The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-12-26
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.

Consumption and Alcoholism Are
Twin Sisters" - Alcoholic Par
ents Followed by Consumptive
Children.
Prevention of tuberculosis was the
topic for the joint session held at the
Hotel Astor, in New York City, OF
the Medico-Legal Society of New
York and the International Congress
on tuberculosis. Disappointment
was expressed by some of the physi-
clans in attendance that the public
should apparently be SO little i'm.
pressed by the Importance of the sub
ject. The disease, according to Dr..
F. G. Daniel, carries off $50 persons
in this country for every single death
caused by yellow fever. .
. DR.. T. D.. Crothers, Of Hartford,
Conn.,, read a paper on alcohol and
tuberculosis" which was in part as
follows:
Alcohol as a remedy, or a proven
tive medicine, Is a most dangerous
drug. All preparations OF syrup con-
tanning spirits increase, rather than
diminish, the disease. They may
cover up the bad symptoms, but they
increase the poisons, and the soil for
the growth of the consumptive germ.
Rock and rye" prescriptions make
the conditions more incurable.
Alcohol Is a narcotic, and, while
quieting the pain and lessening the
cough, diminishes the vitality and
power: of nature to overcome the dis
ease. Consumption and alcoholism
are twin sisters. The subsistence OF
the one Is followed by the develop
ment of the other.
A very large per cent. Of the So
called cured inebriates, Of persons
who have stopped drinking, die Of
consumption or pneumonia: A large
number Of consumptives become in
ebriates and die suddenly. Consump-
ton associated with or following
moderate or excessive drinking is al
way marked by severe hemorrhages.
Alcohol seems to have weakened the
blood vessels of the lungs and pre-
disposed to the growth of consump-
ton and other acute diseases. g
The congestion of the face from
the excessive use Of spirits Is the
same in the lungs. Hence a chill, or
any special disturbance, develops con-
gestion, pneumonia and death. The
excessive drinker Of spirits, whose
breath gives evidence Of alcohol be-
ing thrown off, is permanently injur-
ing his lungs, and inviting consump-
ton. sa@s q. .ast sS
Alcoholic parents are followed by
consumptiye children; consumptiye
parents have alcoholic children. Sta
tistics show that at least a third of
the descendants of inebriates have
consumption, and fully a fourth Of
the children of consumptives become
spirit drinkers. A&
Spirit drinkers living in close, bad
air always have lung disease. Alco-
hol and drug taking are very active
causes Of consumption, for the rea-
son that they diminish the vitality
Of the body and the power to resist
bacteria invasions. Also they add to
the toxins and poisons of the system.
Consumption may not break out
from these causes, but pneumonia 1s
almost certain to follow. Children
born during this period are almost
certain to be inebriates in any ordin-
airy exposure. Both of these diseases
depend on poisons and low vitality:
In alcoholism the system Is starved
and the brain and nerves suffer, and
alcohol is a most grateful narcotic.
In consumption a local Inflammation
exists, encouraged by low resisting
power and general degeneration. Il
Mountain sanatoriums "a do little
towards permanent restoration IN
| less all other conditions are favor
able. Absolute freedom from all al
coholics, wines and beers, also from
dust and noise, and in conditions
where the air is in active circulation
are great remedial forces which can
often be had in the homes. .
Both tuberculosis and alcoholism,
The other the F"Great Black Plague,"'
are a menace to civilization, and a
reflection on the failure Of medical
men, in permitting them to gov and
develop without the most strenuous
protest. Consumption is attracting
e great deal Of attention, alcoholism
Is neglected, and the ~preventable
deaths from both will exceed in num-
bers any estimates of the present.
OF the hundred Thousand inebriates
dying every year, consumption and
pneumonia are the most prominent
causes at the last. OF the vast army
Of consumptives a very large percent
RgeFare i~nebriates, alcoholic spirit
and drug takers.
Bad air, laden with germs, and
contact with other victims are insig-
niicant causes, compared with the
degenerations from alcohol and the
toxins from ~neglect'of healthy living
tuberculosis and alcoholism are
| so closely associated that all meas
ures Of prevention, and treatment
must recognize this relation, If they
succeed. Both of them a be-,
stamped out, the same as yellow OF
typhoid fevers, and the work of the
future will be in this direction. ...
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