The herald., 1896-06-30

Drunkards are cursed with craving,
gnaw.ng appetite for alcoholic drink.
sa Mhse obS 5hdg appete
has an inherited prediSposition as con-
stitutional cause, and with such the
hereditary vice is easily aroused 20 activ-
ity and becomes an Irresistible controlling
influence.
1t is not civilized mans natural dis
position to relinqu1Sh all that serves 70
make life happy in order to satisfy ms
desire for drink. Such, however, Is the
case with dipsomaniacs. The perioolcai
drunkard presents no such POSITIVE pain
ological changes, as he INDUCES but sell
dom, and allows the system time 70 re-
cover by eliminating the poison before II
has time to cause tissue injuries.
Although such men sometimes go to
terrible eXcesSes, in some instances pro
longing the debauch for several weeks,
they either have q great appetite ana con,
sumo much food, or else they depend
entirely on the liquor for aliment.
When quantities of food are ingested
it exercises protecting influence, keep
ing the gastric functions busy, neutraiiz-
ing to large extent the poisonous erect
of the liquor, and therefore tending TO
equalize the circulation. When the desire
for food is completely suppressed py the
liquor. the system is LETT unprotected 10
the mercy of the alcohol and the nervous
organs receive the full effects of the
stimulant.
Many persons in the prime of life per-
suade themselves that a moderate use OF
liquor taken regularly, even on an empty
stomach. will cause no detrimental re-
suits, as they experience no immediate
disagreeable symptoms. Many will even
claim that their systems demand the
stimulus and that marked benefits follow
its use.
No more fallacious or deceptive idea
can be entertained by a healthy man.
The system, 1t is true, becomes habltu-
ated to the abuse as II does to the mar
cotic poisons-opium. hashish. chloral or
tobacco; but let such persons discontinue
its use for any reason, and for weeks
they must suffer with loss of appetite,
fever. pains or palpitation, with perhaps
constipation and nervous irritability ana
loss of flesh.
The system has in such cases from
long abuse become changed and demands
its regular poison to sustain the abnor-
NAL standard created by the liquor. With
hope and all the finer emotions and sensi-
bilites crushed. the victims of the liquor
habit are only capable of causing tears
and shame to all connected with them;
No higher mission comes to the medical
man-no greater credit can attach to his
skill-than to find a treatment that can
stay this torrent of misery that flows so
relentlessly over its bed of human
hearts,.
Even more than alcohol, the opium
degrading slavery. Since the introduce
ton of the hypodermic syringe the per;
nicious juice of the poppy has destroyed
myriadS of human bodies and minds
among the fairest and brightest women
and most intellectual of men, The medi-
cal profession, with occasional eXcep-
tions, are too apathetic with respect to
this haunting vice.
They are too often open to a greater
charge than apathy-they have been in
strumental in teaching thousands the
way to the worse (because truer) inferno
than that over which the great italian
poet inscribed the terrible warning:
'Who enters here leaves hope behind"
CURING