Woodruff County news. [volume] (McCrory, Ark.) 1901-1910, 1908-08-06
THE CHRONIC INEeRIATE.
He Should Be Put Under Restraint by
the State.

Chronic inebriety is evolved usually
through the cultivation of the habit
Of drinking intoxicants, and like other
habits, grows until suspension of self
control or will-powar takes place. In
the late stages the phenomenon of
alcohol craving and its attendant con-
ditions is really a disease, but not 30,
carlier-when it amounts to a volun-
tary selfish indulgence. The appetite
becomes after a time really predomi-
nant and the individual loses judg-
ment, self-pride, conscious dignity, con-
science, affection, moral responsible
ity, and all ethical restraints. He be-
comes practically dehumaniaed-por-
traying the basic instincts with an in
tallection compatible only with them.
and under the diction of this supreme
desire for alcohol, the will-power be-
comes suspended and then annihilated,
end he is absolutely governed in his
actions by it's substitute-impulse.
He is now diseased and all ethical
lines are broken so that he has re-
verted to state Of primal savageTy-
plus the acquired intellection incident
to civilization. His brutality in one
way or another is rampant, all the
finer attributes of human nature are
in allegiance.
He is now q veritable Atreus-hat-
ing kith and kin or anyone who seeks
to restrain him; feelings of severe re-.
venge for slight offenses become q
pleasure to him; crime, brutality,
cruelty, now mark his career. His
home is the field of passion. Innocent
woman and children, and loving
friends, are likely to suffer at his
hands, while fitting clouds of remOTse
subject the poor wretch during his few
conscious or semi-sober moments to
the Vaccinations OF hell, and there
is no relief for him except alcohol.
Why should communities continue
In passive way of dealing with these
poor humans, and with the evils which
they produce? The chronic inebriate
is really menace to himself, his fam
lily, and his neighbors He is breed
er of suffering and as dangerous as
any insane man. The daily press Is
constantly furnishing the details of
crime and suffering wrought by the
chronic inebriate, yet the courts, al
though willing enough, can do but lit
tie toward mitigating the evil or pro
tecting the innocent, terrified family
and friends from brutal personal as
saults, or the squalor, terror and
hunger which he causes.
Manifestly then, the chronic in
ebriate should be taken charge of by
the state. His family and the COM
munity be protected in the same man
ner as are the families of the insane
This, it seems, is clearly proper
function Of the state. Besides, there
would be undoubtedly many cases of
recovery, If legal restraint were ap-
piled to these cases-such as is ap-
piled to dipsomaniac law, enabling
such chronic inebriates to be cited and
committed by the probate court to an
institution for a given time-the evil
dence Of such personal condition be-
/ ing presented by relatives or friends
as in the case of the insane, or by the
attested personal acts of the indi-
vidual.
! 1t appears obvious, therefore, that
/ In view of the crime, squalor, and
wretchedness evolved from inebrity,
that society generally should cease to
! condone drunkenness, and should re-
strain the individual liberty of the
chronic inebriate, both for his own
sake, for the sake of his family and
for the sake of the community at large.
E. L. SHURLEY, M. D. A.