the 'cup which
cheers" has been so long believed to be
I the most fitting substitute for the one
/ which ''inebriates," a writer in the Lon
| don Standard remarks that 1t is "a little
| alarming to find that DR.. Mendel, of
| Berlin, has come to a contrary conclu-
! sion. So far from believing that two
! pence off the pound of tea or coffee will
| reduce the drink BILL the researches
! of this eminent psychologist 60 far TO
| prove that by permitting the poorer
| classes to buy more of these stimulants
| the cheapness will conduce TO the
spread of what he has described as
| coffee inebriety,' form of intoxication
! which very frequently leads to the more
alarming, but not actually more danger
Gus, form produced by alcohol
| THE studies upon which he founds
| these conclusions were made in all paris
| of Germany, but more particularly upon
women of the working population IN anu
! about the great gun factories OF Essen.
| Here wages are high and employment
| constant, so that the mechanics wives
| have no difficulty in buying as much OF
| their favorite stimulant as tney oesIIe'
| This takes the shape OF coHee' Inc
| quantities many of them consume are
enormous. Large numbers OF women
| use on an average a pound per week.
| and some of tbs men drink considerably
moro heside, supplementing it at odd
| times with beer and wine. The result
| - widespread form of neurosls 10
which Or Mendel has ventured TO ap-
r1y .ne name of 'inebriety.' 1t is
g,F -. aahT TvTr in hot
| Ind and degree TO delirium tremens,
for the whole nervous system is de-
ranged, if not utterly ruined To the
gayety produced by indulgence pro-
found depression of spirits succeeds,
coupled with frequent headaches and a
sleeplessness which in time assumes the
character of an almost incur2ble in
somnia distressing complaint in it
self, and naturally the advance guard OF
A host Of other evils.
For brief space it is relieved by
another strong dose of coffee. But as
soon as the effects OF this die away the
symptoms return with increased vebe-
mcnce. The muscles become weak and
trembling and the hands shake when At
rest in manner embling the semi
paralysis of a confirmed drunkard
whose nervous system has been shat
tered 10 its center. An increasing aver
sion to labor and any steady work is
noticed. The hearts action becomes
rapid and irregular, and palpitation,
with heavy feeling in the precordial
region, makes its appearance Last of
all comes dyspepsia OF the most persist
cnt character and Of an extreme nerv-
Gus type, rendering the life OF the cof-
fee tippicr a burden to himself and To
all around him. In many eases acute
rosacca IS common, showing that the
skin and the entire system of which II
forms so important a part have hecn
poisoned, and, as in the case OF alco-
holism, are Incapable of performing the
functions proper TO them. a
''In the course of his studies Dr. Men
del found very few instances in which
the confirmed coffee drunkard was ever
cured. The symptoms constantly grow
worse, and are only to be relieved by |
large quantities OF the beverage the |
abuse of which has caused them. In this
way the victims go from bad to worse. |
For though well aware of the mischief |
being wrought they suffer 80 severely !
hat Shcy are afraid TO abandon the |
habit lest death should end the |
igony they experience. After begin
ming with the agreeable infusion of the /
'oaSted berries they are driven, in their
search for something more powerful, to
swallow the tincture, which. though it
operates for 4 time in the direction de-
tired, soon loses it's efficacy, and has to
30 swallowed in greater and greater
quantities, the evil influence of the cof-
&c being, of course. heightened by the |
.lcobol used to extract its essential in |
,redientS. When brandy is taken only |
relief follows, though not in
Tequcntly the intoxication produced by
he latter is eagerly welcomed in order
o deadcn the anguish caused by the in
rdinate indulgence in the CORNER.
The last stage of this peculiar dis
ase shows itself in the sallow face and
hilly hands and feet OF the victims.
oupled with an expression of dread and
gony which settles over the counte-
ance-a form of melancholia, alter
ated by hysteria, only to be tempo
arily relieved by repeated applications
0 the coffee pot or TO strong tincture
ormed by sleeping the crushed berries
n spirits OF wine. Meantime, the
iseased state of the body is demon
trated by the acute Inflammation which
apt TO supervene at any moment A
ruIsc, cut. prick or sting, which
i healthy person would scarcely be |
ouced, is the starting point for inhsm-
lation OF an crysipelatous character, so
lat il seldom happens that the coffee
iebriate is long-lived"