The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-01-13
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ALL ARE INEBRIATES.
Argument and Facts Which Go to
Prove That "MOderate Drinker"
Is a Misnomer.

widely interpreted by different persons
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 APP
pearance or conduct. The use of spirits
at meals regularly, and at other times
during the day, is not uncommon
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 person and his acts.
While it is possible for certain persons
TO use spirits daily for very long
time, and not seem to be impaired or
changed by the use, it is evident that
they are exceptions; and a closer ac-
quaintance and study would reveal de-
generations and changes not suspected.
Thus in one case where an active
banker used spirits for nearly 30 years,
nearly every day, at his death strong
evidence of his enfeebled mind was
clear in his will, and the property left.
A second case is that of lawyer of
more than average ability who drank
for 20 years in so-called moderati ton and
was found at his death to have been a
defaulter and receiver of stolen goods.
A third case of farmer who died at
10, after so years of constant drinking
in moderation, without exciting the
least suspicion of mental change was
found to have had concealed decisions
and to have been 4 maniac for years.
In careful inquiry of many persons,
/ have never found an example of u
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 generation; also
that no man can be OF sound mind and
body when using spirits steadily.
This fact has recently been empha-
sized by some startling disasters which
were traceable to the enfee bled brains
Of persons who were so-called moderate
drinkers. 1t would seem that the term
"inebriates'' would better describe
their real condition.
An engineer, old, tried, and capable,
III commercial language. but who used
spirits regularly in small quantities
every day, failed to see danger signal
and to slow up his train at dangerous
point. AS u result, an accident, ten
lives lost, many wounded the engineer
killed. This was his afternoon run,
spirits at dinner He was called tenn
perate man; no one had seen him under
the influence of spirits; and yet, I'M
accountably, he had run by danger
signal nj full speed into train ahead,
which lie could have seen, naturally, in
time to prevent an accident. He was
an incpriate 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 imbecile at once and
lose all reason and Judgment. He was
a moderate drinker, and for years had
been considered capable, wise, and eff
ticient. No one ever suspected he had
drank to his injury. On this last voy-
age he used spirits as usual. and seemed
in no way different. He was an
inebriatc unrecognized. because his
conduct was uniform, and gave no eX-
te;'nal evidence of change; and yet he
persisted in using spirits regularly.
y bank president, of irreproachabl bic
character, suddenly became default
e., ran away, and finally was sem
fenced TO prison. The act was eX--
traordinary in its imbecility and stu
pidity, 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 in
.ured by it in his conduct.
These instances are illustrative, and
by no means uncommon. The conclu
sions point to moderate drinking as an
exceedingly uncertain condition, al
ways associated with mental feeble
less and states of insanity. The con-
slant use of spirits may be followed by
more positive brain injury than the
occasional excessive use, and in all III
stances is more perlous because con-
cealed.
Among active brain workers the
steady use of spirits, even in small
quantities, is found by experience to be
followed by more disastrous results
in acts and conduct, than in he period
ical drinker. The farmer or business
man who uses spirits regularly and
dies after reasonably long life, not
manifesting any particular mental
changes, is an exception to the rule.
Accidental circumstances in their ply
steal organization and surroundings
have prevented a recognition OF their
weakness. Uniform surroundings and
automatic conditions of life and living
often conceal it, but change this and
the real condition of the moderate
drinlier will appear.
To call all moderate users of spirits
inebriates would seem 10 be an eX-
IRENE statement, and yet careful
itudy of the best of these cases reveals
Eany startling facts of both physical
and mental disease. The continuous
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