The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-01

spicuoas impairment Of the mental
function. conioined xith relative integrity
Of the motor level, distinctly contra
indicate the free use Of alcohol
Dr.. wilson says that fortunately - very
large number Of men are physieaily In
capable OK continued excess. Normally,
xith aicohol. as with other things. excess
creates strong feeling Of repuIsion- In
some cases the general discomfort attend
ing intoxicstson 10 extreme: sometimes
the slightest excess produces violent sick
ness; rery often the dsy following iioerA
indulgence brings with IL something Ike
IoathIng for the sfimalant. In any case.
considerations either aitruisslc or Of an
enlightened egoism ef'ectuaily control
alcoholic desire in the minds OF we.l-eon-
stitated men Bat in individuals afflicted
with the alcoholic diathesls sels-controi IS
apt to be notably defective: 30 that, 70
borrow figure from equation, not only
are the horses wild. but the driver Is in
capable"
DR.. Wilson, referring to the fact that
drunkenness often seems 10 run in families
as other habits and vices do, holds tina;
the peculiar nervous organization favor
able 70 the acquisition of particular
character is al that can be transmitted.
but Indirectly the offspring may be affected
by its surroundings. Given child OF an
unstable nervous system. which he has in-
herised from an alcoholic parent, 1t only
requires surroundings which do not
effectuaily provide against temptations to
drinking in order 10 develop vicious po-
tentiaIity. The influence of parental per-
sonality Is much the most important
environmentsl factor in molding char
scter, not only because bad family arrange
ments and habits give sanction and oppor-
tnnity to the indulgence of vicious pro-
pensities in the children, but because the
whole bearing and habits of mind of the
parent unconsciousiy furnish just the
kind of moral environment calculated to
foster in the child the very tendencies
requiring to be checked. Thus it comes to
pass that environment perpetuates vicious
taints which used TO be regarded as in
herited.
DIR. Wilson says something about the
effect of certain crises in the life history Of
men and women on the development OF
drunkenness. There are. of course, sew
eral reproductive crises. The first occurs
when the function of reproduction is
Masking its appearance; next, there is the
period Of evolution, that is TO say, the
period of adoiescence, when character is
rapidly changing and permanent habits
are being formed; this extends to the age
OF about %. Then. In women. there are
certain periods at which important or
gsnic developments occur, as, for exam
pie, the period of pregnancy and the lacta-
tionai periods. Lastly comes the climac-
teric, which marks in both sexes the end
of adult life, and ushers In the second nom
reproductive stage of existence. Not in
frequently patients who have exceeded IN
youth. but have abstained through the
greater part of adult life. break down I'M
der the climacteric. But of all these crises,
adolescence is the most important Some
of the closest students of the subject
believe that more true dipsomaniacs de-
veiop the habit Of excessive drinking and
acquire keen craving for IL between the
ages OF is and . than a. any other period.
daIge in the use of alcoholic beverages be-
fore the age of . aud that it is wise to
postpone their use as long as possible.
He denounces as fallacious the belief that
the sudden remuneration OF alcoholic slim
ulants by victim of alcoholism Is dan
gerons, and that 1t is apt TO bring on grave
I nervous disorders. There are but a few
cases in which real danger exists, and
that is usually a risk of heart trouble,
which may be ignored by ali but the ply
sIcian.. The supposition that an occa-
sional Indulgence helps to brace the nerves
and strengthen self-control in patient
who Is recovering from ct of drinking is
a mistake which has often proved dis
astrous.
In the treatment of drunkenness DIR.
Wilson lays great importance upon diet
aud the need of much sleep. Concerning
the moral treatment of drunkenness Dr.
Wilson is convinced that the periodic
meetings TO denounce drinking, which are
solely of the character Of a negation, do as
much harm as good and that, above all,
sion out of every relapse. and thereby
to lessen the patients self-respeet and
waste mis- energy IN fruitie IS remorse.
DR. Wilson concludes bis very interest.
L. h,s. hat hi. 1T.
is indispensable. an equally essential
feature of the moral treatment of dipso-
mania Is the application of a positive
remedial agency, and the best of all 4.
what DR.. Chalmers called the expulsivs
power of a new affection. OF all the
remedial enthusiasts religion is the moss
effective, and next TO that is love. There
Is no doubt that many victims of alcoholism
have found salvation in the enthusiasm oi
newborn love and under the domination
OF noble personality.
On this nr. Wilson would draw dl.
une,lon. lie ooueeives Il to he RICH, tina,
woman should so far sacrifice herself as
TO continue an attachment 10 4 man. al.
though without marrying him, in the
hope of saving him from the DRINKING
habit Bar that woman should marry a
drankard. however noble her motive. and
however strong her hope. Is pronounced
an uniustihAals sacrifice. GA the other
hand, there Is one sphere, the sphere @:
family affection. ia which. with hopeful
ness, enc may expect the needed remedial
a - 4