The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-01-27
BREAKING THE DEVILS CHAINS
Suggestions ms to How to stop the
Use of Alcohol.

Use OA AACOhOis
This is a question which thousands
Of the vast numbers of men who have
unwittingly enslaved themselves to the
fascinating vice of liquor drinking are
daily asking themselves. 1t is a recog-
nized fact that Notwithstanding the
heroic efforts made by the Woman's
Christian Temperance union and other
temperance organizations the liquor
habit is rapidly on the increase not only
in the large towns and cities, but in
most of the smaller ones, in this as well
rs in other countries. Few, however,
would ever become addicted to the use
Of alcohol if they really appreciated the
suffering which they must endure from
the calling chain which the habit will
sooner or later bind about them.
Alcohol is wholly merciless to its vic
tins. 1t promises felicity, but gives
misery; it promises strength, but gives
weakness; it promises vigor, but gives
only disease; it promises new life, but
gives death in a most horrible form.
1t is by no means easy to escape from
the tyranny of drug habit of any sort;
and alcohol is one of the most difficult
to overcome. Some of the following
brief suggestions may be helpful to one
who is really in earnest in his desire to
escape from this body and soul-destroy-
ing poison:
1. Resolve to stop and to stop at once.
Determine to be free or to die in the at
tempt; but have no fears of death The
most abject slave to alcohol may stop
Immediately without danger to health
or life. The idea that one must leave
off gradually, or that the system be-
comes so accustomed to the drug that
it is a necessity, is entirely an error.
Alcohol is a poison, and the sooner one
is rid of it the better. The suffering
which results is far less if one stops at
once and altogether than if an attempt
is made to do so by degrees; and, be-
sides, those who pursue the latter
course seldom get entirely rid of it, as
they are all the time relapsing, and the
old desire is thus kept alive.
One point mmst be emphasized-a per-
son who has once been addicted to the
use of alcohol in any form must discon-
tinue its use in every form. He cam
not use even light wine or beer, cider,
or any other alcoholic drink even in the
smallest quantity. He must shun al
cohol as he would a venomous reptile
or any other deadly poison.
2. If alcohol has been used to an ex-
IRENE degree, and especially if several
attempts at reform have been made
without success, the victim should Ce
placed under circumstances which will
protect him as far as possible from
temptation. Removal for time to
some secluded country place, away
from old associates, and where liquor
will not be offered him, is advisable in
some cases, or even confinement in a
house or room.
Not infrequently the disorders are
so great that it is impossible for the in
dividual to continue his regular work
or duties, in which case he should go to
bed and remain there a week, or even
longer if necessary. He should re-
ceive daily treatment, such as fomenta-
lions to the spine followed by sponging
The nervousness may be wonderfully
relieved by applications of this sort. A
cool shower bath, following a short hot
bath of some kind, is an excellent tonic
in such cases.
3. Great care should be exercised re-
specting diet. Buttermilk is an exceed
ingly wholesome food for such cases.
Milk of all kinds is usually well toler-
ated, also gruels. Avoid altogether
meats, spices, confectionery, tea and
coffee, and all kinds of hot and irritat-
ing foods.
4. The inebriate suffers most of all
| from the weakness of will, the loss Of
resolution and decision of character,
| which is the natural result of long
yielding to the clamors of appetite. But
the restoration sf the will, while the
most essentia! for complete and per-
manent recovery, cannot be accom-
plished by the individual himself, nor
by any mode of treatment which can be
applied to him. 1t is only by Divine
power acting in cooperation with the
human will that mental and moral res
to~ation can be accomplished; but this
miracle of Grace, the Divine Being who
created man and who dwells in him is
ever ready to accomplish for him who
seeks deliverance from the thralldom of
vice. Ps. 107: LIKELIHOOD Health.