The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-05-14
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
REMOVE TEMPTATION.
Notes ON the Rational Treatment Of Re
formed Drunkar(is.


dency to excite inebriety Alcohol is
SO powerful an excitant that very
small dose of fermented wine, or beer,
or spirit, administered incidentally, and
the mere sip Of fermented wine at the
sacrament. have been known to excite
to a paroxysm of inebriety. Christian
churches using intoxicant wine (the
sacredness of the occasion making no
difference in the Intoxicating proper
ties of the symbol) would do well to
bear in mind that they can not use an
intoxicating material for sacramental
purposes without some risk of exciting
some communicates to an outbreak of
drunkenness.
From all these, as we'll as from many
other particulars about inebriety,
culled during somewhat prolonged ex-
perience of such cases, it will be APP
parent that inebriety is true disease
demanding recognition and appropriate
treatment Except in medical circles,
| am unable to discuss the thera-
peutics of this disease, but | am at
liberty to lay down the general lines of
sound treatment
First, and most essential, there should
be an entire discontinuance of all in
toxicants, immediate in the case of al.
cohol and gradual with opium. The
abstinence should be absolute, with no
exception on the score of physic. unless
in an emergency involving life when no
other suitable medicine is available;
and no exception at all on any ecclesias-
teal or other plea. In persistent absti-
hence alone is their safety
The physical damage wrought by the
poison on the system should be re-
paired, and the original factors in the
origination of the disease should, If
! possible, be .unraveled in order that the
pre-inebriate unhealthful condition con-
ducing to inebriety may be rectified.
Tho resisting power and the will should
be strengthened by the building up
anew of healthy brain and nerve tissue,
by suitable occupation, by intellectual
and elevating pursuits, and the moral
tone cultivated and raised by the emo
bling influences of moral and religious
considerations
In many cases there is will-power
enough left to secure the quondam
drunkard's steadfastness in absti-
nence, and with such the beneficent
work of teetotal societies, especially
when supported by the invigorating
aid of the highest religious motives, has
achieved vast amount of success.
The abstinence movement is founded on
principles consonant with the true
teachings of physiological science, as it
is the highest expression of the Divine
law relative to the purity and the eff
cheney Of the temple of the body.
But there are inebriates without num-
Der whose brain and higher nerve-cen-
that their will has become as paralyzed
as their moral sense has become dead.
ened;who are of the most pronounced type
Of narcomaniacs For these, as for not
few of the former class, who yet are
so DESTROYS to be saved from themselves
that they are willing to surrender their
liberty for time in the hope of cure, a
prolonged sojourn, under scientific treat.
ment, in genuine home for the cure OF
this disease is the only human hope OF
deliverance. The law has done some
little, but we still lack National pro-
vision for the therapeutic treatment
Of poor inebriates as we now provide for
poor lunatics; we still urgently stand
in need of legislation for the involun'
tary detention and care of all such
narcomaniacs, be they rich or be they
poor, who are so under the inebriate
domination that they have neither reso
luton nor power to strike blow fol
freedom.
Our present legislative treatment Of
these diseased ones is wasteful, dis
graceful and unjust. We have 9
huge government training school
Of inebriety, inasmucb as we i'm
prison the drunkard after he has
become drunk and can drink NJ
more for the nonce, keep him in seclu
sion from intoxicants just long enough
to recover from the effects of debauch
and then we send him forth again int
the world once more fitted to indulge te
excess. We refit him in teetotal club
house, the only victims on whom pun
ishment falls being the sorely-afflictei
wife and children, whose sustenanct
has been taken from them by our i'm
prisonment Of their bread-winner.
! All this calls aloud for reformation
Once let the community comprehend
the relations of the disease of inebriety
to the Temperance movement, once LEI
the friends Of abstinence realize thu
physical as we'll as the moral and re
ligious aspects of intemperance, the
great cause will then take giant stride
forwards; reformation and not pena
procedure, kindness and not vengeance
will breathe through al our lagal;zsi
dealing with the sick inebriate; tn,
! Christian church will clear herself O
all completely with the temptation O
the rescued from strong drink to re
lapse and ruin, by banishing all intoxi
eating wines from her sacred precincts
the State. recognizing that prevention
is better than cure, and that the frs
duty of good government is to preserve
order, health, intelligence and life. will
either prohibit the common sale Of al
such beverages as promote disease
crime and premature death, or inves
, the people with the power of roofing GU
; SO deadly a center of a common danger
; common menace, common and
shameful reproach to our country ant
to our race. DIR. N. Kerr, in Journal O
Inebriety.
A SAD STORY INDEED.