Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-07-10


aDuSe subject number that the herewith
the paper batm since tile subject matter is
also great importance the LAY weI 10 general
practiOneer.
IHREE REASONS WHY MEN BREAK DOWN.
with subject OF this magnitude, it is impossible
TO 90 into minute details, in the space OF time allotted
to paper, this august body; 1t is possible
to touch this trinity OF in than rather
superficial II would be endless task, to
up all phases OF the subject
Therefore 1t seems better to limit this effort to the
three principal factors, VIZ narcotics, yenerea diseases
and the 5laysh devotion business, and speculation.
The victims of this Unsuitable Moloch, among the
men Of America, never be really known, for they
up into the of thousands every well informed
person knows More less associated elements
they cannot be treated separately, and distinct from
each other, but rather must be viewed whole, for
only by considering them en-masse, is it possible to
arrive at any correct conclusion.
"A book OF Verses underneath the Bough,
jug OF Wine, a Loaf of Bread and Thou
Beside singing in the Wilderness,
Oh, Wilderness Paradise enow."
Never has the intoxicaton of wine, women, and
song, been better glowingly set FORTH than in
this flowing quatrain.
Martin Luther's couplet bearing on the same sub
ject is commonplace in comparison Unfortunately
humanity, neither poet theologian has raised a
warning voice, to the of the picture The
heartaches degradation and remorse that always fol
low this Indulgence be escaped Gross drunk
enness Is not common it years ago. Every
town has a fewer number of chronic drunks than
in the past, while this aspect the
proved, there has been gradual increase in the
alcoholic drinks among the middle and so-called upper
classes. Not to perhaps to start with but with
the majority of men who begin in moderation the i'm
moderate becomes the rule and with this a de-
cline of mental, and physical power. The tremendous
strain of advanced civilization, complex society
and the long weary hours given to business of all
kinds produce disturbance equilibrium, and
nervous irrabilty, that calls for increasing amounts
of alcohol to aay The results of this method life
are too well known to all of YOU to need further eabora
ton here.
DR.. r. d. Crothers, of Hartford, Conn, says that
the mortality from alcohol direct and indirect is from
10 to 20 per cent. of all deaths, least pei
cent of all diseases due largely influenced by
this cause, also that from 20 so per cent of all
mental diseases and so per of idocy pauperism
and other degeneratiye conditions, had an alcoholic
causation."
Assuming that Dr. Crothers is correct is this not
an awful arraignment of the men of America?
On the other hand, a less distinguished author
ty than Prof James the eminent psychologist of Har-
ward, makes this statement in the American Maga-
zine for Nov, 1907 There is doubt that to some
men and excesses of almost any kind medi-
cnal temporarily at rate in spite of what moral
lists and doctors say" neuroogst of some eminence
remarked to the writer once that he considered Jag
to be n necessity to professional who were hard
worked, and tired it freshened them up. was
sort of safety valve. Such advice be harmful and
pernicious to immature i'll balanced natures
Better accept Prof. Oslers views, that 1t is un-
necessary for any business or professional to
alcoholic beverages to hold him up keep him going
No doubt alcohol often brings huency of speech
and pen. by temporarily supplying the missing link be-
tween thought and expression, but this is than
compensated for, by the depressing reaction that
lows ana consequent thirst for more.
OF narcotics, such opium, and cocaine, the uni
versal testimony is that their is the increase
and unfortunately this vice is prevalent among
the educated than the ignorant. Prof His writing In
Won Mehrngs' Practice of Internal Medicine" says
that of all morphine users, one-thrd physicians
other estimates, made in this country place the per-
centage, at from 10 to 10 In the medical profession
alone. Worry weariness and care, responsible for
this the same with alcohol Since the introduction
OF the hypodermc syringe the habit has grown by leaps
and bounds. Ii all the good done by this instrument
were placed in one scae-pan, and all the misery and
degradation in the other, II would be hard to tell
to which side the balance would incline Cocaine seems
to increase the destructive effects OF opium by max
Ing larger doses necessary and thus rapidly un
dermining the nervous system.
or venereal diseases as cause of decay and un-
told misery in men, people at large have only faint
conception. 1t is doubtful II than Is per cent
OF men, who unmarried at twenty-five have kent
their virtue but TO be the safe side % per cent is
conceded leaving - cent who have paid court to
Venus. OF this per cent two-hirds will get gonor-
rhea sooner or later to say nothing OF syphilis
nr \. l.. Wolbarst, OF New York states that of
his last 100 private gonorhea patients the average age
at the first attack 20 years and months The
youngest cases were two boys OF ii years From 60
TO so per cent OF exposed to venerea diseases
contract gonorrhea. and In New York City to o
per cent OF men of the middle upper classes
have syphilis These figures in the main correct will
selves in general, more particularly the unmarried
ones.
Comparatively few patients are ever wholly cured
OF gonorrhea OWNS largely TO the popular belief that
Il Is not much worse than a cold In the head etc
However pleasing this idea is 10 the laty doctors
know how sadly erroneous Is for what causes more
anguish and suffering than gleet structures cysts and
10 an