Evening journal., 1906-08-29
DRINKERS CRAZY
SAYS CROTHERS
Noted AIieniSt Declares That
Use Of Alcohol is Not a Vice,
But Evidence OF Insanity
THE PLEDGE WILL NOT CURE

That the use of alcohol is in mos.
cases a symptom Of some disorder and
not a cause, was the theory advanced
by DR.. NJ. d. Crothers. superintendent
Of the Walnut Lodge Hospital Of
Hartford, Conn. in a paper on "The
Insanity of Inebrlety," read before the
British Medical Association.
THE term inebriety" declared Dr.
Crothers, describes a condition which
calls for alcohol for its anesthetic ef-
feet, and in reality means a disease or
disorder of the brain for which alcohol
is a most grateful remedy.
THE use of alcohol is in most cases
a symptom of some disorder and not
as supposed. the cause. The theory
that the excessive use of spirits is O.
vice and moral condition is not true
Great injustice and wrongs follow the
efforts to correct this evil, based on
those false theories. a scientific study
of inebriety indicates definite
disease. with distinct causes. progress
and termination, the same as other
diseases.
The marked symptoms of insanity
are prominent One is the periodic
drinker who drinks to excess for a
short period. then abstains This drink
period is practically an acute mania,
or insane impulse, which resists all
efforts of control. 1t is often pro-
duced by insomnia, headaches and
great irritability. Such persons drink
both secretly and openly, and act like
insane persons. It resembles epilepsy
in its sudden convulsive onset, and
inability to break up or control, ex-
cept by the harshest measures.
Cases have been noted where per-
sons drank for two or more months.
then abstained for five years, relaps-
ing again as before. Another large
class Of patients are secret midnight
drinkers. who never drink at any
other time.
Certain atmospheric and electrical
conditions seem TO be active in pre-
cipitating the drink attacks. One man
only drinks at the seashore. another
on high elevations. one drinks in
certain climates and seasons OF the
year and at no other time. Many
persons drink heavily in large cities
and are strict abstainers elsewhere.
Another form of insanity is seen
in the constant drinker who daily
drinks in so-called moderation, and be-
cause he is not incapacitated or seems
not to be changed in feeling or de-
gree of comfort, believes that he Is
benefited. Measurements by instru-
ments OF precision and careful studies
Of persons who drink regularly. even
in so-called small quantities, indicate
that they are the most degenerate and
defective of all inebriates and the
most positively insane in a general
sense.
Accurate studies and measurements
show that the steady drinker has al
ways delusiOns and hallucinations,
with degrees Of dementia, which he
covers up, and can only be seen by
his intimate friends and associates.
All such persons suffer from chronic
poison and starvation.
Exact studies show that fully one
hundred thousand persons die annually
from the effects of alcohol and drugs.
and up to this time the principal
remedies offered are the prayer. the
pledge the fine and imprisonment, the
latter of which actually increases and
intenslfes the condition. The insanity
of inebriety is a medical subject, and
until the profession has taught the
public the facts of this disease and
the radical means of treatment the ut
most confusion will prevail"