Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-16

cal change. with which susceptibility TO dis
ease Is Increased. Alcohol intoxication not
only calls out diseases and disturbances
that the non-drinker does not have. but II
gives rise TO a greater morbidity. u is an
Old experience that in epidemics Of cholera,
dysentery, and smallpox drinkers are at
tacked IN larger numbers, and with greater
intensity, than non-drinkers. The bad con-
stitution of the blood. the weakness OF the
changed heart muscles. the s1nken energy
OF the nervous functions, and the frequent
accompanying disease OF the brain, give q
bad course to every disease. and high
mortality.
All Forms of Insanity.
The close relation OF alcoholism 70 in
sanity is shown by the statement CT q
specialist krafft-Ebing) that all forms Of
insanity, from melancholia 10 Imbecility.
are found in alcoholism. 1t is ARTIFICIAL; u
begins with a slight maniacal exci;ation:
thoughts flow lucidly. the quiet become
loquacious. the modest bold; there is need
of muscular action; the emotions are mani
lest In laughing, singing, and dan Inc. Nos
the aesthetical ideas and moral imp ais, 5
are lost control of, the weak side OF the in
diyidual is manifested. his secrets revealed;
he is dogmatic, cruel. cynical dangerous;
he insists that he is not drunk. just as the
insane insists on his sanity. Then mis- mind
becomes weak, his consciousness dim, a.
iosions arise he stammers. staggerss. ana
Ike paralytic his movements are uncef-
tain.
The principal character OF these lncntal
disturbances consists in a moral ana intel
iectual weakness; ideas become jaN as -
honor and decorum. There is a disregard
OF the duties Of family and citizenship. ~
inability IL concomitant: the slightest
thlDg causes suspicion and anger which ~
uncomfortable. There is a weakness OF will
70 carry odt good resolutions, ana con-
seriousness of this leads some to request %
De placed Ia an asylum. for they aie moral
Y certain IN advance that they cannot re-
sist temptation. Thus one has been Known
10 nave ms daughter carry his wages home.
as ne cooid not pass a saloon ON The war
without going in il he had any nron.y with
MIN Now II is a weakness of memory a
uinculty IN the chain Of thought and =
weak perception, until tmbecility is reached
Mental and Bodily Degeneration.
There may be disturbances In BRAIN cir
culation. causing restless sleep, anxious
dreams. confusion, dizziness, headachs.
Such circulatory disturbances in the sense
organs can give rise TO hailucinations.
There is a trembling In hands. face. rps.
and tongue. In short, there Is q gradual
mental and bodily degeneration.
IN The past, wine was used aimos, Who'll
~ by the weil-to-do classes, and beer VS.
OF such nature that harm was oct of the
question; Excessive use of alcohol first bs-
gan with the art OF disillation, and with
the obtaining of strong concentrated N-his-
NY from corn, poatoes and the ike villa
the unfversalizing of the use of whisky
a series OF phenomena have Appeared.
winch are designated by the word '-alco-
holism"
The climate is an important factor
Drunkenness is more frequent in cold thaa
an warm countries. and is more brutal ara
injurious i'm its effects as We go north
het this is not always true for within he
iast ten years alcoholism has greatly de-
creased In Sweden. and increased in south
era france and northern Italy. In tropicai
regions II is at present spreading fast. aug
with great injury.