Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-08-03
DEMENTIA FROM ALCOHOL.
1sntinued Use OF the Latter, Even In
Small Quantities, Produces an
Unbalanced Mind.

The fact becomes more and more
prominent that the continuous use
of spirits, even in small quantities, is.
followed by Dement'S. This may not
always be recognized, but measure
ment of the senses aud functional ae-
tivities by instruments of precision
uniformly indicates depression, di-
minished and lowered vitality. The
hearts action is changed, the nutri-
ton and assimilation is disturbed, and
the operations of the mind show a
wide deviation from the normal state
Where there is hereditary predispo-
sition to use spirits, or the person
Is psychopath, or suffers from neu-
rosis, inherited or acquired, demen-
tia is a most natural sequel The
constant anaesthesia which follows
from the use of alcohol together
with the chemical disturbances of as
similation and nutrition, after time
are followed by permanent organic
changes. The action of alcohol on
the heart can be traced, but its eff
feet on the nervous centers Is more
obscure. The steady drinker suffers
from the toxins of alcohol and poi
sons which are produced by this
agent circulating through the blood,
which finally act on the nerve centers,
producing, first, functional, then or
ganic, disturbances, and finally ex-
tend to dementia. 1t is an error to
| suppose that intoxication is the only
| indication of damage from alcohol
In reality, such toxic states are only
incidents from which recovery fol-
lows. The most serious injury comes
from the continuous use of spirits
and the constant depression Of the
nerve centers, and the persistent de-
rangement of assimilation and elimi-
nation. The periodic drinl<er has free
| intervals of sobriety during which ma
! ture makes an effort to restore the
damage, but the continuous drinker
is subject TO the constant, uniform
action of depressing toxins. Stages
of dementia are started, and, al
] though at first slight and obscure,
1 they become more and more appa-
| rent. Thus, in one case, a constant
| drinker after time shows egotism
and superior confidence in his
| strength, unnoticed before. In an
other case, stupidity and dullness are
| the early and later characteristics.
In another, the higher brain oeuters
| suffer, and the character and pride
of appearance is changed. In an
other, unusual parsimony or generos-
| ity indicates a change. Often these
mental states appear prominent for
some time before organic symptoms
| are apparent. While each case diff
| fers from others in a degree, there
can be no doubt that a uniform. pro-
| gressive degeneration follows in all
instances where alcohol is used con-
stancly. Illustrative examples are
very numerous, and an occasional so.
called exception in which the con-
slant drinker appears 90 be free from
| organic disease has sometimes been
| found. Careful inquiry into these
cases with measurements by instru-
ments of precision reveal changes
unmistakahle. While demenLia is the
most common form of mental defect,
| other disease states are noticeable
| in these cases, and death often fol-
lows from acute Inflammation Of the
lungs or kidneys. A general paretic
| condition may exist in all the organs,
while the higher brain functions show
marks of dementia. Recent studies
in this direction reveal a new field OF
| facts which contradict all assertions
of the possibility of harmless use
of small quantities of alcohol daily
4 Journal of Inebriety.