The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-23
COFFEE DRUNKENNESS.
A New EVIL of the Day That Is Attracting
Attention.


Coffee drunkenness is rapidly becoming
an evil second only to alcoholism. In
many respects the two are alike. So great
is the resemblance that physicians have
often diagnosed coffee poisoning to be
what is called alcoholic distur bance.
Almost every one drinks coffee. Years
ago the beverage was generally forbid
den one to children. Nowadays, how
ever, the small boys and girls drink 1t
in almost as great proportion as their
elders. insomnia, nausea, lack OF appe-
tite, often affiict young and old from
cause doctors have been unable to ex-
plain. All sorts Of reasons have been
given, but at last the true one is reveal
ed. II is coffee drinking. Coffee Is the
root of the evil. Coffee caused the sleep
less nights, the loss or appetite, and the
disordered stomach that nothing seemed
to remedy.
This is not the worst Of 1t. Pbyicians
have been conducting Investigations and
found that in the United States, where
they sought for Information, the coffee
drunkard almost Invariably after time,
turned to alcohol and became con-
irmed inebriate. Often alcohol fails TO
stimulate sufficiently and as result
opium Is sought as solace.
DIR. w. Drake OF Eighty-fourth street
and Columb bus avenue, New York, Is one
OF those who have made special study
of the subject. He says his observation
has shown beyond question that chronic
coffee poisoning is much more common
than IS generally supposed. The symp-
toms are usually confounded with al
coholic disturbance, he says, because
coffee dyspepsia bears striking resemb-
lfane to aIoholic dyspepsia. There is the
same disgust for food, morning expetora-
tion of mucus and marked anorexia.
This disgust for food Increases in severe
cases until the patient can only take
coffee or bread soaked in coffee. Nausea
follows, and the patient becomes emaci-
ated.
Insomnia IL marked symptom or, IL
sleep occurs, terrifying dreams detract
from its eneft. Trem bling OF the entire
body, especially of the lips and tongue
IL noticeable. Even the cramps in the
limbs. which accompany alcoholic
poisoning, freqently occur.
An effort on the part of the confirmed
coffee drinker 10 become total abstainer
is almost liar in result TO that which
-follows- abandonment alcoholic
liquors. For the time the nervous sys-
tenn is wrencbed. An inebriate asylum
never contained more pitiable suffering
than that OF the reforming" coffee
drinker who has INDUCED in his favorite
beverage to excess.
The discovery regarding coffee drinking
explains why person who suddenly
abandons alcoholic drinks is always ad-
vised to take strong coffee. 1t is nota-
able fact that almost every reformed
drunksrd," is confirmed drinker of
coffee in Its strongest form.
Often q man takes a "cocktaiP' to
freshen his appetite for breakfast. This
object is attained because alcohol stimu-
lates the stomach. After heavy dinner
the same man will drink cup OF black
coffee as Pan aid to digestion" The
off nf taSl ia ka ms
One stimulates the stomach to activity
before eating, the other urges il TO
greater rapidlty of action to dispose of
the food ana drink with which il has
been overloaded.
Every person who has INDUCED in
liquor not wisely, and IN too great
amount, knows that nothing Will WOO
back the fleeing senses like a cup of
strong coffee. Is ii because of that old
edical theory that one poison Is an an
tidote for another?
DR.. Giles de Tourette, in a recent pa
per read before the Societe des Hopi-
tRux, of Paris, urges the necessity OF
warning the public of the danger. DR..
Mendel. of Berlin has just published a
clinical study of the effects " coffee
drinking, which is the most thorough
vet made, as he had a community OF
coffee drinkers under his constant obser-
vation, the working women in and
a bout Essen. He found many OF these
wcmen consumed over pound of coffee
a week. The leading symptoms of the
ills that afflicted tnem were profound
depression OF spirits and frequent head
aches. with insomnia. A strong dose of
coffee would relieve them for time,
then the ailmept would return. The
muscles became weak and trembling and
the hands trent bled when at rest.
An increasing aversion to labor and
any steady work was noticeable. The
symptoms constantly-arew worse and
were only relieved by the administration
of large guam titles OF coffee. The victims
suffered so Seriously they dared not aban-
don the drinking OF coffee for fear OF
death. Their faces became sallow and
their hands and feet cold. Melancholy
and bysteria were present in all cases.