Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-04-10
STIMULATING THE BRAIN.
FaIlacy of the Theory That Alcohol Eie-
Yates the Mental Capacity.


The casual drinker sometimes con-
sumes alcoholic liquors with the oDJect
of elevating the standard OF his mental
capacities. The impression Is very com
mon that tine use of alcohol wlll aau 70
the power, the scope and brilliancy OF
intellectual operations. An inquiry into
the actual condition of the mind when
IL IL under the influence OF alcohol VIII
very clearly determine whether this idea
is correct or not.
There is no question but alcohol makes
a very decided impression upon the pow
ers of the mind. In truth, 1t operates
on them in way peculiar to ITSELF ana
with force that is irresistible. Alco-
hol controls every man who partakes OF
it as long as he remains under its iniiu-
ence. But it is essential to a right IN
depreciation of the phenomena of MIND
when under the power of alcohol TO re-
member that the benumbing effects OF
the poison permeate the whole organ
ism. While they impress and modify
the mental faculties separately and In
detail, they also throw an underlined ana
immovable glamour over the mind as
whole; so that it is quite incapable OF
Judging correctly Of its own condition.
1t is more difficult TO enlist the inter
est and engage the attention of man
when intoxicated than it is when he is
sober. The reason is that, his nervous
sensibilities being enfeebled. he is not
thoroughly alive to ordinary sensations
and impressions. Whatever thoughts
NAV happen to be in his mind remain
there, in stubborn and stupid possess
sion. Nevertheless, he often imagines
that he is in turmoil of active mental
labor. The drunken man, in truth, has
no right conception of the passage OF
time. He is always surprised when
told how late it is. The reason OF this
is, also, the dizziness OF his nervous
sensibilities. He is deprived OF his
ordinary experiences in sensation,
whereby he is admonished of the exist
ence of time. For the succession Of
ideas through the mind, as it is rapid or
slow, gives TO an individual some no
ton Of times fight. To have the
common or average conception OF the
passage of time, therefore, q man must
be in possession of his natural sensibil-
tiles, so that the habitual impressions
of common events may bear their nat
ural relationship with the habitual ex-
periences Of other persons Sound
minds have an approximate notion.
common to them all, OF times fight 1t
is reasonable to infer that in person
whose sensitive capacities are obtunded
..f~,s1ar Dr M al
cession or procession of ideas.
Ideas therefore become fixed that is,
they are changed with difficulty in a
person who is drunken. Such a man is
pertinacious and tiresome. The lead
ing idea is not readily modified or
abandoned, for the formation Of new con-
ceptions is prevented by the difficulty
of obtaining new facts for rational con-
temptation. The drunken man will re-
hearse some story or jest for half a day
together, making himself nuisance to
each and every one he meets II en-
ragged, he stays enraged, and hunts his
enemy with doggedness often out of
all proportion with his alleged grew
ance lie loudly proclaims: II won't
forget it" and he truly will not for a
good while; for he has not sufficient
mental vigor to supplant an old idea by
the adoption of new one. There seems
TO be an inconsistency in holding mind
whose instruments are dull. broken or
misled responsible for the strength and
perfection of work in tho same degree
as mind that operates by means of in
struments keen, bright and ready at
hand.
The wonderful egotism Of the drunken
state exposes the inebriate to contempt
as well as ridicule. 1t betrays him into
all manner of absurd and unpleasant
situations Even the geniality and
good-nature of new intoxication are in
tensely selfish. They are manifesto
tions of morbid grandeur and conde-
scension. An effort to guide or modify
the vain-glorious display will be met
with abrupt and positive opposition.
Drunkenness is usually an exhibition
in which an imbecile and pitiable weak
rrss Of character is joined to an imagi-
nation filled with illusions of magnifi-
cence and power. Affection. love, re-
gard for others, have really little part
in the motives actuating adrunken man.
Yet the annoying and Extensively pat
ronizing airs of the drunken state are
the least troublesome of its usual mani
festations. For, quite likely, the same
self-esteem will be shown by a con-
temptuous and even ruffianly treatment
of others-as though they were really
the inferior and insignificant personages
that they are held to be by drunken
man.
But the deception practiced by alcohol
upon the egotistic feelings of one under
its influence are sometimes really anus
ing. The casual drinker when intoxi-
Gated, especially if he happens to occupy
some responsible station in life. often
becomes impressed with an exceedingly
acute sensitiveness with respect to his
social position as compared with the so
rial position of others. He claims prac-
tically to occupy a station of the high
est possible eminence, and desires that