The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-11-20
TEMPERANCE NOTES..
DISEASE FROM DRINK.
Evolution of Alcoholism from a Vice to .
Malady.

the individual were placed in position
where the liquor could not be obtained
he would abstain unconsciously and al
most wholly without any effort. This
distinction must be sharply drawn in
considering the general subject of in
ebriety.
| 1t is the progression of the habit
into the disease which is at the very
foundation of any discussion of the
evolution of inebriety. At first a man
is in the habit of drinking now and
then, apparently with but little injury
to himself. He can undoubtedly at
this stage stop at any time that he has
a sufficiently strong motive, or by the
withdrawal of the environment which
would lead him to drink. He probably
never takes a drink at all during the
daytime or at least during business
hours. AS a rule at this stage the
drinking of young men is confined to
the evening. They go out to the
theater and with a party of friends
take drink between the acts, or at the
close of the performance. A game of
cards at the house of friend may be
accompanied by a bottle of beer or
wine, and the evening is passed in a
reasonably sober way.
In the course of time the man who is
starting on his drinking career loses
his domestic tastes to a large extent.
When at home with parents and
brothers and sisters, or at the houses
of friends in the ordinary round of
| ;,1 J,,t; bo Sc i'll of
ease and anxious for novelty. Hence
it comes that the evenings in which an
odd drink or two is taken become
more and more frequent Naturally
his associations become more and
more with men who are in the habit of
drinking. Soon not an evening passes
| that alcohol in some form is not
introduced into the system. Occasion
ally, of course, he drinks more than
his brain can stand and becomes more
or less intoxicated.
All this, however, is likely to be at
night time. lie still attends to his
business duties with absolute regular
ity. Sometimes in the morning he
does not feel quite as well as he might,
but good washing and substantial
breakfast put him on his feet com
pletely. AT this stage his general
physical condition is good, and the
habit, while it has developed to some
extent into a disease, may still be
stopped. His physical resources are
such that, although he may be grossly
intoxicated at night he is enabled in
the morning to ''brace up" and recov-
ers rapidly from the effects of the alco-
holic poison. His nervous system is
still so strong that its entire energies
are opened toward the rejection of the
poison.
Then comes a time when repeated
drinking begins to have its effect on
the general physical condition. Out
side of the mere craving for stimula-
ton the forces of the body have been
so impaired that the man finds some
little difficulty in making a complete
recovery. He is occasionally subject
to Il headache in the morning, dullness
during the entire day, and a general
harassing fear of detection, either at
the Office or at his home. Still he
keeps up his evil courses, and day by
day the reaction or the unnatural slim
ulation becomes greater. just here
enters new factor. Hitherto the man
has gone on series of isolated DRINKS.
Each has been independent of the
other almost if not entirely. Now,
however, the morning is begun by
drinking; friend who has had expert
ence suggests that cocktail, or some
similar Ubiquitous decoction, will assist
in the "bracing up process which has
become so necessary. This does its
work for awhile, but after short
time it too has its reactionary effect,
and an additional stimulant becomes
necessary. The man some day leaves
his desk in the middle of the forenoon
or afternoon, or at least fcverishly
awaits the luncheon hour or the close
of business in the evening. The grip
of the poisonous alcohol has at last
be en- fastened on the entire system,
and although he may not realize it he
is absolutely unable TO throw it off.
The effects of his nocturnal habits
begin to show themselves. In face and
figure he at last shows the marks of his
excuses. He barely escapes shame
and disgrace and finally in his Office is
on the ragged edge, his employers hav-
ing seen the danger and given him am
pie warning.
Then comes the break. After a night
spent in dissipation the usual morning
cocktail is expanded into two or three
or dozen. The man is speedily rein
toxicated early in the day, and is
either ashamed to go to his business or
else is in such a condition that he is
absolutely incapacitated. Having be-
come reckless, he remains in this de-
plorable condition for a day or two.
Then comes bitter remorse and an
earnest effort to rehabilitate himself.
Through the medium of his own prom
Uses or by the influence of family and
friends he is reinstated in his office
work. For time he does absolutely
refrain from the use of Intoxicating
liquors, and is apparently all right
again, when all of a sudden he falls
down, the old experience is repeated,
and he takes the last step.
1t may be that at about this stage in
his career some strong incentive is given
him by which his will power, temper
arily at least is so strengthened as to
be able to overcome the craving for
the alcoholic stimulant. He falls in