The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-03-23
iNEeRiETY AMONG YOUNG MEN.
Evidence That 1t Is on the increase
and the Reason Therefor.

INEBRlETY AMONG YOUNG MEN.
Evidence, That 1t Is on the Increase
and the Reason Therefor.
There is at the present time some evil
dence that inebriety among young men
is increasing. This may be to- some
extent due to so-called CLUB" life which
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 deHel-
pped. the nervous organization is notln
the stable condition which marks the
full visor of normal adult manhood.
This being so, the desire for alcoholic
drinks is much more easily acquired be-
tween the ages of II and rs 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 I have already men-
toned, seems to be increasing.
I 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 1t mas
been consumed. am not saying, OF
course, that unless a person is thirsty
he should not drink water; but wish
to insist upon it that if, in addition to
The four or five ttmblers 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-
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
readjustment Of the mechanism of in
hibition and would be attended certain
| ~ with discomfort, perhaps with dis
tress. The normal will power has left
the man; he has ceased to be 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,
.,
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
an 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 'skeeps
him strong"
1 have now traced the history of d
common form of inebriety among young
men just commencing life. Mark the
lpositicn at the twenty-third, twenty
fourth, or twenty-fifth birthday.
ISome alcoholic stimulant is con-
sumed every day. "How do you do?" Is
to this man very closely allied to ''come
and take a drink" If one talks with him
upon the subject of inebriety he gen
orally argues 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 due to the fact
that alcoholic disease exists in the
stomach a long time before any very
acute Symptoms arise. Nevertheless,
the young inebriate, who usually called
himself ga moderate drinker," seldom
denies that there are occasions upon
which he gets what he calls "full," a
term which is destitute of scientific &C.
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, es
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 M
doubt that the consumption of simple
food at short intervals will diminish
the craving for alcoholic stimulants
Sufferers from alcoholism require q
great amount of s1een opd - +b;. oo1