The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-10-18
ALCOHOLISM AS A DISEASE.
Consider the Great Question
of Intemperance.

fession, but from the laity as well.
That this subject involves moral ques-
tons of the gravest Importance, there
can, of course, be no doubt; questions
involving not only the moral welfare
of the individual, but also that of the
state. This phase of the evil has re-
ceived, and properly, great attention
from many able men. But the most
effective weapons for attacking the
evils of intemperance are furnished by
a study of its physical pathology.
No temperance movement can be-
come effective that does not recognize
the basic fact of disease as most i'm
portant element in the production of
inebriety. No argument for total alb
stinence can be made to hold together
that is not based upon this foundation,
and no explanation except the patho-
logical one will explain all the phenom-
ena of intemperance. The total alb
stinence and temperance reform
movements have usually proceeded on
the assumption that anyone can stop
drinking if he will, that it is purely a
matter of volition. If this were true,
the only difference between a moder-
one of will and brain power, and hence
all moderate drinkers must be well
endowed with these qualities.
The fact is, however, these prem
Uses are wholly wrong. The difference
between the moderate drinker and the
drunkard is a physical difference.
One is more susceptible to the poison
Gus action of alcohol than the other,
and more readily becomes a victim of
the disease. Two nurses are watching
by the side of a smallpox patient; one
takes the disease while the other does
not. The difference between the two
is not one of intellect or will, but
rather one of physical constitution,
one being more susceptible to the
smallpox virus than the other. Two
brothers begin life as moderate drink
ers; one remains a moderate drinker,
the other becomes a drunkard Curl
ously enough, the one who possesses
the strongest intellect and will is more
likely to become drunkard than the
other.
While the disease of alcoholism is
found among all classes of men, vet
those possessed of the strongest in
tellect and finest nervous systems seem
to be more susceptible than others to
this disease. These well-known facts
which have SO thoroughly democrat
pized the argument for total abstinence
in the past, furnish a secure founda-
ton for the total abstinence position
if interpreted in the light of modern
science.
The reason for total abstinence is
not that all men who drink are drunk
ards, for that is not true, nor that
mental or moral weakness is cause of
intemperance, for this is so far from
the truth, that the very brightest and
best are among those afflicted. Here,
then, is the unassailable argument for
total abstinence, based on the scien-
tific fact of the pathological character
of alcoholism:
Addressing the young man who
stands at the parting of the ways, 1
should say: you may or may not be
physically SO susceptible to the poi
sonous action of alcohol that if you
drink at all you will become drunk
ard. There is no way of finding out
but by trial; similarly, there is no way
to determine whether you are suscep-
tible to smallpox or not without SUBJ
jecting yourself to the test. The ques-
ton is purely physical one. Do not
getyour thought muddled by these the
cries regarding will and strength of
mind and the like. If you have the
right nervous organization, and drink
az all, you will become a drunkard as
certainly as the law of gravitation
swings the earth about the sun. As
it would be irrational to experiment
with smallpox, so it would be ira
tional to experiment with alcohol, for
that is physically susceptible to the
malay, you will find it out too late
to prevent serious consequences.
Hence total abstinence is the only safe
and rational course of action"
The theory that men may stop drink
ing when they choose, by mere force
of will, is a delusion that has led many
young men to ruin. I'VE will drink"
they say, "till We lind it is iniuring
us, and then we will stop. The dis
ease theory is absurd. Men possessed
of will power like us can stop drink
ing when they please" Thus fortified
by this delusive philosophy they walk
into the pit that is swallowing UP
much of the flower of our race.
We have, then, in this pathological
theory of alcoholism, the philosophy
that not only explains all the appar-
emily contradictory facts so often no.
ticed relating to inebriety, but also
furnishes the basis for the only ra-
tional argument against the use of all
alcoholic beverages. If these simple
physiological facts could be forced
thoroughly into the consciousness of
the public, believe one generation
would show a decrease of drunkenness
of at least one-half, and bright pros
pect for the early determination of
Observation-Disclosures j. Douglass, NJ. D.,
in Union Signal.