Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-08-27
COFFEE INEsRiETY.
Effects of the Cup Which Cheers" wheN
Used in Excess

Effects of the Cup Which Cheers" Whea
Used in Excess.
Remarking that the ''cup which
cheers has been so long believed to be
the most fitting substitute for the one
which ''inebriates," writer in the Lon
don Standard remarks that it is "a little
alarming TO find that DIR. Mendel, of
Berlin, has come to 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 go far to
prove that by permitting the poorer
classes to buy moro 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 POUNDS
these conclusions were made in all parts
OF Germany, but more particularly upon
women of the working population in and
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 they desire.
This takes the shape Of coffee. The
quantities many OF them consume are
enormous. Large numbers Of women
use on an average a pound per week,
and some of the men drink considerably
more, besides experimenting it at odd
times with beer and wine. The result
IS widespread form OF neurosls to
which DR.. Mendel has ventured to ap-
ply the name OF fnebriety' 1t is a
true form Of it; approaching in both
kind and degree to delirium tremens,
for the whole nervous system is de-
ranged, If not utterly ruined. To the
gayety produced by indulgence a pro-
found depression Of spirits succeeds,
coupled with frequent headaches and q
sleeplessness which in time assumes the
character of an almost incurable in
somnia, q distressing complaint In it
self, and naturally tho 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 vehe-
mence. The muscles become weak and
trembling and the hands shake when at
rest in q manner resembling the semi
paralysis OF confirmed drunkard,
whose nervous system has been shat
tered to its center. An increasing aver
sion to labor and any steady work is
noticed The hearts action becomes
rapid and irregular, and palpitation,
with a heavy feeling in the precordial
region, makes its appearance. Last of
all comes dyspepsia Of the most persist
emit character and of an extreme nerv-
GUS type, rendering the life OF the cof-
fee tippler a burden to himself and to
all around him. In many cases acute
rosacea is common, showing that the
skin and the entire system of which 1t
forms so important a part have been
poisoned, and, as in the case of alco-
holism, are incapable of performing the
functions proper to them.
"In the course of his studies DR.. Men
del found very few instances in which
tho confirmed coffee drunkard was ever
cured. The symptoms constantly grow
worse, and are only to be relieved by
abuse of which has caused them. In this
way the victims go from bad to worse
For though we'll aware of the mischief
being wrought they suffer so severed!
that they are afraid TO abandon thu
habit lest death should end thu
agony they experience. After begin
ming with the agreeable infusion of tn,
roasted berries they are driven, in theii
search for something more powerful, T.
swallow the tincture, which. though /
operates for time in the direction de
sired, soon loses it's efficacy, and has T.
be swallowed in greater and create
quantities, the evil influence OF the col
fec being, Of course, heightened by tn
alcohol used to extract it's essential in
gradients. When brandy is taken onl
temporary relief follows, though not in
frequently the intoxication produced b.
the latter is eagerly welcomed in orde
to deaden tho anguish caused by the in
ordinate indulgence in the former.
Tho last stage Of this peculiar dis
ease shows itself in the sallow face an
chilly hands and feet of the victims
coupled with an expression OF dread an
agony which settles over the countt
nance--a form of melancholia, alter
mated by hysteria, only to be tempo
rarily relieved by repeated application
to the coffee pot or to O strong tinctur
formed by stepping the crushed berrie
I'm spirits Of wine. Meantime, tn
diseased state of the body is demon
strated by the acute Inflammation whic
is apt to supervene at any moment
bruise, a cut, prick or a sting, whic
in healthy person would scarcely b
noticed, is the starting point for infian
nation of an erysipelatous character, S
that 1t seldom happens that the COTE
inebriate is long-lived."