The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-07-10
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF lNTeMPERANcE.

Alcoholic Amnesia - Deplorable Mental
Condition Often Arising From Excess
sive Use of Observation-Disclosures in
the Early Hours Nose Effected.
While forgetfulncss is characteristic Of
all forms Of chronic alcoholism, the loss
OF memory may be so prominent as to
constitute an especial form of the disease.
Patients affected with the more pro-
nounced types Of amnesia have usually
been hard drinkers, particularly in the
early hours Of the day, and have the char
acteristic morning nausea, with tremor
and anaesthesias, but comparatively. sci,
dom the intense irritability associated
with chronic alcoholism. This difference
is probably determined by the more pro-
foundly disorganizing effect of the poison
upon the nerve cell, as the examples, es-
pecially those occurring in carly life, are
frequently in subjects of hereditary insta-
bility. Hallucinations and delusions do
not assume the prominence they have in
delirium tremens or alcoholic persecutory
insanity; indeed, in many cases they are
entirely absent.
The CHARACTERISTIC sign OF this type OF
the malady is the instantaneous forgetful-
ness of events that have only just trans
pired. Thus names or the simplest SEN
tences, repeated over and over again to
the patient are totally forgotten either in
stantly or after lapse of few moments,
nor does there exist any possibility OF
their recall in the future. Every degree
of amnesia is found, even from the &C.
verer type above delineated to an incom-
plete retention Of the most prominent
features of O conversation.
This forgetfulness of names, dates, the
order of work, even of meal times, rem
l. IL 81 foll lo,1x
pursuits of ordinary life. This incapable
ity may exist for the simplest procedures.
I have, for instance, ordered patient
afflicted with alcoholic amnesia to bring
me glass of water from the hydrant. He
would start off with perfect willingness,
would, perhaps, reach the door, and then
return for further orders, with the ac-
knowledgement that he had forgotten for
what purpose he had been sent. The
scene has been repeated eight or nine
times in succession.
The memory for past events, those dat
ing back to the earlier childhood or man
hood, is fortunately not affected to this
almost incredible extent. Intelligent con-
versations can be maintained just as long
as the memory of the subject has been
well grounded; events long past are re-
called with fair degree of minuteness,
old familiar airs are sung correctly, the
school days are remembered in detail, the
flow of language is good. just as long as
the individuals recollection of the past is
involved all goes well, but try him on the
events of yesterday, and everything is an
utter blank. He cannot tell you whether
he has eaten, slept or received letters, or,
in fact, what he has or has not done; the
current events of daily life are sealed
book to him. The correlation of past in
4,1l md ha
of associated language place. these In
stances of chronic alcoholism beyond the
pale of the aphasias, ataxic or motor; nor
is there present word-blndness, for the
individual can read correctly; nor word.
deafness, for he can hear and comprehend
perfectly, though the after feature OF
memory loss is instantaneous.
The patients afflicted with this form OF
amnesia retain their full consciousness,
recognize their mental enfeeblement, and
strive against it to the best OF their abll-
ity, and with almost painful earnestness.
The prognosis is far from hopeless, pro-
vided there is absolute withdrawal OF the
melting cause, and strict attention ls paid
seen patients with the most profound
amnesia, amounting to absolute forget
fulness of every daily event, recover IN
the course of several years sufficiently. to
become useful members of the community.
1t is necessary to re-educate them, to
have them follow daily routine of work,
until each duty becomes automatic and
refxed in the consciousness BY continual
stimulation. Simple tasks are given at
first, and by degrees those. more, complii-
Gated, until quite a stock of useful knowl-
edge is gained. Young patients recover
much more readily than those in middle
life; indeed, the older the person the less
the chance for permanent recovery.-Dr.
BerkleY, in Mental Diseases.