Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-10-17
INTEMPERANCE AND THE OF.
(IARETTE HABIT.

Blackford, of the western State asylum
at Staunton, deals with the affairs of
the hospital in an able way. Itappears
that in this, the sixty eighth, year of
the hospitals existence, the admissions
during the year were lis males and 80
females; total of 207, up to October
1st. These, together with those pre-
viously admitted, make up 737 inmates
on October 1st. The recoveries noted
are 122 as males and "a females), with
total of IL improved. The deaths
were 2S males and 90 females, while
the number of patients discharged was
189-males, 81, and 50 females. Whole
number treated during the year, 926.
The superintendent reiterates his
views expressed in former report as
to the matter of separate asyiums for
Dangerous lunatics" harmless imbe-
Giles" and ''idiots," as suggested by
Ex-Governor Mckinney, arguing that
such separation is impracticable and
unwise. The great necessity existing
in Virginia for training school for
feeble minded children is spoken of,
and the establishment of such schools
is strongly suggested.
Under the title. "Intemperance and
the Cigarette Habit" DR.. Blackford
SAYS: "Alcoholic insanity is now we'll
recognized form of mental alienation.
Alcohol has peculiar affinity for the
brain and nervous system. No man
can drink alcohol habitually to excess
without suffering mental impairment;
it matters not how strongly he may be
endowed mentally. The brightest
mind becomes cloudy and dazed, end
the moral sense blunted; he loses that
keenness of perception and power of
sustained effort so necessary to success
in life; and, if persisted in, the degen-
erative process goes Oh until it ends in
moral and mental imbecility. While
it is quite true that the direct evil effects
of the alcohol habit can be overestima-
ted, it is Just ss certain that it isl easy
to underestimate the indirect evils that
are the outcome of intemperance.
"To the same extent the same could
be said Of the pernicious cigarette
smoking habit now so prevalent
among ard undermining the moral, !,
physical and mental health of the youth
of our country, during the period of
youth and development, when the brain
is tender and plastic, and easily affect
ed by the noxious inhalations passing
through and around the nerve centres.
The youths nervous organization
is apt to become more shat
tered by the cigarette habit than
if he were addicted to alcohol
stimulant during that period, al | will
surely be the first to give way, and, of
course, the first to suffer, with its
strain on the nervous system. The
youth at college who burns the mid
uight oil is to be commended for his in
dustry, but too often he burns out his
brains at the same time. With the ac-
companying cigarette the process of
waste and injuryto the nervous system
may be greater than the repair, and
mental bankruptcy is the result"
The fierce struggle for social ad-
vancement and hasty requirement OF
riches. and overstudy in schools and
colleges are noted by DIR. Blackford as
prominent factors in producing mental
troubles. 1t is disclosed that there are
in this institution 100 epileptics, q
class generally regarded as the bette
noir of insane hospitals, on account of
homicidal impulses. 1t is noted as
melancholy fact that this class is in
creasing in Virginia. There are 120,-
600 in the United States. DR.. Black
ford suggests that for the present the
better plan for this State is to erect
separate buildings of cheap character
for this class of afflicted persons.
The Superintendent from this report
evidently is not believer in woman's
rights, which means mems wrongs, for
he says: "The cornerstone upon which
all true and national life is built is the
home. There man gives her undis
puted sway in that realm; she has no
competition; man ungrudgingly recog-
| nizes her superiority; but when she
descends from that lofty position to
compete with men, and demands her
rights, then she must abandon her pre-
rogative ofprivilege willingly accorded
to her, and must be content with her
rights.n James Weir, jr., is quoted
from September american Naturalist in
his article on effects of Female Sui.
frage on Prosterity," as saying that "a
majority of female sufragists are de-
generates; that they are viragints, or
women who have masculine traits, and
that moral and physical degeneration OF
the race will inevitably follow the sue
cess of the movement; that while the
effects of degeneration are slow in max
ing their appearance, yet they are ex-
ceedingly certain"
The permanent improvements of the
past fiscal year were the building of a
new laundry and new steam plant,
costing SIG, ,397, the former to be open
ed in few days. The total per capita
cost per patient for every expense and
charge is s137 this year, as opposed to
S145 the year before.
Irving W. Larimore, physical direct
or of Y. M. G. A, Des Moines, Iowa,
says he can conscientiously recommend
Chamberlain's Pain Balm to athletes,
gymDasts, bicyclists, foot ball players
and the profession in general for
bruises, sprains and dislocation; also for
soreness and stiffness of the muscles.
When applied before the parts become
suol1an it will effect cure in one half