however, that they were seldom carried into and other periodical festivals, has been effect. shown to be a most fruitful source of intemIn professedly Christian countries, the perance. Most of these assemblies are rameasures to remove intemperance, as a vice, ther seminaries of drunkenness than schools have been less vigorous and less general of temperance and sobriety. The elders than in those countries whose inhabitants and conductors of such meetings, in general, profess a widely different and immeasurably unfortunately for the morality of our youth, less exalted and pure system of religious place before them deplorable examples of belief. This unfortunate dereliction of duty vice and degradation. The heathens, in forms a subject highly deserving of Chris- their "schools of sobriety," set us an examtian investigation. ple worthy of imitation. Delightful, indeed, Scheuchzer remarks, that no Christian would it be to witness all our public assemstate has enacted any civil law against blies conducted in such a manner, that drunkenness, and that it is only punished by young persons might, without fear of evil contempt. This assertion, however, is not consequences, intermix with their seniors, strictly correct, as our English and other and by example and precept acquire perEuropean laws testify. manent habits of virtue and self-denial. A review of the laws, ancient and modern, Whatever subordinate means may be in relation to intemperance, distinctly shows adopted for the spread of temperance, it apthe inefficiency of legal enactments alone to pears sufficiently evident that no measures remove a vice which principally, if not alto- which fall short of universal abstinence gether, is the result of improper moral from intoxicating liquors can prove effectual training, imperfect education, and depraved in the attainment of their object. The use appetite. All curative efforts, therefore, of intoxicating compounds is found invariamust in a great degree depend on the dif- bly to degenerate into the abuse. All atfusion of sound religious and moral princi- tempts, therefore, to reform the morals of ples. Education elevates the mind from the people, on any other principle, have the debasing and demoralizing objects of signally failed in their object. The examsense, and directs its powerful energies to ple of the Romans and Greeks, and other the pursuit of pure and more dignified nations, who rapidly sunk under the enersources of enjoyment, more worthy of the vating influence of strong drink, form inhuman character, and calculated at once to structive illustrations. exalt, enlighten, and edify, the intellectual powers. It is evident, also, that any effectual remedy for the evil in question must be enThe institutions for the diffusion of edu- forced by personal influence and example, cation, at present in operation, are undoubt- and not simply by legislative enactments.edly productive of immense benefit to the Legislation may in some degree restrain mass of society. In the writer's opinion, the public and more disgusting exhibitions however, they are limited too generally to of vice. It cannot, however, remove the demere intellectual instruction, while the praved appetites and vicious inclinations of moral improvement of the people, which a people, when they have once become may be considered as the most essential deeply rooted, except, indeed, by facilitating part of their contemplated utility, is, in a those measures which have for their object great measure, if not altogether, neglected the diffusion of sound morality through the and overlooked. Knowledge is diffused on medium of education. the various branches of intellectual and mechanical philosophy; but the relative duties of life, the improvement of the moral and social condition of man, seldom form the subjects of popular instruction. This may be considered as a radical deficiency in the public educational institutions of the present TOTAL day. The immense number of Sunday-schools, in conjunction with the various other seminaries for the instruction of youth, might be made greatly instrumental in the diffusion of principles of temperance. The importance of early instruction in sound morality is acknowledged by all. How essential, then, that the youthful mind should be duly impressed with the necessity of guarding against those sensual temptations which, more than any other, militate against the diffusion of Christian principles! The manner in which our public assemblies of various descriptions in the present day meet together, and hold their annual SECTION II. SAFE AND ABSTINENCE THE ONLY "With caution taste the Circean cup, "Evil habits are so far from growing weaker by repeated attempts to overcome them, that if they are not totally subdued, every struggle increases their strength; and a habit opposed and victorious The manner in which those who are weary of their is more than twice as strong as before the contest. tyranny endeavour to escape from them appears. by the event, to be generally wrong; they try to loose their chains one by one, and to retreat by the same degrees as they advanced; but before the deliverance can be completed, habit is sure to throw new chains upon her fugitive. Nor can any hope to escape her but those who, by an effort sudden and violent, burst their shackles at once, and leave her at a distance." Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON. I. Singular examples of reformation from intemperance. II. Methods employed to remove intemperance in individuals. III. The safety of total and immediate abstinence shown from distinguished medical writers. IV. The same fact demonstrated from experiments on a large scale. sary to be employed in the restoration to health V. Curative means, moral and physical, neces Dr. Trotter relates a similar circumstance: A friend of his, an eminent physician in the north, was consulted by a gentleman on the subject of correcting an unfortunate attachment to the bottle, in the wife of his bosom. He formally sat down to deliberate, and the doctor listened with much patience to all the ways and means that had been devised by the distressed and affectionate husband to reclaim his erring wife. So much, however, had been done, and so many fruitless experiments had been tried, that the only method now left was to place a hogshead of brandy before her, and let her drink till she gave up the THE habit of intemperance may very ghost! Considerable emphasis was laid on properly be considered as a disease affecting the last part of the sentence. The lady, both the body and the mind; and for this suspecting the subject of consultation to be reason, therefore, any curative efforts, to herself, had concealed herself in an adjoinbe permanently successful, must be directed ing room, and overheard every word. The to the restoration of the natural functions words of the physician had a strong influof each. Hence arise some interesting re-ence on her mind. Her pride was wounded, flections on the physical as well as the moral treatment required in the removal of this pernicious and melancholy vice. of reformed inebriates. and her resentment roused to the highest pitch imaginable. In the whirlwind of passion the chain of habit was broken in I. Singular examples of reformation from an instant, and female delicacy resumed its drunkenness.-Singular examples are on ascendancy over her actions. From that record of the habit being removed, from moment she abjured the intoxicating charm. some powerful and unforeseen impression, Dr. Trotter states, that he is sorry to add either of shame, or conviction of guilt, pro- that his honest friend was never afterwards duced on the mind. These instances, how-beheld with complaisance by the fair conever, are of too rare occurrence and too vert, though he had proved to be her best uncertain in their issue to be depended benefactor.* upon or established as precedents of general reformation. A sudden sense of guilt, in moments of soberness, of enormous crimes, contemplated A clergyman in Wales, whose name it in drunken fits, and prevented by providenis unnecessary to mention, when a young tial interposition, has sometimes occasioned man, was much addicted to drinking. He the relinquishment of intemperate habits.— was cured of this pernicious habit in the Dr. Rush relates the case of a gentleman following manner. A goat was commonly in Philadelphia, who, in a fit of drunkenaccustomed to accompany him in his visits ness, attempted to murder his wife for whom to the public-house. On one occasion, he he had a strong affection. Upon being prevailed upon his irrational companion to drink, to inebriation, of ale. The goat could never afterwards be induced to repeat the experiment. From that period the rev. gentleman abandoned his unclerical practice.* made acquainted with this circumstance, he was so struck with the enormity of the crime he had so nearly committed, that he never tasted spirituous liquors afterwards. Shah Suffee, King of Persia, the successor of Shah Abbas the Great, in a state of inThe same result has sometimes been at- toxication stabbed his favourite queen.—tained by exciting in the mind an adequate Tavernier informs us, that, when he recounter-passion. The following anecdote covered his senses, he was so shocked at is related by Dr. Rush: A citizen of Phi- the deplorable event, that, in the excess of ladelphia made many unsuccessful attempts his grief, orders were issued to destroy to cure his wife of drunkenness. At length, every wine-flask in his kingdom. despairing of her reformation, he pur- It was a common practice many years chased a hogshead of rum, and, after tap- ago in Ireland, for persons, after indulgence ping it, left the key in the door of the room in deep excess, to take oaths before magisin which it was placed, as if it had been trates or other officials, for a limited period forgotten. His design, in short, was to to abstain altogether from ardent spirits.give his wife an opportunity of drinking Such individuals were called affidavit men. herself to death. The woman, who sus- Dr. Rush tells us that he has known this pected his motive, suddenly left off drink-practice in America produce a perfect cure of drunkenness. * Rees's History of South Wales. * Essay on Drunkenness, p. 214. An individual in Maryland, America, who | II. Methods employed to remove intemperwas addicted to habits of gross intemperance, ance in individuals.-Dr. Rush remarks that on one occasion, having heard considerable the association of the idea of ardent spirits uproar and merriment among the domestics with a painful and disagreeable impression in his kitchen, had the curiosity, unseen by upon some part of the body has sometimes the latter, to place himself behind the door, cured the love of strong drink. "I once," and to ascertain the cause of the excitement says that distinguished physician, "tempted that drew his attention. He found that a negro man, who was habitually fond of they were indulging in the most unbounded ardent spirits, to drink some rum (which I laughter, at a couple of his negro boys, who placed in his way), and into which I had put were grotesquely imitating the manner in a few grains of tartar emetic; the tartar which their master reeled and staggered, sickened and vomited him to such a degree hiccuped and stumbled, when in a state of that he supposed himself to be poisoned." intoxication. This humiliating exhibition Dr. Rush was much gratified by observing produced so strong an effect on the mind of that he could not bear the sight or smell of the individual in question, that from that spirits for two years afterwards. day, to the joy of his family, he became a perfectly sober man. Dr. Kain, of America, recommends in warm terms the use of tartar emetic as a The feeling of shame has not unfrequently cure for habitual intemperance. He found operated in a similar way. The following it of considerable benefit in such cases as curious method was adopted by a naval came under his own observation. “Posofficer to remove the evil of intemperance sessing," he remarks, "no positive taste itfrom the vessel in which he commanded.-self, it communicates a disgusting quality It is found in a small treatise on Naval Dis-to those fluids in which it is dissolved. I cipline, published at no very distant period. have often seen persons who, from taking a "Separate, for one month, every man who medicine in the form of antimonial wine, is found drunk, from the rest of the crew; could never afterwards drink wine; nothing, mark his clothes, drunkard,' give him six therefore, seems better calculated to form water grog, or, if beer, mix one-half with our indication of breaking up the association water; let him dine when the crew have in the patient's feelings between his disease finished; employ them in every dirty and and the relief to be obtained from stimulatdisgraceful work, &c." This had such a ing liquors. These liquors, with the addisalutary effect, that in less than six months tion of a very small quantity of emetic not a drunkard was to be found in the ship. tartar, instead of relieving, increase the senThe same system was introduced by the sation of loathing of food, and quickly prowriter on board a ship, where he subse- duce in the patient an indomitable repugquently served. When first-lieutenant of nance to the vehicle of its administration. the Victory and Diomede, the beneficial My method of prescribing it has varied consequences were acknowledged; the cul- according to the habit, age, and constitution prits were heard to say that they would of the patient. I give it only in alterative rather receive six dozen lashes at the gang- and slightly nauseating doses. A convenient way, and be done with it, than be put into preparation of the medicine is eight grains the "drunken mess" (for so it was named) dissolved in four ounces of boiling water-for a month. half an ounce of the solution to be put into The fear of death and the dread of eter- a half-pint, pint, or quart of the patient's nal punishment, induced by an alarming favourite liquor, and to be taken daily in attack of disease, has sometimes operated divided portions, If severe vomiting and in the same way. Dr. Macnish states the purging ensue, I should direct laudanum to case of a gentleman, with whom he was allay the irritation, and diminish the dose, acquainted, who had an attack of apoplexy In every patient it should be varied accordin consequence of his dissipation. Fortu- ing to its effects. In one instance, a patient nately, however, the gentleman recovered; who lived ten miles from me, severe vomitand such was the impression made upon his ing was produced, more, I think, from mind from this circumstance, that from that excessive drinking than from the use of the period until his dying day he never tasted remedy. He recovered from it, however, anything stronger than simple water.* without any bad effects. In some cases the Dr. Rush was of opinion that an advan- change suddenly produced in the patient's tage would probably arise from frequent re- habits has brought on considerable lassitude presentations being made to drunkards, not and debility, which were but of short duraonly of the certainty but of the suddenness tion. In a majority of cases no other effect of death from habits of intemperance. "I have has been perceptible than slight nausea, heard," he remarks, " of two persons being some diarrhoea, and a gradual but very unicured of the love of ardent spirits by seeing form distaste to the menstruum.* death suddenly induced by fits of intoxication-one case in a stranger, and in the other in an intimate friend. * Anatomy of Drunkenness, p. 209. Dr. Macnish states, that he has tried this remedy in several instances, and can bear * American Journal of the Medical Sciences, No. iv. testimony to its good effects." Chambers's use of the cause of this disease will unicelebrated nostrum for the cure of intem-formly issue in the total extinction of the perance appears to have owed its virtues propensity. The author has had opporto the same powerful medicine. The ad- tunities of witnessing numerous trials of ministration, however, of this drug should this plan, all of which have terminated in be regulated with great caution, otherwise recurrence to previous habits of dissipation. unpleasant consequences may ensue. The nature of intoxicating liquors has been Dr. Caldwell, of Lexington, America, shown invariably to lead to excess in their has published an article, in which he pre- use: numbers, indeed, declare, that if they sumes drunkenness to be altogether a indulge even in one single instance, in the disease of the brain. If his views be cor- moderate use of alcoholic stimulus, the rect, the mode of treatment to be employed mental and physical craving thereby proin such cases will require to be of a suit-duced is so powerful, and so fascinating in able character. His essay is certainly its effects, that they cannot resist the tempdeserving of attentive consideration.† tation to excess. Some absurd methods have been pro- A striking example of this kind is found posed, in order to remove the habit of in- in the dietetic course pursued at the Midtemperance. One of these is gradually to dlesex County Lunatic Asylum. Dr. Ellis, reduce the quantity of liquor previously resident physician at that establishment, in consumed. Dr. Pitcairn, for instance, en- his examination before the Parliamentary deavoured to break the habit in a Highland Committee, states as follows:chieftain, who was one of his patients, by "When people become insane in consepersuading him every day to drop as much quence of habitual drunkenness, do they sealing wax into his glass as would receive retain that disposition to drink?-Yes; the impression of his seal. By this means that is the first thing they cry out for; in the capacity of the glass diminished as the the asylum at Hanwell, half the cry is, wax accumulated, and, strange to relate, they can get no spirits. this individual was altogether (according to the statement) cured of his bad habit. Do you ever give them away?—Never, except medicinally. Do you give beer?-Every day. A similar anecdote is related by a Scottish literary character, in the instance of a How much? Those who do not go to respectable merchant, who became alarmed work have a half-pint of beer at their dinone day on discovering the uneasy feelings ner, and no more; those that go out and created by having been accidentally de- work in the fields, in regular labours, have prived of his accustomed potation. After three quarters of a pint of beer at eleven fully determining to abandon the practice, in the morning, and half-a-pint at dinner, he adopted the following expedient: He and three quarters of a pint of beer in filled a bottle with his favourite liquor, the afternoon. and placed it near to his place of transact- Do you mean small beer?-Eighteen ing business; on taking a dram the first gallons to a bushel of malt. morning, he supplied its place with simple Do you make it as a matter of reward water. The same method was followed the with these people to give them more or next morning, and so on, until the mixture less beer?-No, they have their regular became so insipid and nauseous, and pro- quantity; we should not do that, because duced such an effect on his palate, as we think that is about as much as they caused him to abandon the inebriating cup. He continued, adds the same account, to live in exemplary sobriety till his death, which happened in extreme old age.‡ ought to take; we would rather reward them with other things, which they are pleased with, such as tobacco and tea, and allowing them to sit up to supper. These amusing cases, however interesting When they recover from insanity, occain their character, and apparently success- sioned by drinking, do they relapse?—Yes; ful in their object, are deserving of notice sadly so. We had a melancholy case the only in order to point out the absurd and other day of a man condemned at Newgate dangerous examples which they present for for stabbing a policeman. He had been the imitation of others. Innumerable in- with us, and was cured; he went out and stances could be brought forward to show remained for twelve months; he took to the general tendency and consequences of drinking spirits again, and stabbed a attempting to remove the habit of intem-policeman. He has recovered again, but perance by degrees. The moral and phy- his character was such that he was lately sical changes which that habit produces in sent back to Newgate." * the system are too insinuating and too No wonder that such results follow a stubborn to induce us, for a moment, to mode of treatment so directly calculated to imagine that even the gradually moderated foster the inebriate appetite. * Anatomy of Drunkenness, p. 217. + Transylvania Journal of Medicine and the Associate Sciences, for July, August, and September, 1832. Anatomy of Drunkenness, p. 215. As a general rule, it will be found, that in cases where the result has been of a more fortunate description, the cause may be at *Parl. Evid., pp. 48-9. tributed to some more than ordinary and man, perhaps, was ever completely miserlasting impression produced on the mind, or able, until after he had fled to alcohol for some unusual exercise of moral restraint. consolation. The habit of vinous indulIII. The safety of total and immediate gence is not more pernicious than it is obabstinence shown from distinguished medical stinate and pertinacious in its hold. When it writers.-An anecdote related of Webb, the has once fastened itself upon the consticelebrated pedestrian, well illustrates the tution, it is not to be conquered by half absurdity of the popular notion that it is measures-no compromise with it is allowdangerous at once to abandon the use able. The victory over it, in order to be of inebriating liquors, in particular, when permanent, must be perfect. As long as taken habitually to excess. This indivi- there lurks a relic of it in the frame, there dual was remarkable for vigour both of is imminent danger of a relapse of this body and mind, and lived wholly upon moral malady, from which there seldom water for his drink. Webb, on one occa- is, as from physical disorders, a gradual sion, recommended his favourite regimen convalescence. The cure, if at all, must be to one of his friends, who was fond of wine, effected at once: cutting and pruning will and entreated him to abandon a course of do no good; nothing will be of any avail luxury, which was equally destructive to short of actual extirpation. The man who his health and intellects. The gentleman has been the slave of Intemperance must appeared convinced with the reasoning of renounce her altogether, or she will insenWebb, and told him, that he would con- sibly resume her despotic power. With form to his counsel, but thought he could such a mistress, if he seriously mean to not change his course of life at once, and discard her, he should indulge himself in therefore would leave off strong liquors by no dalliance or delay. He must not allow degrees." "By degrees!" exclaimed the his lips a taste of her former fascination."* other with indignation, "if you should un- Dr. Rush advocates the same practice, happily fall into the fire, would you caution in similar energetic language. In refeyour servants to pull you out only by de- rence to those who have suffered from the grees?" use of spirituous liquors, and have made Dr. Trotter judiciously remarks, that in a resolution to abstain from them hereafter, attempting to subtract the vinous potation Dr. Rush states that he must beg leave to by little and by little, every one conversant inform them, they must leave them off with the subject must have observed that suddenly and entirely. No man was ever the limited portion of liquor swallowed gradually reformed from drinking spirits. excites an agreeable glow, and a grateful He must not only avoid tasting, but even feeling to the mind, which in an instant smelling them, until long habits of absticonnects the chain of habit that it is our nence have subdued his affection for them. duty to break. Hence the insinuating "But," says Debility, "if we reject spirits habit re-assumes its ascendancy. from being part of our drinks, what liquor "With regard to drunkards," remarks shall we substitute for them? for, custom, this physician, "my opinion is, and con- the experience of all ages and countries, firmed by much experience, that wine, and even Nature herself (it says again) all malt liquor, and spirits, in every form, seem to demand drinks more grateful and ought at once to be taken from them." more cordial than simple water."-66 Drink And again: "As far as my experience of water for a few months, and trust to mankind enables me to decide, I must give Nature." t it as my opinion, that there is no safety Dr. Scott, at a temperance convention, in trusting the habitual inebriate with Buffalo, in the United States, remarks, “It any limited portion of liquor. Wherever is idle to pretend that a man is going to be I have known the drunkard effectually killed by leaving off drinking. I should as reformed, he has at once abandoned his soon think of killing a horse by leaving off potation. That dangerous degree of debi- the whip and spur, as to kill a man by lity, which has been said to follow the sub- leaving off rum. I know more than forty traction of vinous stimulus, I have never cases in my own practice, where great met with, however universal the cry has drinkers have quitted it suddenly, and not been in its favour; it is the war-whoop of one has been injured. And I never knew alarmists-the idle cant of arch theorists." ** any other way. When men leave it off, The same opinion had been previously they are, at first, feeble, and their appetite promulgated by Dr. Reid, an eminent phy- fails, then their appetite becomes ravenous, sician and able teacher of medicine, in the and then they get well." 66 following decisive and characteristic lan- Dr. A. Carrick, of Bristol, says, "In the guage: Wine, and other physical ex- course of forty years' experience, I have hilarants," he remarks, "during the trea- never met with an instance (so far as I recherous truce to wretchedness which they collect) of injury arising from having cut afford, dilapidate the structure, and under- at once and entirely with the baneful habit of mine the very foundation of happiness. No Essay on Drunkenness, pp. 201-4, &c. Dr. J. Reid, Monthly Magazine, Feb. 1810. † Inquiry into the Effects of Ardent Spirits. |