The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-06-21
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE.
ALCOHOL: ITS PHYSICAL EF-
Feet AND TREATMENT.

Feet AND TREATMENT.
The physical action of alcohol, says
DR.. O'Malley, is that it inhibits the
carrying of oxygen to the bodily cells,
especially the cells of the nervous sys-
tenn. All motion, sensation and much
or our mental operations are effected
through the nervous system. This
system is made up of cells which COM
municate one with another, and that
any sensation or other impulse can
pass along the nerves it is necessary
that these cells be supplied with oxy-
gen from the blood. The effect of alco-
hol, chloroform ether, nitrous oxide
and other drugs is to inhibit the ac-
cess of oxygen to the nerve cells and
to render these cells unfit for action.
II enough alcohol or the other drugs
is taken to cut off most of the oxygen
supply, the user of these drugs be-
comes unconscious because the COM
munication between his mind and the
external world is cut. Drunkenness
from whisky is exactly the same thing
as narcosis from ether or chIoroform.
but the narcosis may have a justifiable
reason.
The lecturer said that a crying need
in the treatment of alcoholism is for
hospitals or similar institutions where
drunkard can receive medical help in
the first stage of the reformatory at
tempt. At present in small cities there
is no place for the treatment of drunk
ards in the first stage In large cities
there is only the workhouse ward.
Hospitals that take in alcoholics must
have special pavilions, and the pa
t1ents in these pavilions ordinarily paw
$25 a week for the privilege of being
Strengthened up" and physicians fees
besides. After two or three weeks
these patients leave the hospital I'M
cured and begin the old process over
again. These pavilions in the city
hospitals are commonly mere respec-
table "speak-easies," and are no bet
ter than those institutions that use pa
tented cures for alcoholism.
Method of Treatment.
All chronic alcoholics, no matter
what class they are in, require much
the same treatment at first, unless
they are actually delirious. We have
now, fortunately, medical method for
getting the alcoholic toxine out of
mans body in about three days, so
that he has no desire, temporarily, for
alcohol; and then there is chance to
begin the moral treatment This
method is commonly called the Lam
bert treatment. 1t is practically i'm
possible, however, to give this treat
ment except in hospital.
There are many groups of drunkards.
and it is necessary to classify a pa
t1ent before beginning work upon him.
after the medical treatment has been
applied. There is the ordinary pagan.
upon whom religion of any kind has
no effect; the Christian who has fallen
out of the procession, and intermedi-
ate grades. There are periodic drink
ers and continual drinkers and several
subdivisions of these groups. The
treatment has much similarity In i'm
portant particulars for all these
groups, but the prognosis varies.
Sobriety is a part Of the virtue of
temperance; the other parts are absti-
nence, as opposed to gluttony, and
chastity. The four cardinal virtues, I'M
der which all other virtues are included.
are temperance, prudence, fortitude
and justice. The drunkard breaks
every one of these virtues in the main
and as they are an inseparabIe unity.
he must strive to gain all to hold the
single virtue, sobriety, he is DESTROYS
OF. The drunkard is obviously impru-
dent, and he must exercise prudence:
the experience of the past with all its
sordid bitterness is to be kept before
his memory, but not unto discourage
ment. He is to examine into all the
details Of his daily life, to be able to
forestall temptations. He must avoid
certain places and persons, certain ir-
ritations, physical and moral-from
eye-strain and decayed teeth, to the
club, the theatre and the kinsman. He
is to take advice; to be persuaded that
pride is a poor tool, that he may not
take even teaspoonful of alcohol in
a medicine. He is to avoid mental
dissipation and allied forms of intern
perance, like gluttony, unchastity,
wasting, cruelty, anger.
He should sleep in a well-ventilated
room, arise promptly, take a cold
plunge merely because he does not like
cold plunge; go into physical train.
ing, keep occupied, and hundred SINH
lar things that will suggest them
selves when man really means bust
ness. He is to avoid injustice to his
family, friends, the State, God. He is
to aim at fortitude, at the strengthen
ing of his fiabby will All this must
be made practical, be written down
definitely to fit the particular case, not
kept vague and general.