The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-10-24
THE GREAT DESTROYER.
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANcE.

Alcoholic Heredity-History of a Family
of Eight Children, Whose Father Was
q Hard Drinker-Every Member But
One a Degenerate-An Awful Warning
I can possibly better illustrate what the
term nervous diathesis means by detailing
the history of neurotic family. Its
father was man of vigorous personality,
strong of brain and in excellent bodily
health From early manhood, in order to
more easily accomplish his work, he had
INDUCED excessively in alcoholic stimu-
lants, yet never to the extent Of intoxIca-
ton. The mother was gentlewoman of
delicate. nervous organization, and re-
fined mental temperament, worrying over
trihes, excitable, and, at times, suffering
from the milder forms of hysteria. A fam.
lily of eight children was born to them. In
childhood high and frequent fevers with
out adequate cause were observed. Their
dentition was frequently complicated by
convulsions, and at the age of two years
epilepsy developed in one of the children.
Another child, delicately nodded, and ex-
tfemely precocious, could read at the age
of three, and displayed considerable ability
as musician. She was sent to school
when six, and was soon regarded as an in
FAINT phenomenon. Advancing rapidly in
her studies. She failed to develop physi-
cally, and early suffered from astig1na-
tism, At the age of twelve. owing possibly
to a. slight fright, she became choreic. i'm
proved, relapsed at the end of three
months, and finally recovered except for
slight habit spasms. A third child, ap-
parently normal and giving but little evi-
dence of any unusual nervous or physical
disturbance, yet developed a megrim at
the age of sixteen. Another daughter had
always shown a certain weakness of body,
poor appetite, digestive disturbances and
constipation. Like the mother she was
nervous. and at times morbid. An un-
happy, marriage and too frequent bearing
of children resulted in permanent melan-
cholia. The oldest boy was fairly bright,
but proved decidedly unruly in the school,
and refused a university education He
worked faithfully and untiringly, and rose
to the head Of large business establish
ment, manifesting no bodily or mental pc,
cullarity. The second son was eXcellently
endowed: At an early age he exhibited
marvellous activity, rapidly passing through
the various grades of the common schools,
and entered the, university when barely
sixteen. His university course was most
brilliant. He was the honor man of his
class was an excellent debater, and led
in religious work. What. was given him to
90 ne QlQt wen, DuC MS mentality was one
of doubt, and he could not decide upon :
his life work. He went to Harvard for
postgraduate course. then to Germany. !
While there he found brain concentration
impossible. worried much over. trivial af.f'
fairs, and became very Respondent. There
soon developed serious stomach Sderange-$ :
ments. and he suffered greatly with intes.
tinal dyspepsia. He returned to his home
depressed, overwhelmed with morbid fears.
incapable of prolonged mental efforts, and
remains q confirmed neurasthenic. AM,
other son. with very much the same hiss
tory, studied law, rose rapidly in his pro.
fession, and; except for occasional dipso-
maniac outbreaks, is fairly successful The
fourth son was not bright. took but little
interest in his studies, shirked when pos
sible, left school at. an. early age, con-,
sorted with evil companions, and seemed
unable to comprehend, his moral delin-
quencies, wandered from place to place,
gambling and dissipating and finally be-
came confirmed criminal In this family
group only one became insane. The reason
for this development the family could not
possibly conceive, honestly denying in
sane heredity, yet every member Of the .
family, except one, presented either physi.
cal or mental stigmata of degeneration
pr. Robertson, in Occidental Medical
Times. r. ~