Omaha daily bee., 1891-05-31
PROHIBITION SUPERSEDED.
An Outline Of the New Method of Treating
Narcotosm.
LIQUOR DRINKING CAN BE CURED.
THE Craving Disappears in Three
Days and Alcoholism Entirely
Conquered in Three TO
Four Weeks.

Four Weeks.
BLAIR, Neb., May 3O-tSpecial Corre-
srondence Of The BEE From the days Of
Solomon and before, the evils Of excessive
drinking have been admitted, and deplored,
md denounced. It's accompanimonts of red
eyes, quarrels, evil conversation, ideness,
poverty lcchery and murder have served as
themes for rcformcr and satirst.
In these lattor days another evil equally
great If not greater has sprung up in the
use of tho various narcotic poi5ons. The dis
covery OF ether, chloroform, morphine, CO
Caine, and so forth, and their extensive use
as anaesthetics have led TO the formation Of
habits still more disastrous, physically, NOR
ally, mentally and socially. To these may be
added the old but universal use Of tobacco in
ono form or another. These agencies to-
gether beyond question have done much to
induce that high-strung Lcrvons condition so
characteristic of the modern civilized nations,
especially of Americans. This nervous strain
and eXcitability is more to be doplOred AS
being potential Of greater iii than any indi-
Vidual suffering or degradation.
Above all, that fatal infatuation which
leads those VINO have suffered most TO say,
"When shall l awake; | will seek it yet
again" That miserable craving for a hair
of the dog that bit them" has been the curse
OF the subjects of this vice.
Many means have been tried and an i'm
mensity of talent and time-to say nothing of
money has been dedicated to the remedy of
this evil. PhilanthrOpistS Of both sexes, of
every shade OF religious and political belief,
mis-belef and unbelief, have used argument,
denuncation, eXhOrtatlOn, encouragement,
all that comes under the head of moral 'sua-
sion," only to find that conviction and con-
version failed to effect reformation. Their
proteges have sobered up; but after longer
or shorter time generally shOrter-the indi-
vdual VINO had declared his unalterable de-
Termination to
Throw down the bottle,
And never drink again.
has turned up, wild-eycd and fOul-mouthed,
TO lilo and tiatter and lnvegle, If possible his
friend into disbursing the price of drink.
The vast majority endured for awhile and
then went back to their old hauntS and ways
and seemed to seek, by deeper degradation
and wilder debauchery, to make up for their
temporary abstinence. They asserted that
they were driven to this by an ncOntrollaDle
and devlish thirst. Those who conquered
bore out the statement John B. Cough was
wont TO tell and Francis Murphy still tells,
how bitter was the fight and how long and
thorny the way back to sobricty and health.
In order to give the victims a chance to re
gain their pristine virtue, inebriate homes
were established In these, surrounded by
watchful guardians, cared for physically,
mentally and morally with unremitting ten
derneSs; kept from external temptation. they
were encouraged and supported in their strug-
gle. But this too, proved III large measure
a failure. Tho patients bribed attendants,
Intrigued with furnishcrs of supplies, broke
bounds and by every secret meanness OBJ
taired lntoXicants OF those DISCHARGED as
cured many relapse when again thrown in
contact with the world.
Discouraged by these experiences the
friends of the fallon changed the ground of
battle and began struggle for legislative
prohibition of the traffic Pity for the poor
drunkard" and abuse of the ''rumseller'' took
equal parts in temperance Evolutionary eff
forts. In some cases success was achieved
some states enacted prohibitory laws; more
gave facilities for local prohibition. But
given man in whom every consideration of
morality and self-reSpect Is subordinate to
the desire to crafty raging thirst; given
another man in whom such considerations
are all subordinate to the desire to I'LL his
purse; given, in the third place, public al
most insanely jealous of interference with in
divdual liberty, and 1t Is easily seen that
prohibitory legislation, however desirable,
will bo very difficult to enact and still more
difficult to enforce.
Medical men have been for long time tel
ling us that this craving for intoxlcants is
disease, but have never been able to find
remedy which would work per-
maneut cure. They have been able
10 rehabilitate the nerves and re-
!. establish the health but they have not been
sale to eradicate the appetite.
The Keeley treatment effects just this thing
The writer spoke this day with patient who
had undergone tho treatment at Dwight, Ill.
This gentleman said that he was one of an
English family in which moderate indul-
gence in alcoholics was an ordinary custom,
and from his cradle he had never been longer
than eight months without liquor. That
eight months was ono continuous fight. He
had by degrees sunk into mere sot Not a
saloon hummer or dead adbeat-he had too much
good, honest, workingman's blood in him for
that-bu, a man who would do anything for
whisky, truthful everywhere else, no would lie
for whisky; honest everywhere else, he would
steal whisky. He had IL about his work.
shop; he had it in the Outhouses round home;
he drank 1t last thing before retiring, and got
up in the middle of the night to drink it.
Beng an honest man, he became alarmed at
himself, but could not help drinking"
Being informed of this treatment, he deter
mined to try it. After two weeks of home
treatment, he went to the institute
for twelve days He said, 81 have
no doubt could drink whisky if tried, but
! DO not want TO. 1t would go against me.
i am better physically and mentally; can do
more work and road to better purpose than |
ever could.h This man is opposed to any iu-
terferenco from outside. 81 would have had
the liquor wherever it might be and by
whatever method had to get it.n But he
wants neither saloons nor liquor now
This is the common sense view of the mat
ter. Attack n physical evil by physical
means; destroy the appetite for intoXcants
and tho trade will perish of inaniton There
are other men in Blair and some notable ones
In Missouri Valley who bear testimony to
these same facts.
A company has been formed in Blair for
the purpose of treating neDrlates on this
system. The town affords a most suitable
place for the institute, The tree shaded
streets, splendid water supply good drainage
and pleasant surroundings make 1t
. pleasant resort at any time. Your CORES
pondent visited the headquarters IN
Monroe block. The rooms have been hand
somely lifted up aud furnished The
physician in charge aud secretary were pres
ent and willingly told all they knew about
the system. ore thing they did not know
ingredient is chloride of gold, but the vehicle
in which that drug is conveyed is the secret