The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-11-25
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
DISEASE FROM DRINK.

Malady.
In its early stages the habit of drink
ing is purely and simply habit 1t
has resulted in comparatively little
change of the nervous system, and If
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 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 drink at all during the
daytime or at least during business
| hours. AS 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 tho oo,,rco of< ;r,a tho ,,,,v, ,.,ho &c
starting on his drinking career loses
his domestic tastes to large extent.
When at home with parents and
brothers and sisters, or at the houses
of friends in the ordinary round of
social duties, he is more or less i'll at
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. He 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 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
jP6ison.
Then comes q 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 complete
recovery. He is occasionally subject
to a headache in the morning, dizziness
during the entire day, and general
harasslng 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 iniquitous 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 feverishly
awaits the luncheon hour or the close
of business in the evening. The grip
of the poisonous alcohol has at last
bee 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
excesses. 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 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 Gay, and i:
either ashamed to 60 to his business Oh
else is in such condition that he /!
absolutely incapacitated. Having be
come reckless, he remains in this de
plorable condition for day or two
Then comes bitter remorse and ar
Earnest effort to rehabilitate himself
Through the medium of his own prom
ises or by the influence of family ant
friends he is reinstated in his offict
work. For time he does absolutel,
refrain from the use of Intoxicating
liquors, and is apparently all RICH
again, when all of a sudden he fall
down, the old experience is repeated
and he takes the last step.
1t may be that at about this stage il
his career some strong incentive is give,
him by which his will power, temper
arily at least, is SO strengthened as t.