The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-19
A HELL.BROTH, SURE
Dr.. R. J. Fitzgerald Tells Of the
Deadly Filipino Vine.
7 SKATERS HUMAN REASON
Vino Drunkards Have Cataleptic
symptoms and Finally Lapse
E'.r Into Permanent Dementia.

DR.. r. J. Fitzgerald, surgeon of the
Thirteenth Minnesota regiment in the
Philippines. says there is no reason to
conclude that the army is going to the
bad because eighteen soldiers We're
brought home "a few days ago hope essly
insane from the effects of Vino, the In
sidious native drink which makes such
ravages on its victims mentally and physi-
ically. Is
The fact that such a small percentage
Of the soldiers have succumbed to the
effects Of vino, he thinks, argues we'll
for the temperate habits Of the boys in
blue whose only restraining influence is
the good, common sense with which most
of them are supplied. Comparatively few
white people ever become opium fiends,
and DR.. Fitzgerald is convinced from his
own experience that, as rule, soldiers
will shun the seductive beverage which
has all the effects of a drug. rs
He is satisfied that the drinking of vino
cannot be general because the increase
of insanity in the army would be much
more rapid than at present, it's most pro-
nounced effect being to unbalance the
mind. -.>
Vino" the doctor explained, sis as
great a curse to the Filipinos to-day as
is opium to the Chinese. believe that
to uplift and Americanize this natives by
endeavoring to discourage the use Of this
liquor than in any other way. 8 4 = E
1.-THE chief ingredients of vino are anise
seed and crude alcohol from the refuse of
native sugar. When properly brewed it
will develop jag quicker than any in
toXicating drink known to mankind to-
day, and such a drunk can be warranted
to stay with one longer and more com
pletely submerg his better self than any
hell broth l know of. To begin with, it
destroys its victims power Of co-ordina-
ton and interferes with his power OF
speech. AS man comes more under its
influence he talks in chunks, dividing first
his words, then his syllables and finally
the letters, until he is unable to express
himself and keeps up a confused mumble
or chatters like a monkey. This condi-
tion is succeeded after repeated libations
by a state of complete paralysis, in which
the victim is unable to articulate at all.
The pupils of the eyes contract at first,
just as would be the case if opium were
administered. Then the pupils dilate,
and when the subject is completely under
the influence the pupils again contract so
that the sense of seeing is interfered
with. Zig. '-'...
81 occasionally encountered cases in the
hospital at Manila where the victims had
>relapsed into a cataleptic state as the
result of excessive indulgence in vino.
Such cases, fortunately, are very rare.
liquor are something terrible. The raw
ages on body and mind are awful to be-
hold. The vino flend then becomes vio-
lently insane, the mania manifesting it.
self particularly by incessant talking,
bowling and snarling. Cd.
II am inclined to think that the con-
dition of the insane soldiers recently re-
turned to this country was due fully as
much to the heat of the sun as to vino,
and the combination would certainly be
deadly. The rays Of the sun have a diff
ferent effect on one in the Philippines
than here. There, when man is pros
trated by heat his condition is subnormal,
while in this climate his o temperature
goes up. ~~
''rhe United States authorities have al
| ready taken step in the right direction
| in the crusade against vino by closing the
! vino joints, as they are called, in Manila
| and elsewhere. The drinks which suffice
to intoxicate one in the United States
| beer, whisky, wines, whatever you may
nominate-are harmless compared to vino
| my observation was that only the eX-
| ceptionally dissolute soldiers who were
| heavy drinkers before they entered the
| army, drank much vino"