The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-10-27
ON A SPREE WHILE ASLEEP.
The Old TOPPER Experienced All the
Sensations While Half
Conscious.

IA peculiar case Iuut Has OcEn GSCCAG-
ly brought to the notice of the medical
fraternity is that of a gentleman living
in the suburbs Of this city, who for
years had been imbibing more alcoholic
drinks than were good for him. On diff
ferent occasions he would abstain from
drink for two or three weeks, but in
variably would wind up these periods
of soberness with terrible spree. 1t
was his custom while on these sprees
to leave the house silently about five
o'clock in the morning and go forth
to some saloon in order to purchase a
drink. Two years ago at the request of
friends he accompanied them to small
town in western state where physi-
clan resides who has had great success
in curing the habit of drunkenness. The
cure in his case seemed beneficial, for
at the end of months treatment he
announced that he had taken his last
drink and that his craving for alcoholic
stimulants was completely gone. He
resumed his place in the business world
and for nearly two years was never
seen under the influence of liquor.
One morning over month ago q
police officer who knew the gentleman
well was surprised to see his familiar
figure walking up the street at five
o'clock in the morning. The man
stopped and tried a saloon door.
''It is all up with him." whispered
the policeman to brother officer. "He
has commenced drinking again."
The man waited about until the sa-
loon door was opened, walked in, and
to the astonishment of the bartender,
to whom he was known, complained of
suffering from the effects of an awful
spree, and drank five drinks of whisky.
Then, paying for the drinks, he went
home, opened the door with his latch
key and retired. He is widower, and
his daughter, alarmed at his nonappear-
ance at the breakfast table, went to his
room and raped on the door. He an
swered, and the moment he appeared
she noticed he had been drinking.
Knowing his fondness for whisky, the
daughter summoned the family physi-
clan, who advised his immediate re-
moval to the home of the physician
renowned for his treatment for drunk
enness. This was done, the gentleman
making no objection. The ftrangest
part OF the tale is his statement made
since his return, that his lapse from
sober life was caused by a dream. He
had dreamed that he sat with a crowd
of boon companions in a cafe. Stories
were told and the bottle passed freely.
At last he unsteadily arose, called cab
and went home to bed. AS was his wont
when drinking he awoke promptly at
five o'clock, feverish, his palate dry,
with all the symptoms of the effects
of spree, and had arisen and sought
place where he could buy drink. He
had not touched drop of liquor for
two years before he had had this dream,
and says he believes that while in the
saloon that morning he was not ruore
than half awake, and fully believed the
story he himself told the bartender:
The gentleman states that, no matter
what his dreams are after this, nothing
will induce him to drink again. The
case has been the cause of some argu-
ment among the members of the med
ical fraternity, some practitioners of
high standing stating that dream
might so wildly impress ones mind
as to produce the after effects of spree,
while others declare it to be impossi-
ble.-Cincinnati Enquirer.