The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-11
First, as to habit. Some individuals

AAkoeS 90 W. do1lVs jill
have a habit Of going on a spree once in
six months, or maybe once year. This
is none the less a habit, however long the
intervals between the sprees may be.
Yet these cures differ from those haEitual
"soakers" who "are full:' all the time, for
in the intervals OF their sprees they may
not touch liquor, and may be perfectly
correct in all their habits. This class Is,
Think, favorable for "cure." Everything,
of course, depends upon their desire to be
cured, and the amount Of will-poWer
possessed. Some, think, have no desire
to be cured others have.
Prior to the breaking out Of their
"sprees" they are apt to become nervous
and excitable, and are often depressed ;
a condition of perturbation of the system
exists which causes them to crave drink.
They are truly sick, and If taken at this
time and properly treated by competent
medical means the attack can be warded
of, and by judicious treatment with
tonics, and care as to their entire habits
of personal hygiene, the tendency may be
entirely recovered from.
AS regards the chronic or habitual
"soakers," the outlook as to cure Is very
n%nfavorable, although a great deal de-
ponds upon how long they have been in
dulging in the habit. Where the physical
lessons of various organs, which so COM
monty result from chronic alcoholism,
are not far advanced, certain cases by
discontinuance of the habit and proper
treatment may be cured. I have known
such and also q few who had will-power
enough to fight it out alone and unaided.
Habitual Drunkenness I regard as a
disease, and 1t must be admitted that
long continued habits Of excess are very
unfavorable in their outlook (; "cures'
being usually temporary, and not perma.
nent; ~"relapses'' being the rule, the force
"of habit" proving too strong. In the
inherited form the outlook is gloomy In
the extreme, If no: hopeless. Such cases
inherit a weak, easily deranged nervous
system, which Is resdily thrown of ita
balance by the cares and strains, both
mental and physical, Of life. Such are
usually "cured" as long as they remain
in the retreats provided for them.
Epilepsy, insanity and imbecility, be,
ing not infrequently 81 inheritance from
intemperance, also give a warning to
those who are seating sour grapea," that
the "chicken's teeth will be set o edge7"
JOHN C. OLMsTEAD, M. D.
EDITOR CoNsTITUT1oN-Yours asking
nv opinion on "Is Drunkenness Cura'
ble," noted. I presume drunkenness
from alcohol is meant. Whether drunk.
enness is durable Is dependent on contin'
gencies. We have In drunkenness, as II
other diseases, different grades Of disor'
der, varying from the mild to the graves'
forms. We have drunkenness resulting
from inherited predisposition. We have
the habitual drunkard developed from 80
cial drinking without an especial predis'
position. We have the drunkards as re-
suit of taking stimulants to relieve pangs
of an accidental drunk preceding. We
have habitual drunkenness creep on una
wares from taking %stimulants to relievt
tired nature. We have drunkenness
gradually developed from taking alcoho
for the relief Of insomnia. At first only
a small amount being necessary to induc'
sleep, the amount is increased until th'
subject is unable to sleep at night unless
in a beastly state of intoxication. Ane
we have drunkenness in creatures Whose
low natures, idle habits and vicious asso
ciates combine to create an ambition t.
reach and maintain a state of stupid IN
t~oxication. The successful treatment o
drunkenness is in my opinion %dependen
on as many contingencies as there ART
causes of the disorder, conspicuoui
among which are environment, grade o
disease, temperament and the all impor
tant, indeed the indispensable element II
the cure of any grade-the will. Fol
without the consent and cooperation o
individual treatment all efforts at cure
will prove futile.
Nothing short Of regeneration is ade
quate for the cure Of the individual whose
highest ambition is drunkenness. I'm
prison him, deprive him Of all stimu'
lants for a year, release him and his frs
act is to realize the dream of his prison
life-Drunkenness. Proper treatment
in connection with the will of the subject
in my opinion is capable of curing many
drunkards whose will power is so shat
tered by nerve disease, resulting from
drunkenness, that the will is no Longer
potent against the cravings Of a vitiated
appetite. Respectfully,
ARCH AvARY.
Tn nr1nkenness S,nrabla9