National Baptist world., 1894-10-05
EVIDENCE OF INEBRlETY.

/ Uniformity of the Origin and Deyelopment
| of Most Cases.
The study of the phenomena of in
ebriety is beset with great difficulties.
The patient may both consciously and
unconsciously mislead and conceal the
real truths, and the observer will from
erroneous conclusions. Many of the
facts depend upon the statements of
the 1nebriate and can only be verified
with difficulty. The drink history.
comprising record of when and where
and how spirits are used, is open to
various sources of errors, which NAV
De corrected by persons who have OBJ
served these facts. But the facts of
the origin, causes and conditions of
the drink impulse depend large
~ on the conceptions of the
victim, and such statements are
the most difficult to confirm of
all neurological inquiries Such
persons often have congenltal abnor-
malities of consciousness ANALOGOUS TO
astlgmatism, or color blindness, and
are unable to judge correctly of a mo-
tive or conditions which seem to lead
TO certain acts and lines of conduct.
Many OF these cases have defective
brain developments and organic per-
versions, followed by states of exhaus-
tlon and depression, for which alcohol
or some other allied narcotic is the
most fascinating means of temporary
relief. In addition to this the use of
spirits has special degenerative influ-
irrhn ,,l,x
paralizing and destroying the power to
correctly judge of the nature and
character of truth.
The inebriate is incompetent to eth
1cally or intelligently understand the
import and meaning of his conduct,
and hence will deceive the investigator,
exaggerating certain facts and con-
cealing others. Often following some
sensory suggestion, and always l1eenly
sensitive to any form of psychical pres
sure, such as the supposed theory of
his case, entertained by others, or any
conception which will appear to him
to lessen the gravity of the drink Of
tense, or in some possible way create
sympathy in his behalf. If in a court
Tor some crime associated with drink,
he will deny everything or confess to
acts not true, and at all times his con-
tesslon will be exaggerated and often
describe motives and conduct that are
unreal and unnatural The reasoning
may be clear and accurate on matters
not concerning himself, but utterly un-
reliable concerning his drink acts and
motives.
The statements of a drinking mcn in
a police court or hospital, and in a re- i
form meeting, will vary widely, and |
yet no apparent design be present. If |
these variations are brought to him for
explanation, he will show confusion
and deny them in general. A case was |
sent me as an example of vice at first. |
the history carefully studied by com
petent observer. My inquiry revealed |
an exactly opposite state and from the |
same history which to larre extent
was based on the statements Of the in
ebriate. A lOng-continrel study of !
this case brought ont another class of
facts, and confirmed the experience of
evidence based on the incEriate's con-
ceptions of his case.
Practically a fall statement is re-
corded of the ine5ria te's theories, and
then evidence is sought to disprove or
confirm it. Exceptions to the natural
history of such eases are regarded with
suspicion and doubted unless sustained
by other facts. Inebriety is usually
found to be uniform in its origin and
progress. The same general range of
causes are common to each one, and the
same general growth and development
will be found in each one. Investiga-
tion and study of these eases requires
long patient gathering and comparison
of facts, always open to error and cor
rection. journal of Inebrety.