The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1891-09-10
DIPSOMANIA.
A SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL EVIL.
BY /. ]. n. GOss, A. NJ. n. ID.
lFor the Marietta Journal

thirst, and mania, madness). It is
an uncomfortable thirst for spirit
uous liquors. It is called disease.
1t is great sin, and one that is very
rapidly spreading. MIR. Charles A.
Bunting says: drunkenness is
not disease; it is not hereditary,
but a SIM Mr.. Bunting seems to
think that as he considers inebriety
sin, it, consequently, is not here
ditary. But, sinful tendencies is
Unbeatable, and hence, a proclivity
to this great sin is certainly trans
Missile from parents to offspring.
But it is true, that two-thirds of the
cases of infrmed drunkenness, have
resulted from bad associations. And
where there is an inherited proclivi-
ty to this great sin the habit is easily
and quickly scquired. In about one
thousand instances of confirmed
drunkenness, there is about one
hundred cases where this evil habit
is acquired after the age Of twenty
one. That it is greatly dependent
upon association, is proven by the
simple fact that but few females are
addicted to this sin. In the Home
for Little Wanderers, in the city of
Boston, out of some three thousand
little boys, there was but one boy
who had become a drunkard, and
yet, great majority of little waits
were the offspring of drinking faith
ers, and some had drinking moth
ers also. The habit is exceedingly
hard to relinquish, when once form
ed. Nothing but Divine aid can
control or eradicate this deadly hab-
it. Medicines cannot quench this
persistent craving of victim for
strong drink. It is not disease Of
the body at first, it is like other evil
habits, which time and use overcome
all and any disgusts to taste, as IN
the case of smoking, chewing, and
snuff-rubbing, of that most deadly
poison-tobacco.
The grace of God can and will
destroy the desire for intoxicants, if
the victim will apply for help in
faith. Hundreds of men, addicted
to this sinful habit, have tried all
remedies and plans that human AID
could afford, but all have generally
failed, but the grace Of God has, in
many instances, availed to destroy
this most powerful craving for the
destroying beverages. These views
will meet much opposition from
those who are already within the
grasp of this most deadly foe, but
they are in harmony with reason,
common sense and actual observa-
ton. 1t is apparent that druukards
are made drunkards by gradually
increasing indulgence in alcoholic
liquors. Such is the enchanting
power of this deadly deceiver, that
ere we are aware of its manacles.
we are bound with cords, too strong
for human efforts to sever. Self con-
troll is soon entirely overcome in
this most powerful habit, and NOR
bid craving produced that cannot be
appeased by indulgence even. The
powerful influences brought to bear
on the will, fail to overpower these
awful cravings. Hence the poor
victim tries in vain to conquer hab-
it, which has the power next to ma
ture. This deadly evil is physical
and social, and the care must be
physical too. Drunkenness is a
moral disorder instead of a physical
disease, at the outset; it does finally
produce many physical disorders in
its progress, from which the victim
dies. Drunkenness is one of the
stupendous evils of our day. Its
whitening, blighting curse is resting
like pail upon our beloved country.
And it is rapidly spreading its de-
vastating power, invading the pre-
cincts of almost every home with it's
life and soul destroying influence.
Where is the happy domicile, either
adobe handle, or mansion grand,
that has not seen and felt the scath-
ing, blighting touch of this devour-
ing monster ?
Culture, refinement, or position