Blue-grass blade., 1892-02-06
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
CAUSED BY ALCOHOL.

CAUSED BY ALCOHOL.
ss.s Of the Dire Ensets Of Hsbis.aI
Drinking.
Alcoholism may be considered brief
ly, first, in its general bearings, and,
second, as a form Of insanity. The
relation between alcoholism, crime,
pauperism and charity is most inti-
mate. For example, certain young
criminal who tried to kill an aged
woman without provocation said that
when he was six years of ago his IN
ther used TO return home drunk, strik-
ing his mother and throwing sticks Of
wood at him. He stood it for awhile,
but afterward left home, and, though
not . thief, was compelled to steal for
. living; was sent 20 Juvenile asy-
lum, and after leaving went among
farmers to live under their care, being
kindly treated by . very few, whipped
and otherwise roughly treated by
many. Remaining q month or 20 with
different farmers, he finally developed
into tramp. and, leaving all farmers,
wandered two years, stealing, eating
and sleeping wherever he could. Thus
alcohol gave the initiatory to thieving;
charity endeavored to countersct these
effects (result of six years Of unfavor-
able surroundings) in two years. but
the evil forces acquired by early treat
ment had gained too strong . foothold,
and the following stages were tramp
ing, pauperism and crime. Such cases
are typical and almost wholly the re-
suit of evil surroundings. for which
society Is culpable and for which she
suffers dearly, both morally and finan-
cially. The alcoholic may be . good
workman when sober. but from ir-
regularity he loses his position and
gradually becomes q pauper. A sad
fact in connection with alcoholism 10
that often the kindest and most genial
natures are for this very reason ruined
through the unintentional influence of
friends, for they are unable to resist
the so-called feeling of good-fel llowship
when drinking together. From tho
ethical point OF view, 1t is questionable
whether one has the right to take the
chances of causing another to fall II
Is better to forego the physical. intel
lectual or social pleasure of indulging
in any luxury or non-necessity, than to
aid in the physical, moral or social ruin
Of afellow being:
The relation Of ethics to al these
forms Of abnormal humanity is As di-
rect as it is diversified It IL ethically
questionable whether Il 10 right to
give to beggars; for by so doing we en-
courage them, by virtually paying
them to beg, and il not already paupsrs
they can be made so by Q mistaken
philanthropy. 1t is q common saying
and practice of Americans travelling in
Europe to give every beggar "a cent
to get rid of him." This. Of course. has
Just the opposite effect
All these abnormal forms of humani-
ty are different degrees of evil or
wrong, the highest of which u erime.
They are al links Of one chain This
chain il that which We denote BY the
words evil, bad, unjust, wrong. eta
These forms, to wit criminality,
alcoholism, pauperism, etoL, may all b
considered under the head Of "ehar-
biological" Thus the different institu-
tions, such as prisons. insane asyluma.
inebriste and orphan asylums. institu-
tions for the blind, deaf and dumb,
and detectives; hospitals. dispensaries,
relief for the poor in any form; church
missions and different forms Of philan-
thropical work. are, Of course, ehari-
table in their purpose The differences
between thes institutions II one o1
degree, as an examination of the In
mates would soon show. The psupsz
h. hA-~ -
insane or alcoholic, or the criminal
may be or may have been . paupsr o.
insane or alcoholic, and 20 on.
The close relation Of alcoholism "a
insanity is shown by the statement ol
. specialist (Krafft- Ebing) that al
forms Of insanity, from melancholia "a
imbecility, are found In alcoholism. II
II artificial, it begins with . slight ma
niacal excitation; thoughts flow lucid
ly, the quiet become loquacious, the
modest bold; there is need of muscular
action; the emotions are manifested In
laughing, singing and dancing. Now
the esthetical ideas and moral impulses
are lost control Of. the weak side of
the individual is manifested, his secrets
revealed; he is dogmatic, cruel, cynical.
dangerous; he insists that he is not
drunk, Just a. the insane insists on hia
sanity. Then his mind becomes weak,
his consciousness dim, illusions arise;
he stammers. staggers and like . para
lytic his movements are uncertain
The principal character Of these
mental disturbances consists in . moral
and intellectual weakness; ideas b.
come lax as to honor and decorum.
There is . disregard Of the duties Of
family and citizenship. Irritsbility ID
. concomitant, the slightest thing
causes suspicion and anger, which d
uncomfortable There Is q weakness
of will to carry out good resolutions,
and q consciousness of this leads some
to request to be placed in an asylum,
for they are morally certain In advance
that they cannotresiss temptation. Thu
one has been known % have his daugh.
tar carry his wages home. as he could
not pass a saloon on the way without
going in, if he had money with him
Now IL Is a weakness. of memory, q
difficulty in the chain of thought and q
weak perception, until imbecility u
reached.
There may be disturbances in brain
circulation, causing restless sleep. anx-
ious dreams, confusion. dizziness, head
ache. Such circulatory distur rbsnoss in
the sense-organs can give rise to hal
lucinations. There Is . trembling in
hands, face, lips and tongue. In short
there is a gra dual mental and bodily
degeneration.
from the medical point Of view. Q