THE HEREDITARY FACTOR IN ALCOHOLISM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2264, 26 October 1889, Page 3

THE HEREDITARY FACTOR IN ALCOHOLISM

find tbe freedom of his will ln tbat dtreotion seriously imperilled. Hereditary aloobolierc has a certain likeness to dipsomania, and it is a fair ground for question whether suoh c pr ver' - > ii,l

doeß not constitute Irresponsibility. Dr Boumvide, to whom tbe work Is dedicated bas written a very interesting v teface, m which he asks, ln view of the sad revelation of tbe statistic-, What Is to be done to remedy tbe evil ? Ho suggests the establishment of special asylums for the treatment of InebrUtes much greater supervision of tbe rriak trade, and Increased : penalties for adulteration ; but, above aU, I the making known to the publio by every possible means the awful consequences whlob our drinking customs entail, not only on the drinkers themselves, bnt upon their descendants. It seems to us tbat medioal men taking np the question on tne lines of M. Sollier, and teaohlng It medically from tbe same point of view, without complicating tbe question with the often exaggerated arguments of our teetotal friends, might do muoh to enlighten publio opinion on a matter Burely seoond to none m Importance for body or soul. How muoh the moral oharsoter of the drnokard beoomes degenerated we are constantly competed to observe. Perh-ps the mildest form io which he transmits tbe consequences of bis vice to his offspring is In the form of a dulled moral sentiment, a hsiw mental outlook wbioh, while not always developing into actual turpitude, yet makes the higher forms of manly and womanly nobleness difficult, if not Impossible of attainment.

Tbe ''BfltUh Medical Joarnal," re* {erring to M. Paul Solllar'i Aob-nel pilu eiß»y on " Ihe Bole of Heredity la Aleo holism," ■»•/• :— ■" -*■ moie laggeitlTe ■tady for tbe pbyßloUo «nd a more aaddemng one for tbe philanthropist it would be diffioalt to Imagine. Here is tbe original sin In terms of modern solence, i and the punishment thre»teaed ln tbe | JDeoalogue to the "third aad foaeth cenei-tion " is exhibited at work Id perhaps Its most terrible form. By abundant «nd well-arranged statlstlos, M. Solder traces ihe sffliotioos of tbe idiot, the eplleytlc, tha imbecile, the hydrooephalio, the obo-teio the mentally debilitated up to tbe _ticohollo father, mother, or grandparent In io miny and auoh dearly marked instances that it is impossible to deny his oonoluiloni from the date he gives* An aloobollo subject runa a toijfible rUk of flonferrlßg upon his deactndant|, either Insanity or tendenoy to vice, or soloids, or IhMteriJ, ««•*• **-° m,,der nervoaß dfaordecs. --riia leffaav oi -"/•• may mt.a a g.nerattoo, w,,l 3 coerally ■J^Sfft a HS^ .....or, and ln its mildest torn. It »»»» v-. .; Hj to prtdUpoie the nnhappy den.-M: >„ ? ,y tbi »rU of tbilet-f kbit be wli»