The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-08-28
THE WARFARE AGAINST DRINK
TEMPERANCE BATTLE GATHERS
STRENGTH EVERY DAY.
Alcohol is q Direct and Powerful
Poison to the Nerves-Cause of
Mental Diseases in Forty Per

Poison to the Neryes--Cause of
Mental Diseases in Forty Per
Cent. of All Cases of Insanity.
The following article is reprinted
from the School Physiology Journal:
Alcohol is unquestionably a direct
and powerful poison to the nervous
structure. 1t not only temporarily
impairs and prevents the activity of
nervous tissue, but in a measure,
though at times every minute and
almost imperceptible, every dose of
It permanently disables the functional
activity of those organs.
Biology teaches that all the nerv-
bus tissue develops unequally. Ger
lain centres and paths develop earlier
:han others. Certain high centres
never develop in some individuals.
What is the influence of alcohol
hpon this organism? No doubt exists
Is to the effects of large doses. While
these are well-known and acknowl-
Edged, much is being said and argued
about the so-called moderate doses.
What is a moderate dose? On the
basis of extensive inquiry, it was
estimated that a moderate 6Tinker
consumes between eighty and 100
Srammes of alcohol daily e H.
B IL oz.). That figure is rather IN
ierestimated than otherwise, as can
be easily seen from the reports Of
per capita consumption Of liquor in
This country, since the figures include
all women and children.
Accepting that figure, however, for
the sake of argument, permit me to
state emphatically that such, and
ever much less average consumption
Of alcohol in steadily increasing de-
gree affects the nervous organism,
commencing, of course, with the most
delicate (%tissues).
This is all the more important for
US to consider, because OF q peculiar
action of this drug in creating a more
or less constant desire for its use, so
that habitual and increasing use of
it is a rule rather than an exception,
after the first few doses have been
taken.
How far-reaching are the results
of the tremendous alcohol consump-
ton I can best state to you by re-
ferring to the two all-absorbing top
les of human progress and human de-
generacy. On one side not q day
passes but we can obtain evidences
Of unmistaken progress OF our hui
man race. On the other hand, it is
a fact that there is an actual increase
in mental and nervous diseases, par
ticularly in insanity.
If there were no other reason, this
evidence of present human degen-
eracy would certainly merit our &C.
rious consideration. Creation al.
ways was and always will be a strug-
gle, and our own struggle Is steadily
increasing rather than diminishing.
It is perfectly evident that through
out the process of evolution two dis
tinct forces or agencies have been
in evidence; one elevating, stimu-
lating and strengthening; the other,
degrading, depressing and weaken
ing.
Whatever means or agency de-
grades or weakens one member of
the human race Is an enemy to us
all. The stage of struggle for indi-
vidual life and welfare has passed.
However prominent and apparently
u6lulluS Ludy uC IAC oCihoh
ness Of individuals and corporations,
it is undoubtedly true that there Is
manifest a genuine effort to fight
also for the life and benefit of others.
You have called upon me to speak
of one of the most powerful causes
Of degeneracy. Degeneracy may
manifest itself by various physical
imperfections, but true degeneracy
does not mean large feet, crooked
noses, and distorted teeth. The real,
dangerous degeneracy means perma-
nent disability Of the most highly
organized tissue Of the body, that
is, the brain and nervous system In
general. .'..
1t is evident that whatever harms
the brain must necessarily result in
injury to the ~perceptive faculties,
the intellect and the emotional con-
troll of the individual. In short,
whatever harms that organ impairs
and often destroys that which makes
us what we are, the kings within
creation.
Alcohol has been found a direct
cause of mental diseases In from ten
to forty per cent. Of all cases of in
sanity, this percentage varying with
the race and the spread of the habit.