The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-01-14
PERIODICAL iNEBRiATES.
Study of - Peculiar fsychical Phase OF
Certain Drinkers.


At other times they are
strict abstainers, and often very bitter ]
of spirit taking. One OF
these classes drink on holidays, such as /
Christmas, New Years, Fourth of July, t
and other national holidays. Another
class drinks only on occasions OF great
excitement, of sorrow, of JOY, such as
weddings, political meetings, court {
trials, accidents, triumphs in business. {
A third class drink in the country, and
away from all observation, or in certain
cities, and at certain hotels or houses
A fourth class drink at the seashore or
in the high mountains, or at the changes
of seasons, as the beginning of winter
or summer.
Another class are solitary, midnight
drinkers, who never use spirits except
in the most favorable conditions, and Ill
seclusion at midnight, Others never
use spirits except in the company OF
certain persons, who seem to provoke
an intolcrable desire to become lntoXi'
Gated. Others are always intoxicated
when out on fishing and hunting eXcur-
sions A certain class only drink at
class or other reunions, or at certain
club dinners, and thus the list might be
extended, and would include many |
very strange conditions which appear
as special exciting causes. These
cases never use spirits except in these
special environments, which seem 70
break up all Judgment and control for
the time. Often the holiday drinkers
escape by isolating themselves from all
sources of excitement on these occa-
sions.
Going to the country, seeking quiet,
with total change of surroundings and
living, and by this means the drink
symptom is controlled. AS soon as
the holiday is passed all desire for spir-
its disappears. The states of excite
ent are obscure which rouse this drink
craze and pass away as quickly as they
began. This excitement may continue,
but the drink paroXysm dies o"t. One
man drinks to stupor at the beginning
of a political campaign, then abstains,
although exposed to the same or great
er excitement for weeks after. Another
becomes intoxicated with some great
successes of life, then never drinks
again, unless the conditions are radical
ly changed. Certain surroundings OF
large cities, and particularly hotels and
houses, rouse the drink paroXysm. One
cannot visit New York, or another go to
Washington, Philadelphia or Chicago
without becoming intoxicated, and this
continues a certain fixed time, then
ceases or lasts until the surroundings
) are changed. Such persons never uss
spirits elsewhere, and these obscure
: psvchical states seem to destroy all self
control at the particular place and time
. The mountain and seashore inebriates
who never use spirits at any otherplase
: display the same impulsive craving for
intoxication. Such cases complain OF
headache, nervous trembling and de
1 preston, with extremes of appetite
: insomnia and drowsiness as prelim
/, nary to the drink craze. Change o.
+ surroundings bring sobriety and re
5 lief. The solitary, midnight inebriates
/ who never drink unless the conditions
: are most favorable for seclusion, Suci
5 cases will resist all temptation to us'
spirits in company: then go away It
5 some secluded place and drink at mid
1 night to stupor If they make mis-
c take and the seclusion is broken up, o
/ their presence becomes known, they be
l. come sober at once. The influence o
q certain fixed and particular surround
. ings dominates the central organism !!
+ a strangely mysterious way. Thes'
4. M
to use spirits, except in special cond
y tions and surroundings, are neurotic
81 with peculiar susceptibilities to III
'r known psychical influences. Some {
l. these cases develop into we'll marke
III inebriates, with all the common SYM
III toms; Others remain a lifetime subje'
III to these nerve storms. Many of thes
sill persons early recognize these particuh
Us exciting causes and avoid them. Othel
IL never realize their meaning, and gi'
ia way to the impulse to drink on the o
I'll currence of the special exciting cause
H. The impression prevails that all Il
exciting causes are under the control
the will, and that it is always vice
IT. the moral sense which dominates.
On SJuttN vi tHtSt NtSSo ''N-' tP'iib'
subtle causes, both in the surroundin!
,r- and brain centers. Some obscure d
of generation provokes these psychic
in nerve strains, from unknown speci
conditions and surroundings. A pers'
MN who drank only on the Fourth of Ju
~ was deceived as to the exact day, bel
90, in the country away from noise and {
I'd element; he was strangely nervo
and excited all that day, but fully !
-, covered after a nights sleep. This
Nv dicated that something more than t
~ memory of the past. and the dominar
N' of the idea of drinking that day, p
-; vailed.
There are, undoubtedly, many phi.
ical and psychical causes which co
ON bine in provoking the drink impulse
'he certain times. These cases occur amo
are the most active workers in the higl
7sl- circles of human activity, and it
use somewhat singular that they have !
l. attracted attention or been studied
any systematic way.--Journal of
SEES ebriety.
Crusade Against cordial Drops"
The National Confectioners' assoc
ton offers a reward of $500 for the
- rest and conviction of any person S