The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-02-12
ATaik about Alcoholism
EXTRACTS FROM AN Address DELsgRKD
BY ALBERT bay.

alcoholic Inebriety aud Suggestions
as TO It's Treatment" was the subject Of
lecture recently given in the chapel ef the
Mashingtonian Home, Boston, In which
DR.. Albert Day introduced many interest
ng facts both In relation TO the disease
and its cure. alcoholism, he said, ''is
a term generally used to designate coll
lectiyely the morbid phenomena csused
y the use of alcohol. This, and other
terms are in common used to describe
sncn conditions and outbreaks in aco.
hollc individuals a. amount "a yecitable
morbid states or attacks of sickness, but
they are not interchangeable nor are
tley sufficiently comprehensive TO consti-
tute true synonymes. They are name.
spph@d to various conditions due 10 acute
or chronic alcoholic poisoning, prop=rlY
aud distbctiveiy comptehelded rs alec
holsm.
The influences which predispose to a.
cohol;sm arise from unfavol .hl. neral,
social and personal conditions, amoag
which may be mentioned want OF whole
some public sentiment on the subject,
from poverty aud its a+rendan. evils, ig-
norance and vice. Run is at once the
refuge and snare Of want, destitution and
sorrow. To the vacant and unframed
miGd 1t brings boon not otherwise to be
had-eXciternent and oblivion, hut at
runous cost III the individual, in ad-
dition to here iitary propeusities, the evil
results from lax, over -indaigent or VI
cous early training, as show in wan. Of
power of application, Of moral fectituie,
III seif-indulgenCe, craving for excitement
and weak will, powerfully predispo>e
to the temptation of alcoholic excuses
Depressing mental Influences of all kinds
tend strongly 20 drinking habits. and il
is true of persons in all classes OF socie-
ty. Habits also constitute an Influence,
the Importance of which can scarcely be
over estimated.
The most important consideration in
the treatment of alcoholism is the imme.
diatc and absolute withdrawal of alcohol,
the after treatment to he governed by
circumstances attending each individual
case.
Thee is and must be, an initsl Ia all
mental operations which end in physical
action, or II entail conclusions. In view
of the fact and principle applicable TO
the subject, the presun ption seems re-
sonabls that in a vast number of instsn-
ces the actusl motive influencing con
duct with respect to alcoholic drinks is
| found in the condition of a morbid neuro.
| tic constitutional abaseinent. Could ii
be ascertained with q certainty when the
alcoholic diatheeis is implanted, many of
the dangers which now spring from an
| indiscriminate use of liquors might b.
averttd.
Il have tried" said the doctor in con-
GLIDING ito show that alcoholic intern
| perance il a disease, mostly the result. of
| inheritance extending back 1t may be, sey-
/ erai generations. The question now
comes, what Can be done stout i? II
drunkenness led to financial trout - a
| lone in families 1t would be bad enough
but when We see the ravages produced
by alcohol, the crowded insane asyiums
and prisons, the ruined families, the pro.
ducing communities overburdensd by
taxation from this cause alone, and the
iDci else of the death rate, more than
twenty five per cent. who die between the
aacS of twenty snd sixty years, there is
a tremendous call for the reform of The
inehriate, and the suppression of the ruin
traffic. We may sneer at Prohibition,sts
as extremists, but we NUT remember
that all great reforms which have raised
the world in the scsle of Civilizations
were the result of extremists. Some one
has said the fanatics of one generation
We're the prophets to the neXt'' IL is The
sacred duty of every learned man of ev
cry profession, as well rs every good cit
izen, to advise the people against dangers
and to warn them against the worst OF al
diseases, the cruel, remorseless disease
of drunkenness.