The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-04-14

It's Causation and Its Arrest.

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eouivaIents OF epilepsy. AS 1t has been we'll
mi .'rhe drunkurd is mad because he drinks.
Inc dipsomauiac drinks because he Is mad
Ernfft-Eblng says: The dipsoma MAC differs
from the haollual or ordinary drinker ana
the chronic drunkard in tue strictly eplsoolc
character OF his mania TO drink
The dlpsomsuiac is the victim OF a p5rlodlc
mental disturbance, when starts Win Pr 10
found physical and moral, depression. ana ne
is hen forced 10 take alcohoi IN oFuSr 'otiu
himself Of bis intolerabie unrest. he often
resists the inclination with az me Pomet a h'i
may even have no love OF drink llsell, ouI
after q fearful struggle he Is compelled 10 give
In, and then he may drink Tor Gays OF even
weeks. Suddenly the attack ends, tne psychic
storm blows itself out, the patient ceases 70
have any desire for spirits. Months may pass
before d fresh attack comes on. pipsomauia'
up 10 the present Time, mas not peeu cuLeu'
Confinement in a home Tor nervous lnValius,
combined with medical eatment,lst the on'y
possible alienation. Happily, however, gen
lime dipsomania, as com pared Win chrome
alcoholism, Is lnirequent, ana II ls win
chronic alcoholism that we are here concern
One OF the most important steps forward
that has been taken IN The COMPREHENSION Oh
this evil Is the realization that alconollsm l ;
more q disease than q vice, tn ougn tnls lact
was pointed out 50 long ago as The END OF the
eighteenth century by The famous Or. BenJa.
min Rush, who antedated many OF our latest
discoveries In psycholnerapy.
The symptoms OF the disorder are 100 "ell
known TO need detailed exposition. Pnyslc.
ally, we have marked tremor IN the tongue
lips, face. and hands, a treInor ~hlcn ia au-
vanceo, chronic alcoholism deepens into PAL
alysis in various parts OF the BODY. Ihen,
too, the chronic drinker suffers from nead-
ache, stupidity, broken sleep, AND mlseraple
dreams. In the mental ana moral feaan, W.
note the dulling OF the moral sense, growing
indifference TO the shame and misery OF reia-
lives and to the contempt OF nelghbors.
a WILL wEAKENER.
Above all, there is manifested very early a
proiound weakness of will, an indlsposltlon
10 discharge the p~lainest duties, and an In
capacity 10 carry out irequenL resolves 10
give up drink. the chronic alconollsm olten
knows the inevitable ruin 70 Whlch nis VICE
lis hurrying him, and yet at the same tlmel 10
conscious OF a weakness OF Will n q moral
apathy that make IT Impossible LOT Nun 10
abstain, With weakness OF will goes q Gull
ing OF the intellectual powers. Memory De,
comes less retenlive, thought is retarded, and
the power OF attention Is more and more
weakened. In the latter stages, various de-
| lusions may seize the bralp.. ~.
So much for the alcoholic himsei. but
what are we to say Of the moral and physical
disturbances in the home? HIS presence
| there makes a worthy development o! family
life impossible. Anxiety, q sense OF num in
ton, a lack OF the consciousness OF sell.
respect, a Iorebodipg Of the future-sucn are
indictments Of the psychological atmosphere
of the %drunkard's nome. Directly or lnui-
reGtlS. AlcODOllSu Is IL CuoCO VI al AAS
culabIe mass OF suffering, physical, mental,
and moral. In saving the alcoholic, then, we
are saving not only himself but those who
are dependent on him.
WHO SHOULD NOT DRINK.
What, then, are the main points In the
treatment oflnls disorder?
Ii we were discussing the drink problem as
a whole, It would be necessary to discuss
fully the best means for the prevention OF
alcoholism. To save the chronic drunksro Is
a hard and sometimes an Impossible task. II
demands patience, perseverance,, Skill, pnysl-
cal, psychological, and moral resources which
are not always available. Therefore,, TO pre-
vent the disorder is, as modern science teacn-
es, the only effective way TO grapple with II,
and this prevention cells for the utmost
efforts of the hygienic, the social, and tne
legislative retormer, as well as an ed3catiSnal
/ al propaganda in all our schools. But these
considerations do not fell within the scope OF
my present purpose. 1t Will De enough 10
poiut out In this connection that there are
certain classes to whom alconoi onght 10 pc
forbidden thing: All young and growing peo'
pIe-Dr. Clouston, the Scottish ~alienist, con-
dennis alcohol as bad for the growing brain
and attended by many future risks; all pei
sons with a predisposition 10 mental and
nervous disease; all persons VINO occupy re-
sponsible positions, or In whose hands are the
lite, safety, and happiness OF others; all pei
sons who are engaged in very delicate WORK,
In which memory, attention, and reasoning
power are strained; all women who are about
10 become mothers.
A moderate and sound judgment on this
matter is that recently offered by DR.. G. w.
Saleeby: There are those who run no FISK,
because the drug has mo action upon them AT
! all. This is open 10 doubt There are those
| whom II violently upsets and who are mus
protected. There are those whe like II In
some small quantity and who Will never ex-
ceed this. parallel instances being foInd In
the case OF tea, coffee, ana TOBACCO. Ihere
are those who are predestined TO fall. These
last are probably more numerous IMAM ever
before; they include many Of the most valu-
able member OF the community. the most
creatlve-peop!e who have points OF view
pa rents OF ideas, potential poets, musicians,
enthusiasts, seers-the salt OF the eartn, the
makers Of progress. the neurotlc people, Wno
do the pioneer work OF the world. Perhaps
the chief indictment against alcohol, from
The point OF view of human history IN gen.
al, is its relation to such people" Some men
can be temperate in the use oil alcohol; otners
must be total abstainers.
now pass on to speak OF the treatment OF
alcoholism. OF this disease, as OF all others,
we must say that 1t Is neither wholly physl-
cal nor wholly mental, but in part both.
| Therefore q sound treatment of alcoholism
must include physical as well as psychical
remedies. Before we undertake treatment
we must be satisfied: First, that the patient
is really DESTROYS OF being cured. No good
resu lts can be expected IN the case OF q SUI
ferer who has simply been cajoled or coeroed
into trying the treatment. Secondly, that
the sufferer consents to remain under >our
81 supervision for at least two months and as
much longer as may be deemed necessary.
Thirdly, that be is willing to submit himself
In all respects TO the instructions given him.
AND SYMPATHY.
Physical. Medical experts recommend
electricity TO stimulate the nerves, baths 10
stimulate the system and facilitate the elimi-
nation of the poison from II. Physical exer-
cises, too, are valuable, such as golf, waxing,
gymnastics OF various kinds. Above all, the
patient should be taught TO avoid fatigue, for
fatigue Induces the desire tor drink. Then,
too, in order 10 helghten the tonicity OF the
nervous system, tonics, such az iron and
s~trychnine, may be necessary. In general, q
regular life In obedience, TO physiological and
asyiums throughout the country, such as
that at Foxboro in Massachusetts, these
measures have been adopted, and not with.
out q measure o! success.
Psychical. Whatsoever morbid conditions
the excessive use of alcohol may set up In the
body, we must never lose sight of the fact
that success in It's treatment is Impossible
then, that only when psychical remedies are
applied have we the right 10 look, as a rule,
for an arrest Of the habit. At Emmanuel
Church these psychical remedies are used in
conjunction with The physical agencies.
What. then. are these psychical remedies?
First, explanation and encouragement. If
there Is one thing that the drunkard needs
/ above everything else, 1t Is sympathy and re-
assurance. His nervous condition makes
him easily depressed. He has fallen very
often before in spite OF good resolutions.
His relatives and friends look at him askance.
| He has lost his selt-respect. The first duty,
then, of the successful teacher Is 10 re-estab-
l!sh The druDkard's s~elf-respect, TO show him
how others have overcome the same misery
and are today held In honor aud are leading
useful lives. The psychical aspects of the
trouble are then explained, the energies OF
the will are evoked, and hope Is once more
born within The victims sonl.
THE POWER OF SUGGESTION.