The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-11-05
THE DRINK HABIT.
Can it Be Cured? What Atlanta Physicians
Say About 1t.
atlanta Constitution,

The question us DrunEcnncSS Cura-
hle ?" interests millions, and there is no
.,ubject to which newspaper space may
be more profitably given, so long as there
is ground for hopo that the question may
be settled in the affirmative.
Happily. the doctors are agreed that
many, if not ali, cases of drunkenness are
curable. AS to certain cases of hereditary
weakness, long standing habit and special
physical arrangement, tho physicians
have different opinions. AS matter Of
information the Constitution prints below
the opinions, briefly expressed, of four Of
the leading physicians Of Atlanta.
They arc so explicit that comment is
unnecessary. II is noticeable, however,
that while the eniecbled will Is to be re-
inforced, there appears to be hope held
out in these articles for d treatment eii-
tirely independent of the will of the pa
tient.
The articles Of Drs. Baird, Cooper,
Olmstead and Avary will bo found inter-
esting and instructive.
Sometimes No, Sometimes Yes.
ATLANTA, GA, October SIS drunk
enness curable7
Drunkenness may be transient condi-
ton only, and not a disease. Under these
circumstances, the omission of the excit-
ing cause-namely; tho overingestion of
alcohol or of alcoholic liquors-is sue
ceeded by more or less prompt subsi-
dence of the symptoms of intoxication.
Chronic alcoholism or habitual drunk
enness may follow, as consequence, the
excessive and prolonged use of alcohol
in any FORM The habit Of immoderate
indulgence may be result, primarily, Of
physical disorder, or Of mental defect
congenital or acquired-which, upon the
one hand, provokes morbid craving for
the stimulant, and which, upon tho other
hand, weakens the individuals power to
resist tho inclination or to repel the temp
tation.
Fortunately this class is not numerous,
for the prospect of a permanent cure in
these cases is not encouraging. The
forced withdrawal of the .timulant, even
for considerable period Of time, could
not likely correct the constitutional mfr
nifty or materially increase the indivld-
uals power of resistance.
The drinking habit may be formed
without pre-existing physical or mental
arrangement, but the excessive and pro-
tracted use of alcohol is often followed by
disease er by structural changes OF de-
generation in the tissues Of the body, es-
pecially in the brain and in other parts of
the nervous system, some of which
changes are incurable, and any of which
may, perhaps, become 80.
Tn this class of cases the possibility of
efrecting cure depends in large degree
upon the character and the extent of the
resulting lesion. The damage may not
be of such a nature as to preclude the
possibility of restoration, and if the vic
tim can be surrounded by proportions in
fuences and, when required, be placed
under suitable restraint, recovery in
many-in most-cases may be confidently
expected.
In extreme cases, however, the percep-
tions may be so blurted, the intellect
may be so warped, the emotions may be
so confused, the volitlon may be so ell
feebled-in word, all of the facilities and
forces of the mind may be so oppressed
and distorted that the individual is om-
bruted, and is rendered utterly incapable
of regulating bis passion or of controlling
his appetite.
On tile contrary; it is undoubtedly true,
that even after the long continued abuse
of alcoholic stimulants, the habit may be
abandoned, the taste for strong drink may
cease and restoration to life of sobriety
may ensue.
This result may be reached without ex-
traneous aid butfavorable environments,
judicious management. and the employ
ment of appropriate remedial agents
adapted to the individual circumstances
and conditions contribute directly and
powerfully to the successful accomplish
mcnt of this end,
Thus, it will be perceived that drunk
pnnrss, even in it's worst forms, and yet
more in it's milder manifestations, is
sometimes curablo, while in other cases |!
alas it must be considered hopeless
nalady, and must, of necessity, he con-
signed to position among the incurable
diseases. JAMES 3. BAIRD.