The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-02-17
INEeRlETY AMONG YOUNG MEN.
Evidence That 1t Is on the Increase
and the Reason Therefor.

is now fashionable among the wealthy
classes. But while the young mans
surroundings are partially responsible
for his habits, other factors in the ETH
ology of the disease must not be over
looked.
During the years of adolescence,
while the brain is only partially deyel-
oped, the nervous organization is not in
the stable condition which marks the
full vigor of normal adult manhood.
This being so, the desire for alcoholic
drinks is much more easily acquired be-
tween the ages of II and 25 than in later
life. If inebriety has, up to now, been
comparatively uncommon in youths, it
has been because the customs of society
have made indulgence comparatively
difficult. These customs are rapidly
disappearing, if they have not already
disappeared, and drunkenness among
young men, as 1 have already men-
toned, seems to be increasing.
1 think that the word "thirst" must
be understood to include all desires for
drink, whether physiological - and,
therefore, normal-or pathological. In
the former case, the organism requires
water, and the desire ceases when it has
been consumed. am not saying, of
course, that unless person is thirsty
he should not drink water; but l wish
to insist upon it that if, in addition to
the four or five tumblers of pure water
which all of US ought to drink every
day, our drinking'were confined to those
times when we feel thirsty, alcoholism
would not be a common disorder.
The limitation of drinking to physio-
logical requirements necessitates in
many cases the exercise of greater de-
gree of self-control than is possessed by
the ordinary young man who has been
brought up in such way that most or
all of his wants have been gratified. He
visits the club and somebody invites him
to take a drink. AS matter of polite
ness he does so. This sort of thing con-
tinues until a condition arises in which
abstinence means discomfort. Now it
is quite we'll recognized that the con-
tinued repetition of any process which
gives pleasure, although originally
purely voluntary, becomes less and
less so, until eventually the opera
ton is performed Independently OF
the will. What actually happens
is that the nervous mechanism has
been educated by degrees to one
line of conduct, and that line of conduct
in this instance drinking-becomes
normal. Abstinence would demand a
hibition and would be attended certain
ly with discomfort, perhaps with dis
tress. The normal will power has left
the man; he has ceased to be a free
agent; and the craving for alcohol is
not voluntary, but automatic.
The typical case of any disease can
not be found outside the text books
The cause of alcoholism must, there
fore, be scientifically investigated, as
far as possible, in each individual case.
The instances of inebriety, uncon-
nected with club habits, are, of course,
very numerous. The following facts,
however, are worthy Of notice. Prior
to the age of II serious intellectual
strain is liable to be injurious to boys
The development of the reproductive
functions quite frequently unbalances
the nervous system, and, strange as it
may seem, excessive mental capacity
in some one direction often makes it's
appearance. Self-control is wanting
and irregular habits are formed. The
stomach becomes irritable and indiges-
ton becomes almost chronic. This con-
dition is we'll known, not only to ply
sicians, but to every man who looks
around him. What happens next? As
alcohol seems to give relief, alcohol is
taken, and the young gentleman argues
that it cures his dyspepsia and keeps
him strong"
l have now traced the history of a
common form of inebriety among young
men just commencing life. Mark the
position at the twenty-third, twenty
fourth, or twenty-ffth birthday.
Some alcoholic stimulant is con-
sumed every day. "How do you do?" is
to this man very closely allied to come
and take drink" If one talks with him
upon the subject of inebriety he gen
orally argaes that although drinking is
a bad habit total abstinence makes him
nervous" The inebriate himself be-
lieves that he is capable of refraining
from the use of alcohol whenever he
| chooses, and the public shares his belief,
which is to some extent Cue to the fact
that alcoholic disease exists in the
stomach a long time before any verr
acute symptoms arise. Nevertheless
the young inebriate, @ho usually called
himself "a moderate drinl1er," seldom
denies that there are occasions upon
which he gets what he calls "full," a
term which is destitute of scientific ac-
curacy.
The character of the treatment de-
manded by the alcoholic condition OF
necessity depends upon the general
health of the patient, but there are. OF
course, some principles which are ap.
plicable to almost every case. AS the
drinker usually has poor appetite, rs
pecially in the morning, he must be in.
duced to take food, otherwise the lower
ing of his vitality by fasting will retard
his recovery. Moreover, there is nc
doubt that the consumption of simple