The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-16
VIC. T. U. DEPARTMENT.
Conducted by the ladies Of the w. I
r. u. of Anderson, S. &.
All Are Inebriates.

|
that unless the exact meaning is given
much confusion will follow.
Usually this term describes persons
who use spirits regularly or otherwise
with no apparent effect on their ap.
pearance or conduct. The use OF
spirits at meals regularly, and at other
times during the day, is not uncom-
mon among active workers. These
are called examples Of the moderate
use Of spirits. Many persons who use
spirits in this way are considered
temperate and Of sound mind and
body. This opinion is founded on
very superficial knowledge of the per-
SON and his acts. While it is possible
for certain persons to use spirits daily
for very long time and not seem to
be impaired OF changed by the use, 1T
is evident that they are exceptions,
and a closer acquaintance and study
would reveal degenerations and changes
not suspected.
In careful ireuiry Of many per-
sons, have never found an example
Of a moderate drinking man who was
not more or less unsound in both mind
and body. In many instances the
psychical and physical injuries from
spirits may be concealed and covered
by automatic conduct Of the person
and the uniform surroundings and
conditions Of life; but it exists in some
form or other.
1t can be stated positively that the
steady use Of spirits, even in so-called
moderation, is always followed by
states Of mental degeneration; also
that no man can be Of sound mind
and body when using spirits steadily.
This fact has been recently empha-
sized by some startling disasters which
were traceable to the enfeebled brains
Of persons who were so-called moderate
drinkers. It would seem that the
term :'inebriates' would better de-
scribe their real condition.
An engineer, old, tried, and capable,
~ commercial language. but who used
spirits regularly in small quantities
every day, failed to see danger sig
nal and to slow up his train at dan
eerous point. AS result, an accident
ten lives lost, many wounded, the
engineer killed. This was his after
noon run, after he lad used the usual
amout Of spirits at dinner. He was
called a temperate man; no one had
seen him under the infunce Of spirits:
and yet, unaccountably, he had run by
danger signal at full speed into a
train ahead, which he could have seen,
naturally, in time to prevent an accl-
dent. He was an inebriate, and his
mind failed at an unexpected moment.
A captain of an ocean steamer, with
the helm in his hand, ran into ship
and sank in midocean without an effort
to save himself or his passengers. He
seemed to become an imbecile at once,
and lost all reason and judgment. he
was moderate drinker, and for years
had been considered capable, wise,
aud efficient. No one ever suspected
he had drunk to his injury. On this
last voyage he used spirits as usual,
and seemed in no way different. He
was an inebriate unrecognized, be-
cause his conduct was uniform, aud
gave no external evidence Of change;
and yet he persisted in using spirits
regularly.
a bank President Of irreproachable
character suddenly became a defaulter,
ran away, and finally was sentenced to
prison. The act was extraordinary in
its imbecility and stupidity, and was
unaccountable. He was moderate
drinker Of many years duration, never
using spirits except at stated times
and never appeared to be under the
influence or to be injured by it in his
conduct.
| In the civil war a general ordered a
charge, which was fatally repulsed,
and followed this with an imbeclle
order Of retreat, which, by an acci-
dent, was only saved from becoming a
disastrous rout. He was replaced,
and this act was explained as due to
other causes, to conceal the real facts.
He was moderate drinker, never
intoxicated, but using spirits every
day. and also man of experience and
ability. He died Of apoplexy few
years after, and was literally an inc
briate.
These instances are illustrative. and
by no means uncommon. The conclu-
sions point to moderate drinking as an
oooS;n,,v uncertain condition. al