The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-08-31
The DRINK HABIT.
Alcohol is a Remedy for the New
Mania-Periodie Drinkers Suffer
From acute mania-Steady
Drinkers the Worst.


that kills 100000 persons a year, was
the topic discussed by DR.. T. ID. Gro
theirs, superintendent of Walnut
Lodge Hospital, of Hartford, Conn,
before the British Medical Associa-
ton today.
In Doctor Crother's opinion, the
term inebriety describes a condition
which cahs for alcohol for its anaes-
tic effect, and it really means a dis
ease of the brain for which alcohol
is most grateful remedy. The use of
alcohol, he said, is in the most cases
symptom of disorder and not, as
supposed, the cause and the theory
that the excessive use of spirits is a
vice and moral conditions is not true.
Great injustice and wrongs follow the
effort to correct this evil, based on
these false theories, while a scienti-
fic study of inebriety indicates a de-
finite disease, with distinct causes,
progress and termination, the same as
other diseases.
Two marked symptoms of insanity
are prominent, "Dr. Crothers contin-
ued. zone is found in the periodic
drinker, who drinks to excess for a
short period, then abstains. The drink
period is simply an acute mania, or
insane impulse, which resists all eff
forts of control. 1t is often preceded
by insomnia, headaches and great ir-
ritation. Such persons drink both Sc
cretly and openly, convulsive onset
and the inebility to break up or con-
troll it except by the harshest meas
ures.
In many cases there are distinct
|premonitions of the drink storm in
conduct, reasoning, and appearance
which the victim does not realize. In
others there seems to be full con-
seriousness of it's coming, and extra
ordinary care is taken to make the at
tack as light as possible and with lit
tie pecuniary loss. Such patients
make elaborate preparations in bus
mess affairs, providing for their alb
sence, explaining that they expect to
be away on business. Many persons
in this way are influential and are
burdened with cares and responsible
tiles. They suddenly disappear from
their business secreting themselves
in some out of the way place drink
ing to great excess for few days
or weeks, then returning. These con-
cealed drink storms are very common
among business and professional men,
and not frequently there is remarka-
BILE periodicity in the return of the
drink impulse.
I'm one instance the free interval
was exactly 80 days and the drink
storm days. In another the interval
was 210 days and the length of the
storm about days.
Another large elias of patients are
secret midnight drinkers, who never
rink at any other time. Often the
drink paroxyisms bring out a different
personality, and the patient while
drinking is an entirely different char
acter in reasoning and conduct.
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 per-
sons drink heavily in large cites and
are strict abstainers elsewhere. These
cases all have a marked heredity
from neurotic parents, and most of
them showed defects and irregularities
of nutrition, absence of proper sleep,
and strains and drains. Pneumonia,
apoplexy, consumption and paralysis
are the common Examinations.
Another form of insanity is seen
III Tic COucIdnl
daily in so-called moderation, and, be-
cause he is not incapitated. believes
that he is benefited. Measurements
by instruments of precision and care
full studies of persons who drink regu-
larly, even in so-called small quanti
ties, indicate that they are the most
and defective of all inc
briates, and the most positively in
sane in general sense.
Tests show that the action of alco-
hol is accumulated, and both the brain
and nervous system are permanently
ieranged
1.-THE insanity of inebriety is med
cal subject, and unuI the profession
has taught the public the facts of /
his disease and the rational means
Of treatment, the utmost confusion
viii prevail. This is the new army of I
he insane, developed by our civili-
sation. and this is the new field of Il
practice. for medical men in every
II is our duty to lift it
cut of the realm of credulity and
luackery, and bring it into the field
n oxaef Science Then and onlv