The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-03

1.-THE following was written by Dr..
It. d. CrOthers, the Superintendent
of the Walnut Lodge Hospital, Hart
ford. Conn, editor of the Journal of
Inebriety, Dean of the College OF
Physicians and SURGEONS of Boston,
President Of the New York Medico-
Legal Society, and author of numer-
Gus books and pamphlets ON alco-
holism and the physiological aspects
of the liquor problem0
There are at least 100000 bust
ness and professional men in this
country who use spirits in so cai!ei
moderation or to excess. This num-
Der includes some of the most active,
progressive, capable men from every
community. 1t includes IL Whc
are actually doing the worlds work
and are more or les successful in
every department of industry
There is a certain definite number
of this class who have what are
called "sprees" or periodic fits, in
which they give way to an uncon-
trolable desire to use spirits TO
stupor, regardless of circumstances
or consequences. When these attacks
are over, they are temperate, circum-
spect and most reliable citizens for
a variable period, from month to
a year or more Then the storm
breaks cut again. They drink to
excess, then stop.
A certain other number OF TINS
class drink reeularly or at short in
tervals, small quantities of spirits
and are never seen intoxicated or ap-
parently any worse for their drink
ing. Such persons are seen in the
pulpit. at the bedside of the sick and
dying. presiding over courts Of jus
tice. pleading cases at law, manag-
ing great industries, working on the
farm and in the factory and shop.
Every one has some theory and rea-
son that apparently iustities his use
of spirits, but all are conscious that
they are using a very dangerous
drug, that some time may master
them.
They are also, more or less con-
scious that some unknown impelling
force causes them to drink, not only
regularly but at intervals to great
excess. What this force is what it
means is mystery. A very large
number of these persons feel the i'm
pending perils of the future, and
would gladly welcome any door OF
escape or any means by which they
could free themselves of the bond
age that limits their strength and
capacity.
The Man Who Goes to Pieces"
Beyond these classes there is al
unknown number of men in all de
partments of life, who after years o
healthy, abstinent living, suddenl!
drink to great excess, and becom
crippled beyond the power of repair
This may follow some social or ilnan
cial disaster or unexpected tridmpI
or success. There is a sudden preci
pitation into physical and menta
bankruptcy, ending in death,
There is another class who hav
sowed wild oats in other words
drank in early life to great excess
then became abstainers, and afte
years of the most exemplary life an
living, suddenly turn to spirits, an
become excessive drinkers. All c
these persons are conscious of som
unknown power within, that drive
them madly on to destruction. Some
thing has happened to the organise
and they go down with half-cor
scious fatalism that there is no wa
of escape.
There is another army of youn
men at school, in colleges, factorie
on the farms and following the il
dustries of the times, who turn
spirits and are never satisfied unit
they are profoundly narcotized. The
realize that spirits are dangerou
and yet accept the theories of u
past, that alcohol brings certai
amount of strength and vigor, an
that they can stop at any time. The
atop and begin again, and this so,
on for few years, usually from ba
to worse, and then in middle Iii
they awaken to the failures an
losses they have contracted.
This army of young men may n
understand the significance of the
drinking, but like the older on
sooner or later realize the disabiI
ties which have followed.
The Man Who Feels Helpless
There are hosts of men and wom'
who realize that their drink habi
and impulses have some connects
with their ancestors who drank, al
after a while become resigned, al
reason that they are unable to owe
come these tendencies Evidently
great many persons are victims
circumstances and surrounding
They are born with a peculiar Sc
sitiveness to all sorts of degener