- 
 
 
 
HSA AUSREMAM ANANDA | 
 
 THIS BOOK 
 BELONGS TO° 
 
 DAVID LACY, 
 
 OF MONTREAL, 
 ee 
 
 If thou art borrow’d bya friend, 
 Right welcome shall he be, 
 
 To read, to study, 7ot to lend, 
 But to return to me ; 
 
 Not that imparted knowledge doth 
 Diminish learning’s store, 
 
 But Books, I find, if often lent, 
 Return to me no more. 
 
 = 
 3 
 F 
 
 Fis a SRS a BR BE BB 
 
 (Pa 
 4 "ss 
 s. 
 
 SR OB SR BB 5B BB BB 96 96 28 38 
 
 Read slowly—Pause frequently, 
 Think seriously, 
 
 Keep cleaniy—Return duly, 
 
 With thé corners of the leaves not Big 
 
 turned down. % 
 
 UBRRNER CRE RuRERMRERaeRE 
 TORCH Sp ea 
 
 9B 5G 3B 9B 5B OB BB 9B 3 5B 9B 3 BE 
 
 te 
 8 
 279) 
 x 
 fie 
 % 
 
 ie 
 a 
 Es 
 8 
 ® 
 PS 
 8 
 8 
 6 
 8 
 ® 
 8 
 5 
 ® 
 «id 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 ete satis e 
 
 
 

 
THE 
 
 ANATOMY 
 
 OF 
 
 DRUNKENNESS. 
 
 BY 
 
 ROBERT MACNISH, 
 
 MEMBER OF THE FACULTY OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS 
 
 OF GLASGOW. 
 
 THIRD EDITION. 
 
 GLASGOW: W. R. M‘PHUN. 
 
 
 
 MDCCCX XIX. 
 
 4% 
 We 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 his 
 ‘ 
 Io APR 
 Ss 
 
 we 
 
 ae 
 
 a ey 
 
TO 
 DAVID M. MOIR, Esg. 
 
 SURGEON, MUSSELBURGH, 
 
 THIS WORK IS INSCRIBED, 
 WITH EVERY SENTIMENT OF ADMIRATION, 
 
 ' BY HIS SINCERE FRIEND, 
 
 ROBERT MACNISH. 
 Wf 
 
fe 
 
 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 TuHE present Edition of Taz ANATOMY or Drunk- 
 ENNEss has been carefully revised, and such new 
 details added to it as have suggested themselves to the 
 ‘Author since the publication of the previous Edition. 
 He has now brought the work into that state in which 
 it is intended to remain ; and trusts that no point of any 
 importance has either been passed over or treated more 
 
 slightly than it deserves. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 it Boge ts cers “rh 
 ro ‘ 
 
 a 5 
 cid by oe 
 Sieh 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 = he 
 PASiS Ee 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Po ea | 
 Cereqh. Ze 
 
 a Me es eer are 
 Stethid hale omen 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. PAGE 
 
 Preliminary Observations, ...ccccccsscscescerecsccsscsenseeses 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 SPRITE A APTICBUDICAS, co cniesssdiccacecdencweaeviadivvverestes 26 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Phenomena of Drunkenness, .........secseeseceeesevseteceses 33 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Drunkenness Modified by Temperament, ........... edeves 48 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Drunkenness Modified by the Inebriating Agent, ........ o7 
 
CHAPTER VI. PAGE 
 
 Enumeration of the Less Common Intoxicating Agents, 89 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Differences in the Action of Opium and Alcohol,....... «2 96 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 Physiology of Drunkenness, .......s00..000+ Sue san eesaes Sane 101 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 Method of Curing the Fit of Drunkenness,...........-++..110 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 Pathology of Drankenness,.....-+. er rrr Nebde di dddaenies KAD 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 Sleep of Drunkards, ....+..0«00 nner OPS Rad Hd ASS ve sed BGI 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 Spontaneous Combustion of Drunkards, .........+.. sie oNST 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 Drunkenness Judicially Consideredy .scssccecssererveeveeee LOG 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 Method of Curing the Habit of Drunkenness, Ceorevene week FS 
 
Xi 
 
 CHAPTER XV. PAGE 
 Advice to Inveterate Drunkards, .............50005 atten Aa 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Drunkenness in Nurses,.........ssecsesseee Mon aatuas ee rar eke 198 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Liquors not always Hurtful, ......... cretrats bases dav eas ceva 201 
 APPENDIX. 
 No. I.—Excerpt from Paris’s Pharmacologia,....... S4s0e200 
 
 No. I1,—Mr. Brande’s Table of the Alcoholic Strength 
 ME POE, ceyunctsccssscccsccscess Santee Cevstaphcieespioeae 208 
 

 
 
 
 
 ee a ¢ 
 SP we 
 ¢ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 DRUNKENNEsS is not, like some other vices, peculiar 
 to modern times. It is handed down to us from “ hoar 
 antiquity ;” and, if the records of the antediluvian era 
 were more complete, we should probably find that it 
 was not unknown to the Father of the human race. 
 The cases of Noah and Lot, recorded in the sacred 
 writings, are the earliest of which tradition or history 
 has left any record; and both occurred in the infancy 
 of society. Indeed, wherever the grape flourished, 
 inebriation prevailed. The formation of wine from this 
 fruit, was among the earliest discoveries of man, and 
 the bad consequences thence resulting, seem to have 
 been almost coeval with the discovery. Those regions 
 
 B 
 
14 
 
 whose ungenial latitudes indisposed them to yield the 
 - vine, gave birth to other products which served as sub- 
 stitutes; and the inhabitants rivalled or surpassed those 
 of the south in all kinds of Bacchanalian indulgence— : 
 the pleasures of drinking constituting one of the most 
 fertile themes of their poetry, in the same manner as, 
 in other climates, they gave inspiration to the souls of 
 Anacreon and Hafiz. 
 
 Drunkenness has varied greatly at different times 
 and among different nations. There can be no doubt 
 that it prevails more in a rude than in a civilized state 
 of society. This is so much the case, that as men get 
 more refined, the vice will gradually be found to soften 
 down, and assume a less revolting character. Nor can 
 there be a doubt that it prevails to a much greater 
 extent in northern than in southern latitudes.* The 
 nature of the climate renders this inevitable, and gives 
 
 * In making this observation, I have only in view the 
 - countries north of the equator ; for, as we proceed to the south 
 of that line, the vice increases precisely in the same manner as 
 in the opposite direction. To use the words of Montesquieu ; 
 ‘* Go from the equator to our pole, and you will find drunken- 
 ness increasing together with the degree of latitude. Go from 
 the same equator to the opposite pole, and you will find drunk- 
 enness travelling south, as on this side it travels towards the 
 
 north,” _ 
 
 B2 
 
15 
 
 to the human frame its capabilities of withstanding 
 liquor: hence, a quantity which scarcely ruffles the 
 frozen current of a Norwegian’s blood, would scatter 
 madness and fever into the brain of the Hindoo, Even 
 in Europe, the inhabitants of the south are far less 
 adapted to sustain intoxicating agents than those of the 
 north. Much of this depends upon the coldness of the 
 climate, and much also upon the peculiar physical and 
 moral frame to which that coldness gives rise. The 
 natives of the south are a lively, versatile people; san- 
 guine in their temperaments, and susceptible, to an 
 extraordinary degree, of every impression. Their 
 minds seem to inherit the brilliancy of their climate, 
 and are rich with sparkling thoughts and beautiful 
 imagery. The northern nations are the reverse of all 
 this. With more intensity of purpose, with greater 
 depth of reasoning powers, and superior solidity of 
 judgment, they are ina great measure destitute of that 
 sportive and creative brilliancy which hangs like a 
 rainbow over the spirits of the south, and clothes them 
 in a perpetual sunshine of delight. The one is chiefly led 
 by the heart, the other by the head. The one possesses 
 the beauty of a flower-garden, the other the sternness 
 of the rock, mixed with its severe and naked hardi- 
 hood. Upon constitutions so differently organized, it 
 cannot be expected that a given portion of stimulus 
 
16 
 
 will operate with ‘equal power. The airy inflammable 
 nature of the first, is easily roused to excitation, and 
 manifests feelings which the second does not experience 
 till he has partaken much more largely of the stimulat- 
 ing cause. On this account, the one may be inebriated, 
 and the other remain comparatively sober upon a similar 
 quantity. In speaking of this subject, it is always to 
 be remembered that a person is not to be considered a 
 drunkard because he consumes a certain portion of 
 liquor; but because what he does consume produces 
 certain effects upon his system. The Russian, there- 
 fore, may take six glasses a-day, and be as temperate 
 as the Italian who takes four, or the Indian who takes 
 two. But even when this is acceded to, the balance of 
 sobriety will be found in favour of the south: the in- 
 habitants there not only drink less, but are, bona jide, 
 . more seldom intoxicated than the others. Those who 
 have contrasted London and Paris, may easily verify 
 this fact; and those who have done the same to the 
 cities of Moscow and Rome, can bear still stronger 
 testimony. Who ever heard of an Englishman sipping 
 eau sucrée, and treating his friends to a glass of 
 lemonade? Yet such things are common in France; 
 and, of all the practices of that country, they are those 
 most thoroughly visited by the contemptuous malisons 
 of John Bull, 
 
17 
 
 It is a common belief that wine was the only inebri- 
 ating liquor known to antiquity; but this is a mistake. 
 Tacitus mentions the use of ale or beer as common 
 among the Germans of his time. By the Egyptians, 
 likewise, whose country was ill adapted to the cultiva- 
 tion of the grape, it was employed as a substitute for 
 wine. Ale was common in the middle ages; and Mr. 
 Park states that very good beer is made, by the usual 
 process of brewing and malting, in the interior of . 
 Africa. The favourite drink of our Saxon ancestors 
 was ale or mead. Those worshippers of Odin were so 
 notoriously addicted to drunkenness, that it was re- 
 garded as honourable rather than otherwise; and the 
 ‘man who could withstand the greatest quantity was 
 looked upon with admiration and respect: whence the 
 drunken songs of the Scandinavian scalds: whence the 
 glories of Valhalla, the fancied happiness of whose in- 
 habitants consisted in quaffing draughts from the skulls 
 of their enemies slain in battle. Even ardent spirit, 
 which is generally supposed to be a modern discovery, 
 existed from a very early period. It is said to have 
 been first made by the Arabians in the middle ages, and 
 in all likelihood may lay claim to a still remoter origin. 
 The spirituous liquor called arrack has been manufac- 
 tured in the island of Java, as well as in the continent 
 
 of Hindostan, from time immemorial. Brandy appears 
 
18 
 
 to have been known to Galen, who recommends it for 
 the cure of voracious appetite ;* and its distillation was 
 common in Sicily at the commencement of the four- 
 teenth century. As to wine, it was so common in 
 ancient times as to have a tutelar god appropriated to it : 
 Bacchus and his companion Silenus are as household 
 words in the mouths of all, and constituted most im- 
 portant features of the heathen mythology. We have all 
 heard of the Falernian and Campanian wines, and of the 
 wines of Cyprus and Shiraz. Indeed, there is reason - 
 to believe that the ancients were in no respect inferior 
 to the moderns in the excellence of their vinous liquors, 
 whatever they may have been in the variety. Wine 
 was so common in the eastern nations, that Mahomet, 
 
 foreseeing the baleful effects of its propagation, forbade _ 
 it to his followers, who, to compensate themselves, had 
 recourse to opium. The Gothic or dark ages seem to 
 have been those in which it was least common: in proof 
 of this it may be mentioned, that so late as 1298, it was 
 vended as a cordial by the English apothecaries. At 
 the present day it is little drunk, except by the upper 
 classes, in those countries which do not naturally fur- 
 
 * Good’s Study of Medicine, Vol. I. p. 113; Second 
 Edition. 
 
19 
 
 nish the grape. In those that do, it is so cheap as to 
 come within the reach of even the lowest.* 
 
 In speaking of drunkenness, it is impossible not to be 
 struck with the physical and moral degradation which 
 it has spread over the world. Wherever intoxicating 
 liquors become general, morality has been found on 
 the decline. They seem to act like the simoom of 
 the desert, and scatter destruction and misery around 
 their path. The ruin of Rome was owing to luxury, 
 of which indulgence in wine was the principal ingre- 
 dient. Hannibal’s army fell less by the arms of Scipio 
 than by the wines of Capua; and the inebriated hero 
 of Macedon, after slaying his friend Clytus, and 
 
 * The quantity of wine raised in France alone is almost in- 
 credible. The vineyards in that country are said to occupy five 
 millions of acres, or a twenty-sixth part of the whole territory. 
 Paris alone consumes more than three times the quantity of wine 
 consumed in the British Isles. It is true that much of the 
 wine drank in the French capital is of a weak quality, being 
 used as a substitute for small beer. But after every allowance 
 is made, enough remains to show clearly, if other proofs were 
 wanting, how much the use of wine here is restricted by our 
 exorbitant duties. It would be well for the morals of this 
 country if the people abandoned the use of ardent spirits, and 
 were enabled to resort to such wines as the French are in the 
 habit of drinking. 
 
20 
 
 burning the palace of Persepolis, expired at last of a fit 
 of intoxication, in his thirty-third year. Let us look 
 back to Belshazzar’s Feast, where, under the phrenzied 
 excitation of wine, insult and dishonour were flung at 
 the throne of the Most Hien. Let us look at the 
 dreadful handwriting which flashed astonishment and 
 dismay on the hearts of these frantic Bacchanals, and, 
 like the sound of the last trumpet, pronounced their 
 doom. A volume might be written in illustration of 
 the evil effects of dissipation; but this is unnecessary 
 to those who look carefully around them, and more 
 especially to those who are conversant with the history 
 of mankind. At the same time, when we speak of 
 drunkenness as occurring in antiquity, it is proper to 
 remark, that there were certain countries in which it 
 was viewed in a much more dishonourable light than 
 by any modern nation. The Nervii refused to drink 
 wine, alleging that it made them cowardly and 
 effeminate: these simple people had no idea of what 
 by our seamen is called Dutch courage; they did not 
 feel the necessity of elevating their native valour by 
 any artificial excitement. The ancient Spartans held 
 ebriety in such abhorrence, that, with a view to inspire 
 the rising generation with a due contempt of the vice, 
 it was customary to intoxicate the slaves and exhibit 
 them publicly in this degraded condition. By the 
 
21. 
 
 Indians, drunkenness is looked upon as a species of 
 insanity; and in their language, the word ramgam, 
 signifying a drunkard, signifies also a madman. Both 
 the ancients and moderns could jest as well as moralise 
 upon this subject. “ There hangs a bottle of wine,” 
 was the derisive exclamation of the Roman soldiery, as 
 they pointed to the body of the drunken Bonosus, who 
 in a fit of despair, suspended himself upon a tree. “ If 
 you wish to have a shoe of durable materials,” exclaims 
 the facetious Matthew Langsberg, “ you should make 
 the upper leather of the mouth of a hard. drinker,—for 
 that never lets in water.” 
 
 If we turn from antiquity to our own times, we shall 
 find little cause to congratulate ourselves upon any im- 
 provement. The vice has certainly diminished among 
 the higher orders of society, but there is every reason 
 
 to fear that, of late, it has made fearful strides among 
 the lower. Thirty or forty years ago, a landlord did 
 not conceive that he had done justice to his guests 
 unless he sent them from his table in a state of intoxi- 
 cation. This practice still prevails pretty generally in 
 Ireland and in the Highlands of Scotland, but in other 
 parts of the kingdom it is fast giving way: and it is to 
 be hoped that the day is not far distant when greater 
 temperance will extend to these jovial districts, and 
 
 render their hospitality a little more consonant with 
 
 B 3 
 
22 
 
 prudence and moderation. The increase of drunken- 
 ness among the lower classes may be imputed. to 
 various causes, and chiefly to the late abandonment of 
 part of the duty on rum and whisky. This was done 
 with the double motive of benefiting agriculture and 
 commerce, and of driving the “ giant smuggler” from 
 the field. The latter object it has in a great measure 
 failed of effecting. The smuggler still plies his trade 
 to a considerable extent, and brings his commodity to 
 the market with nearly the same certainty of acquiring 
 profit as ever. It would be well if the liquor vended 
 to the poor possessed the qualities of that furnished by 
 the contraband dealer; but, instead of this, it is usually 
 a vile compound of every thing spurious and pestilent, 
 and seems expressly contrived for the purpose of prey- 
 ing upon the vitals of the unfortunate victims who par- | 
 take of it. The extent to which adulteration has been 
 carried in all kinds of liquor, is indeed such as to 
 interest every class of society. Wine, for instance, is 
 often impregnated with alum and sugar of lead, the 
 latter dangerous ingredient being resorted to by inn- 
 keepers and others, to. take away the sour taste so 
 common in bad wines. Even the colour of these 
 liquids is frequently artificial; and the deep rich com- 
 plexion so greatly admired by persons not in the secrets 
 of the trade, is often caused, or at least heightened, by . 
 
23 
 
 factitious additions, such as elder berries, bilberries, 
 red-woods, &c. Alum and sugar of lead are also com- 
 mon in spirituous liquors; and in many cases oil of 
 vitriol, turpentine, and other materials equally abomin- 
 able, are to be found in combination with them. That 
 detestable liquor called British gin, is literally com- 
 pounded of these ingredients: nor are malt liquors, with 
 _ their multifarious narcotic additions, less thoroughly 
 sophisticated or less detrimental to the health. From 
 these circumstances, two conclusions must naturally be 
 drawn; viz. that inebriating agents often contain 
 elements of disease foreign to themselves; and that all 
 persons purchasing them should endeavour to ascertain 
 the state of their purity, and employ no dealer whose 
 honour and honesty are not known. to be unimpeach- 
 able. Liquors, even in their purest state, are too often 
 injurious to the constitution without the admixture of 
 poisons.* 
 
 The varieties of wine are so numerous as almost to 
 defy calculation. Mr. Brande, in his table,+ gives a 
 list of no less than forty-four different kinds; and there 
 
 * See Accum’s Treatise on the Adulteration of Food ; 
 Child on Brewing Porter; and Shannon on Brewing and Dis- 
 tillation. 
 
 t See Appendix. 
 
24 
 
 are others which he has not enumerated. Ardent 
 spirits are fewer in number, and may be mostly com- 
 prised under the heads of rum, gin, brandy, and 
 whisky. The first is the prevailing drink over the 
 West Indies, North America, and such cities of Great 
 Britain as are intimately connected with these regions 
 by commerce. The second is extensively used in Hol- 
 land and Switzerland, the countries which principally 
 furnish it, and has found its way pretty generally over 
 the whole of Europe. The third is chiefly produced in 
 Charente and Languedoc, and is the spirit most com- 
 monly found in the south. The fourth is confined in a 
 great measure to Ireland and Scotland, in which latter 
 country the best has always been made. Of malt 
 liquors we have many varieties. Britain, especially 
 England, is the country which furnishes them in 
 greatest perfection. They are the natural drinks of 
 Englishmen—the vinum Anglicorum, as foreigners have 
 often remarked. Every town of any consequence in 
 the empire has its brewery; and in almost every one 
 is there some difference in the quality of the liquor. 
 Brown stout, London and Scotch porters; Burton, 
 Dorchester, Edinburgh, and Alloa ales, are only a few 
 of the endless varieties of these widely circulated fluids, 
 
 Besides wines, ardent spirits, and malt liquors, there 
 are many other agents possessing inebriating properties. 
 
25 
 
 Among others, the Peganum Harmala, or Syrian rue, 
 so often used by the sultan Solyman; the Hibiscus 
 Saldarissa, which furnishes the Indian bangue, and 
 from which the Nepenthes of the ancients is supposed 
 to have been made; the Balsac, or Turkish bangue, 
 found on the shores of the Levant; the. Penang, or 
 Indian betle; the Hyoscyamus Niger ; and the Atropa 
 Belladonna. In addition to these, and many more, 
 there are opium, tobacco, Cocculus Indicus, and the 
 innumerable tribes of liqueurs and ethers, together 
 with other agents of a less potent nature, such as clary, 
 darnel, and saffron. The variety of agents capable 
 of exciting drunkenness is indeed surprising, and in 
 proportion to their number seems the prevalence of 
 that fatal vice to which an improper use of them 
 
 gives rise. 
 
CHAPTER IL 
 
 CAUSES OF DRUNKENNESS. 
 
 Tue causes of drunkenness are so obvious, that few 
 authors have thought it necessary to point them out: 
 we shall merely say a few words upon the subject, 
 There are some persons who will never be drunkards, 
 and others who will be so in spite of all that can be 
 done to prevent them. Some are drunkards by choice, 
 and others by necessity. The former have an innate 
 and constitutional fondness for liquor, and drink con 
 amore. Such men are usually of a sanguineous tem- 
 perament, of coarse unintellectual minds, and of low 
 and animal propensities. They have, in general, a 
 certain rigidity of fibre, and a flow of animal spirits 
 which other people are without. They delight in the 
 
27 
 
 roar and riot of drinking clubs; and with them, in 
 particular, all the miseries of life may be referred to 
 the bottle. 
 
 The drunkard by necessity was never meant by 
 nature to be dissipated. He is perhaps a person of 
 amiable dispositions, whom misfortune has overtaken, 
 and who, instead of bearing up manfully against it, 
 endeavours to drown his sorrows in liquor. It is an 
 excess of sensibility, a partial mental weakness, an 
 absolute misery of the heart, which drives him on. 
 Drunkenness, with him, is a consequence of misfortune ; 
 it iga solitary dissipation preying upon him in silence. 
 Such a man frequently dies broken-hearted, even before 
 his excesses have had time to destroy him by their own 
 unassisted agency. 
 
 Some become drunkards from excess of indulgence 
 in youth. There are parents who have a common 
 custom of treating their children to wine, punch, and 
 other intoxicating liquors. This, in reality, is regularly 
 bringing them up in an apprenticeship to drunkenness. 
 Others are taught the vice by frequenting drinking , 
 clubs and masonic lodges These are the genuine } 
 academies of tippling. Two-thirds of the drunkards 
 we meet with, have been there initiated in that love of 
 intemperance and boisterous irregularity which distin- 
 guish their future lives. Men who are good singers 
 
28 
 
 . 
 
 are very apt to become drunkards, and, in truth, most 
 of them are so, more or less, especially if they have 
 naturally much joviality or warmth of temperament. A 
 fine voice to such men is a fatal accomplishment. 
 _ Ebriety prevails to an alarming degree among the 
 lower orders of society. It exists more in towns than 
 in the country, and more among mechanics than hus- 
 bandmen. Most of the misery to be observed among 
 the working classes, springs from this source. No per- 
 sons are more addicted to the habit, and all its attendant. 
 vices, than the pampered servants of the great. Inn- 
 keepers, musicians, actors, and men who lead a ram- 
 bling and eccentric life, are exposed to a similar hazard. 
 Husbands sometimes teach their wives to be drunkards 
 by indulging them in toddy, and such fluids, every 
 time they themselves sit down to their libations. 
 Women frequently acquire the vice by drinking 
 porter and ale while nursing. These stimulants are 
 usually recommended to them from well-meant but 
 mistaken motives, by their female attendants. Many 
 fine young women are ruined by this pernicious prac- 
 tice. Their persons become gross, their milk unhealthy, 
 and a foundation is too often laid for future indulgence 
 in liquor. ~ ) 
 The frequent use of cordials, such as noyau, shrub, eau 
 de Cologne, kirsch-wasser, curagoa and anissette, some- 
 
29 
 
 times leads to the practice. The active principle of 
 these liqueurs is neither more nor less than ardent 
 spirits.* 
 
 Among other causes, may be mentioned the excessive 
 use of spirituous tinctures for the cure of hypochondria 
 and indigestion. Persons who use strong tea, especially 
 green, run the same risk. The latter species is singu- 
 larly hurtful to the constitution, producing hysteria, 
 heartburn, and general debility of the _ chylopoetic 
 ‘viscera. Some of these bad effects are relieved for a time 
 by the use of spirits; and what was at first employed 
 as a medicine, soon becomes an essential requisite. 
 
 Some writers allege, that unmarried women, espe- 
 cially if somewhat advanced in life, are more given to 
 liquor than those who are married. This point I am 
 unable from my own observation to decide. Women 
 who indulge in this way, are solitary dram-drinkers, 
 and so would men be, had not the arbitrary opinions 
 of the world invested.the practice in them with much 
 less moral turpitude than in the opposite sex. Of the 
 two sexes, there can be no doubt that men are much 
 the more addicted to all sorts of intemperance. 
 
 te 
 
 * Liqueurs often contain narcotic principles; therefore their 
 use is doubly improper. 
 
30 
 
 Drunkenness appears to be in some measure heredi- _ 
 tary. We frequently see it descending from parents 
 to their children. This may undoubtedly often arise 
 from bad example and imitation, but there can be little 
 question that, in many instances at least, it exists as a 
 family predisposition. 
 
 Men of genius are often unfortunately addicted to 
 drinking. Nature, as she has gifted them with greater 
 powers than their fellows, seems also to have mingled 
 with their cup of life more bitterness. There is a 
 melancholy which is apt to come like a cloud over the 
 imaginations of such characters. Their minds possess 
 a susceptibility and a delicacy of structure which unfit 
 them for the gross atmosphere of human nature; 
 wherefore, high talent has ever been distinguished for 
 sadness and gloom. Genius lives in a world of its 
 own: it is the essence of a superior nature—the 
 loftier imaginings of the mind, clothed with a more 
 spiritual and refined verdure. Few men endowed 
 with such faculties enjoy the ordinary happiness of 
 humanity. The stream of their lives runs harsh 
 and broken. Melancholy thoughts sweep perpe- 
 tually across their souls; and if these be height- 
 ened by misfortune, they are plunged into the deepest 
 misery. 
 
 To relieve these feelings, many plans have been 
 
31 
 
 adopted. Dr. Johnson fled for years to wine under his 
 habitual gloom. He found that the pangs were re- 
 moved while its immediate influence lasted, but he 
 also found that they returned with double force when 
 that. influence passed away. He saw the dangerous 
 precipice on which he stood, and by an unusual effort 
 of volition, gave it over. In its stead he substituted 
 tea; and to this milder stimulus had recourse in his 
 melancholy. Voltaire and Fontenelle, for the same 
 purpose, used coffee. The excitements of Newton and 
 Hobbes were the fumes of tobacco, while Demosthenes 
 and Haller were sufficiently stimulated by drinking 
 freely of cold water. Such are the differences of 
 constitution. 
 
 “ As good be melancholy still, as drunken beasts 
 and beggars.” So says old Burton, in his Anatomy of 
 Melancholy, and there are few who will not subscribe 
 to his creed. The same author quaintly, but justly 
 remarks, “if a drunken man gets a child, it will never, 
 likely, have a good brain.” Dr. Darwin, a great 
 authority on all subjects connected with life, says, that 
 he never knew a, glutton affected with the gout, who 
 was not at the same time addicted to liquor. . He also 
 observes, “ it is remarkable that all the diseases from: 
 drinking spirituous or fermented liquors are liable to 
 become hereditary, even to the third generation, 
 
32 
 
 gradually increasing, if the cause bé continued, till the 
 family becomes extinct.” * 
 
 We need not endeavour to trace farther the remote 
 causes of drunkenness. A drunkard is rarely able to 
 recall the particular circumstances which made him so. 
 The vice creeps upon him insensibly, and he is involved 
 in its fetters before he is aware. It is enough that we 
 know the proximate cause, and also the certain conse- 
 quences. One thing is certain, that a man who addicts 
 himself to intemperance, can never be said to be sound 
 in mind or body. The former is in a state of partial 
 insanity, while the effects of the liquor remain; and the 
 
 latter is always more or less diseased in its actions. 
 
 * Botanic Garden. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 PHENOMENA OF DRUNKENNESS, 
 
 THE consequences of drunkenness are dreadful, but 
 the pleasures of getting drunk are certainly ecstatic. 
 While the illusion lasts, happiness is complete; care 
 and melancholy are thrown to the wind; and Elysium, 
 with all its glories, descends upon the dazzled imagina- 
 tion of the drinker. 
 
 Some authors have spoken of the pleasure of being 
 completely drunk: this, however, is not the most ex- 
 quisite period. The time is when a person is neither 
 Ls drunken nor sober, but neighbour to both,” as 
 Bishop Andrews says in his “ Ex—ale—tation of Ale.” 
 The moment is when the ethereal emanations begin to 
 float around the brain—when the soul is commencing 
 
34 
 
 to expand its wings and rise from earth—when the 
 tongue feels itself somewhat loosened in the mouth, 
 and breaks the previous taciturnity, if any such existed. 
 
 What are the sensations of incipient drunkenness ? 
 First, an unusual serenity prevails over the mind, and 
 the soul of the votary is filled with a placid satisfaction. 
 By degrees he is sensible of a soft and not unmusical 
 humming in his ears, at every pause of the conversa- 
 tion. He seems, to himself, to wear his head lighter 
 than usual upon his shoulders. Then a species of 
 obscurity, thinner than the finest mist, passes before 
 his eyes, and makes him see objects rather indistinctly. 
 The lights begin to dance and appear double. A gaiety 
 and warmth are felt at the same time about the heart. 
 The imagination is expanded, and filled with a thou- 
 sand delightful images... He becomes loquacious, and 
 pours forth, in enthusiastic languagg;.. the thoughts 
 which are born, as it were, within him. 
 
 Now comes a spirit of universal contentment with 
 himself and all the world. He thinks no more of 
 anisery: it is dissolved in the bliss of the moment. This 
 is the acme of the fit—the ecstacy is now perfect. As 
 yet the sensorium is in tolerable order: it is only 
 shaken, but the capability of thinking with accuracy 
 still remains. About this time, the drunkard pours 
 out all the secrets of his soul. His qualities, good or 
 
35 
 
 bad, come forth without reserve; and now, if at any 
 time, the human heart may be seen into. Ina short 
 period, he is seized with a most inordinate propensity 
 to talk nonsense, though he is perfectly conscious of. 
 doing so. He also commits many foolish things, know- 
 ing them to be foolish. The power of volition, that 
 faculty which keeps the will subordinate to the judg- 
 ment, seems totally weakened. The most delightful 
 time seems to be that immediately before becoming 
 very talkative. When this takes place, a man turns 
 ridiculous, and his mirth, though more boisterous, is 
 not so-exquisite. At first the intoxication partakes of 
 sentiment, but, latterly, it becomes merely animal. 
 After this the scene thickens. The drunkard’s 
 ‘ imagination gets disordered with the most grotesque 
 conceptions. Instead of moderating his drink, he 
 pours it down more rapidly than ever: glass follows 
 glass with reckless energy. His head becomes per- 
 fectly giddy. The candles burn blue, or green, or 
 yellow; and where there are perhaps only three on 
 the table, he sees a dozen. According to his tempera- 
 ment, he is amorous, or musical, or quarrelsome, 
 Many possess a most extraordinary wit; and a great 
 flow of spirits is a general attendant. In the latter 
 stages, the speech is thick, and the use of the tongue in 
 a great measure lost. His mouth is half open, and 
 
36 
 
 idiotic in the expression; while his eyes are glazed, 
 wavering, and watery. He is apt to fancy that he has 
 offended some one of the company, and is ridiculously 
 profuse with his apologies. Frequently he mistakes 
 one person for another, and imagines that some of 
 those before him are individuals who are, in reality, 
 absent, or even dead. The muscular powers are, all 
 along, much affected: this indeed happens before any 
 great change takes place in the mind, and goes on 
 progressively increasing. He can no longer walk with 
 steadiness, but totters from side to side. The limbs 
 become powerless, and inadequate to sustain his 
 weight. He is, however, not always sensible of any 
 deficiency in this respect: and while exciting mirth by 
 his eccentric motions, imagines that he walks with the 
 most perfect steadiness. In attempting to run, he con- 
 ceives that he passes over the ground with astonishing 
 rapidity. To his distorted eyes all men, and even 
 inanimate nature itself, seem to be drunken, while he 
 alone is sober. Houses reel from side to side as 
 if they had lost their balance; trees and steeples nod 
 like tipsy Bacchanals; and the very earth seems to 
 slip from under his feet, and leave him walking and 
 floundering upon the air. The last stage of drunken- 
 ness is total insensibility. The man tumbles perhaps 
 beneath the table, and is carried away in a state of 
 
37 
 
 stupor to his couch. In this condition he is said to be 
 dead drunk. 
 
 When the drunkard is put to bed, let us suppose 
 that his faculties are not totally absorbed in apoplectic 
 stupor; let us suppose that he still possesses conscious- 
 ness and feeling, though these are both disordered ; 
 then begins “ the tug of war;” then comes the misery 
 which is doomed to succeed his previous raptures. No 
 sooner is his head laid upon the pillow, than it is 
 seized with the strangest throbbing. His heart beats 
 quick and hard against the ribs. A noise like the 
 distant fall of a cascade, or rushing of a river, is heard 
 in his ears: sough—sough—sough, goes the sound. 
 His senses now become more drowned and stupified. 
 A dim recollection of his carousals, like a shadowy and 
 indistinct dream, passes before the mind. He still hears, 
 as in echo, the cries and laughter of his companions. 
 Wild fantastic fancies accumulate thickly around the 
 brain. His giddiness is greater than ever; and he feels 
 as if ina ship tossed upon a heaving sea. At last he 
 drops insensibly into a profound slumber. 
 
 In the morning he awakes in a high fever. The 
 whole body is parched; the palms of the hands, in par- 
 ticular, are like leather. His head is often violently 
 painful. He feels excessive thirst; while his tongue is 
 white, dry, and stiff. The whole inside of the mouth is 
 
 Cc 
 
38 
 
 likewise hot and constricted, and the throat often sore. 
 Then look at his eyes—how sickly, dull, and languid! 
 The fire, which first lighted them up the evening be-_ 
 fore, is all gone. A stupor like that of the last stage 
 of drunkenness, still clings about them, and they are 
 disagreeably affected by the light. The complexion 
 sustains as great a change: it is no longer flushed with 
 gaiety and excitation, but pale and wayworn, indicating 
 a profound mental and bodily exhaustion. There is pro- 
 bably sickness, and the appetite is totally. gone. Even 
 yet the delirium of intoxication has not left him, for 
 his head still rings, his heart still throbs violently; and 
 if he attempt getting up, he stumbles with giddiness. 
 The mind also is sadly depressed, and the proceedings 
 of the previous night are painfully remembered. He is 
 sorry for his conduct, promises solemnly ‘never again 
 so to commit himself, and calls impatiently for some- 
 thing to quench his thirst. Such are the usual pheno- 
 mena of a fit of drunkenness. 
 
 In the beginning of intoxication we are inclined to 
 sleep, especially if we indulge alone. In companies, 
 the noise and opportunity of conversing prevent this; 
 and when a certain quantity has been drunk, the 
 drowsy tendency wears away. A person who wishes to 
 stand out well, should never talk much. This increases 
 
39 
 
 the effects of the liquor, and hurries on intoxication. 
 Hence, every experienced drunkard holds it to be a 
 piece of prudence to keep his tongue under restraint. 
 
 The giddiness of intoxication is always greater in 
 darkness than in the light. I know of no rational way 
 in which this can be explained; but, certain it_is, the 
 drunkard never so well knows his true condition as 
 when alone and in darkness. Possibly the noise and 
 light distracted the mind, and made the bodily sensa- 
 tions be, for the time, in some measure unfelt. 
 
 There are some persons who get sick from drinking 
 even a small quantity; and this sickness is, upon the 
 whole, a favourable circumstance, as it proves an 
 effectual curb upon them, however much they might’ 
 be disposed to intemperance. In such cases, it will 
 generally be found that the sickness takes place as 
 soon as vertigo makes its appearance: it seems, in 
 reality, to be produced by this sensation. This, how- 
 ever, is a rare circumstance, for though vertigo from 
 ordinary causes has a strong tendency to produce sick- 
 ness, that arising from drunkenness has seldom this 
 effect. The nausea and sickness sometimes occurring 
 in intoxication, proceed almost always from the sur- 
 charged and disordered state of the stomach, and very 
 seldom from the accompanying giddiness. 
 
 Intoxication, before it proceeds too far, has a 
 
 (ie 
 
40 
 
 powerful tendency to increase the appetite. Perhaps it 
 would be more correct to say, that inebriating liquors, 
 by stimulating the stomach, have this power. We 
 often see gluttony and drunkenness combined together 
 at the same time. This continues till the last stage, 
 when, from overloading, and excess of irritation, the 
 stomach expels its contents by vomiting. 
 
 All along, the action of the kidneys is much increased, 
 especially at the commencement of intoxication. 
 
 When a large quantity of intoxicating fluid has been 
 suddenly taken into the stomach, the usual preliminary 
 symptoms of drunkenness do not appear. An instan- 
 
 - 
 
 taneous stupefaction ensues; and the person is at once - 
 
 knocked down. This cannot be imputed to distention 
 of the cerebral vessels, but to a sudden operation on 
 the nervous branches of the stomach. The brain is 
 thrown into a state of collapse, and many of its functions 
 suspended, In such cases, the face is not at first tumid 
 and ruddy, but pale and contracted. The pulse is 
 likewise feeble, and the body cold and powerless. 
 When re-action takes place, these symptoms wear off, 
 and those of sanguineous apoplexy succeed; such as 
 turgid countenance, full but slow pulse, and strong 
 stertorous breathing. The vessels of the brain have 
 now become filled, and there is a strong determination 
 to that organ, 
 
41 
 
 . Persons of tender or compassionate minds are par- 
 ticularly subject, during intoxication, to be affected to 
 tears at the sight of any distressing object, or even on 
 hearing an affecting tale. Drunkenness in such char- 
 acters, may be said to melt the heart, and open up the 
 fountains of sorrow. Their sympathy is often ridi- 
 culous, and aroused by the most trifling causes. Those 
 who have a lively imagination, combined with this 
 tenderness of heart, sometimes conceive fictitious cases 
 of distress, and weep bitterly at the woe of their own 
 creating. 
 
 There are some persons in whom drunkenness calls 
 forth a spirit of piety, or rather of religious hypocrisy, 
 which is both ludicrous and disgusting. They become 
 sentimental over their cups; and, while in a state of 
 debasement most offensive to God and man, they will 
 weep at the wickedness of the human heart, entreat 
 you to eschew swearing and profane company, and 
 have a greater regard for the welfare of your immortal 
 soul, These sanctimonious drunkards seem to consider 
 ebriety as the most venial of offences. 
 
 During a paroxysm of drunkenness, the body is much 
 less sensible to external stimuli than at other times : it 
 is particularly capable of resisting cold. Seamen, when 
 absent on shore, are prone to get intoxicated ; and they 
 will frequently lie for hours on the highway, even in 
 
42 
 
 the depth of winter, without any bad consequences. 
 A drunk man seldom shivers from cold. His frame 
 seems steeled against it, and he holds out with an 
 apathy which is astonishing. The body is, in like 
 manner, insensible to injuries, such as cuts, bruises, &c. 
 He frequently receives, in fighting, the most severe 
 blows, without seemingly feeling them, and without, 
 in fact, being aware of the matter till sobered. Per- 
 sons in intoxication have been known to chop off their 
 fingers, and otherwise disfigure themselves, laughing 
 all the while at the action. But when the paroxysm 
 is off, and the frame weakened, things are changed. 
 External agents are then withstood with little vigour, 
 with even less than in the natural state of the body. 
 The person shivers on the slightest chill, and is more 
 than usually subject to fevers and all sorts of contagion. 
 
 External stimuli frequently break the fit. Men have 
 been instantly sobered by having a bucket of cold 
 water thrown upon them, or by falling into a stream. 
 Strong emotions of the mind produce the same effect, 
 such as a sense of danger, or a piece of good or bad 
 news, suddenly communicated. 
 
 There are particular situations and circumstances 
 in which a man can stand liquor better than in others. 
 In the close atmosphere of a large town, he is soon 
 overpowered ; and it is here that the genuine drunkard 
 
43 
 
 is to be met with in the greatest perfection. In the 
 country, especially in a mountainous district, or on 
 the sea-shore, where the air is cold and piercing, a 
 great quantity may be taken with impunity. The 
 Highlanders drink largely of ardent spirits, and they 
 are often intoxicated, yet, among them, there are com- 
 paratively few who can be called habitual drunkards. 
 A keen air seems to deaden its effects, and it soon 
 evaporates from their constitutions. Sailors and soldiers 
 who are hard wrought, also consume enormous quan- 
 tities without injury: porters and all sorts of labourers 
 do the same. With these men exercise is a corrective ; 
 but in towns, where no counteracting agency is em- 
 ployed, it acts with irresistible power upon the frame, 
 and soon proves destructive. 
 
 A great quantity of liquors may also be taken without 
 inebriating, in certain diseases, such as spasm, tetanus, 
 gangrene, and retrocedent gout. 
 
 Certain circumstances of constitution make one 
 person naturally more apt to get intoxicated than 
 another. ‘‘ Mr. Pitt,’ says a modern writer, “ would 
 retire in the midst of a warm, debate, and enliven his 
 faculties with a couple of bottles of Port. Pitt’s con- 
 stitution enabled him to do this with impunity. He 
 was afflicted with what he called a coldness of stomach ; 
 and the quantity of wine that would have closed the 
 
44. 
 
 oratory of so.professed a Bacchanalian as Sheridan, 
 scarcely excited the son of Chatham.” * 
 
 All kinds of intoxicating agents act much more 
 rapidly and powerfully upon an empty than upon a full 
 stomach. In like manner, when the stomach is dis- 
 ordered, and subject to weakness, heartburn, or disease 
 of any kind, ebriety is more rapidly produced than 
 when this organ is sound and healthy. 
 
 The stomach may get accustomed to a strong stimu- 
 lus, and resist it powerfully, while it yields to one 
 much weaker. I have known people who could drink 
 eight or ten glasses of raw spirits at a sitting without 
 feeling them much, become perfectly intoxicated by 
 half the quantity made into toddy. In like manner, he 
 who is in the constant habit of using one spirit—rum, 
 for instance—cannot, for the most part, indulge to an 
 equal extent in another, without experiencing more 
 severe effects than if he had partaken of his usual 
 beverage. This happens even when the strength of 
 the two liquors is the same. 
 
 The mind exercises a considerable effect upon drunk- 
 enness, and may often control it powerfully. When in 
 the company of a superior whom we respect, or of a 
 
 * Rede’s Memoir of the Right Hon. George Canning. 
 
A5 
 
 female in whose presence it would be indelicate to get 
 intoxicated, a much greater portion of liquor may be 
 withstood than in societies where no such restraints 
 operate. 
 
 With most people intoxication is a gradual process, 
 and increases progressively as they pour down “the 
 liquor; but there are some individuals in whom it takes 
 place suddenly, and without any previous indication of 
 its approach. It is not uncommon to see such persons 
 sit for hours at the bottle without experiencing any 
 thing beyond a moderate elevation of spirits, yet 
 assume all at once the outrage and boisterous irregu- 
 larity of the most decided drunkenness. 
 
 Some drunkards retain their senses after the physical 
 powers are quite exhausted. Others, even when the 
 mind is wrought to a pitch leading to the most absurd 
 
 actions, preserve a degree of cunning and observation 
 which enables them to elude the tricks which their 
 companions are preparing to play upon them. In such 
 cases, they display great address, and take the first op- 
 portunity of retaliating; or, if such does not occur, of 
 slipping out of the room unobserved and getting away. 
 Some, while the whole mind seems locked up in the 
 stupor of forgetfulness, hear all that is going on. No 
 one should ever presume on the intoxicated state of 
 another to talk of him detractingly in his presence. 
 
 a3 
 
4.6 
 
 While apparently deprived of all sensation, he may be 
 an attentive listener; and whatever is said, though un- 
 heeded at the moment, is not forgotten afterwards, but 
 treasured carefully up in the memory. Much discord 
 and ill-will frequently arise from such imprudence. 
 
 There are persons who are exceedingly profuse, and 
 fond of giving away-their money, watches, rings, &c. 
 to the company. This peculiarity will never, I believe, 
 be found in a miser: avarice is a passion strong under 
 every circumstance. Drinking does not loosen the 
 grasp of the covetous man, or open his heart: he is 
 for ever the same. 
 
 The generality of people are apt to talk of their 
 private affairs when intoxicated. They then reveal the 
 most deeply hidden secrets to their companions. Others 
 have their minds so happily constituted that nothing 
 escapes them. They are, even in their most unguarded 
 moments, secret and close as the grave. 
 
 The natural disposition may be better discovered in 
 drunkenness than at any other time. In modern 
 society, life is alla disguise. Every man walks in mas- 
 querade, and his most intimate friend very often does 
 not know his real character. Many wear smiles con- 
 stantly upon their cheeks, whose hearts are unprincipled 
 and treacherous. Many with violent tempers have all 
 the external calm and softness of charity itself. Some 
 
At 
 
 speak always with sympathy, who, at soul, are full of 
 gall and bitterness, Intoxication tears off the veil, and 
 sets each in his true light, whatever that may be. The 
 combative man will quarrel, the sensualist will love, 
 the detractor will abuse his neighbour. I have known 
 exceptions, but they are few in number. At one time 
 they seemed more numerous, but closer observation 
 convinced me that most of those whom I thought 
 drunkenness had libelled, inherited, at bottom, the 
 genuine dispositions which it brought forth. The 
 exceptions, however, which now and then occur are 
 sufficiently striking, and point out the injustice of 
 
 always judging of a man’s real disposition from his 
 drunken moments. To use the words of Addison, 
 “ Not only does this vice betray the hidden faults of a 
 man, and show them in the most odious colours, but 
 often occasions faults to which he is not naturally sub- 
 ject. Wine throws a man out of himself and infuses 
 qualities into the mind which she is a stranger to in 
 her sober moments.” The well known maxim “ in 
 vino veritas,” therefore, though very generally true, is 
 to be received with some restrictions, although these, 
 I am satisfied, are not by any means so numerous as 
 many authors would have us to believe. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ’ DRUNKENNESS MODIFIED BY TEMPERAMENT. 
 
 « 
 
 Unper the last head I have described the usual pheno- » 
 mena of intoxication; but it is necessary to remark, 
 that these are apt to be modified by the physical and 
 moral frame of the drinker. Great diversity of opinion 
 exists with regard to the doctrine of the temperaments : 
 the ancients, and Richerand* and others among: the 
 moderns, affirming, and Spurzheim + denying their 
 
 * Nouveaux Elemens de Physiologie. 
 
 + Observations sur la Phrenologie. In his more recent 
 publications, however, Spurzheim seems to have changed his 
 opinions regarding the temperaments; and admits that they 
 actually have an existence, and exert a considerable effect in 
 
49 
 
 existence. Into this controversy it is needless to enter. 
 All I contend for is, that the bodily and mental consti- 
 tution of every man is not alike, and that on these 
 peculiarities depend certain differences during a parox- 
 ysm of drunkenness. 
 
 I. Sanguineous Drunkard.—The sanguine tempera- 
 ment seems to feel most intensely the excitement of 
 the bottle. Persons of this stamp have usually a ruddy 
 complexion, thick neck, small head, and strong muscu- 
 lar fibre. Their, intellect is in general mediocre, for 
 great bodily strength and corresponding mental powers 
 are rarely united together. In such people, the animal 
 propensities prevail over the moral and intellectual ones. 
 They are prone to combativeness and sensuality, and 
 are either very good-natured or extremely quarrelsome. 
 All their passions are keen: like the Irish women, they 
 will fight for their friends or with them as occasion | 
 requires. They are talkative from the beginning, and, 
 during confirmed intoxication, perfectly obstreperous. 
 [t is men of this class who are the heroes of all drunken 
 
 companies, the patrons of masonic lodges, the presidents ~ 
 
 
 
 modifying character. In the text I have given his original 
 opinion. 
 
50T% 
 
 and getters-up of jovial meetings. With them, eating 
 and drinking are the grand ends of human life. Look 
 at their eyes, how they sparkle at the sight of wine, 
 and how their lips smack and their teeth water in the 
 neighbourhood of a good dinner: they would scent out 
 a banquet in Siberia. When intoxicated, their passions 
 are highly excited: the energies of a hundred minds 
 then seem” concentrated into one focus. Their mirth, 
 . their anger, their love, their folly, are all equally intense 
 and unquenchable. Such men cannot conceal their 
 feelings. In drunkenness, the veil is removed from 
 them, and their characters stand revealed, as in a 
 glass, to the eye of the beholder. The Roderick 
 Random of Smollett had much of this temperament, 
 blended, however, with more intellect than usually 
 belongs to it. 
 
 II. Melancholy Drunkard.—Melancholy, in drunk- 
 ards, sometimes arises from temperament, but more 
 frequently from habitual intoxication or misfortune. 
 Some men are melancholy by nature, but become highly 
 mirthful when they have drunk a considerable quantity. 
 Men of this tone of mind seem to enjoy the bottle more 
 exquisitely than even the sanguineous class. The joy- 
 ousness which it excites breaks in upon their gloom like 
 sunshine upon darkness. Above all, the sensations, at 
 
61 
 
 the moment when mirth begins with its magic to charm 
 away care, are inexpressible. Pleasure falls in showers 
 of fragrance upon their souls; they are at peace with 
 themselves and all mankind, and enjoy, as it were, 
 a foretaste of paradise. Robert Burns was an ex- 
 ample of this variety. His melancholy was constitu- 
 tional, but heightened by misfortune. The bottle 
 commonly dispelled it, and gave rise to the most de- 
 lightful images; sometimes, however, it only aggravated 
 the gloom. “ 
 
 III. Surly Drunkard.—Some men are not excited to 
 mirth by intoxication: on the contrary, it renders 
 them gloomy and discontented. Even those who in the 
 sober state are sufficiently gay, become occasionally 
 thus altered. A great propensity to take offence isa 
 characteristic among persons of this temperament. 
 They are suspicious, and very often mischievous. If 
 at some former period they have had a difference with 
 any of the company, they are sure to revive it, although, 
 probably, it has been long ago cemented on both sides, 
 and even forgotten by the other party. People of this 
 description are very unpleasant companions. They are 
 in general so foul-tongued, quarrelsome, and indecent in 
 conversation, that established clubs of drinkers have 
 made it a practice to exclude them from their society. 
 
5e 
 
 IV. Phlegmatic Drunkard.—Persons of this tem- 
 perament are heavy-rolling machines, and, like the 
 above, are not roused to mirth by liquor. Their vital 
 actions are dull and spiritless—the blood in their veins 
 as sluggish as the river Jordan, and their energies stag- 
 nant as the Dead Sea. They are altogether a negative 
 sort of beings, with passions too inert to lead them to 
 any thing very good or very bad. They are a species 
 of animated clods, but not thoroughly animated—for 
 the vital fire of feeling has got cooled in penetrating 
 their frozen frames. A new Prometheus would require 
 to breathe into their nostrils, to give them the ordinary 
 glow and warmth of humanity. Look at a_phleg- 
 matic man—how dead, passionless, and uninspired is 
 the expression of his clammy lips and vacant eye! 
 Speak to him—how cold, slow, and tame is his conver- 
 sation! the words come forth as if they were drawn 
 from his mouth with a pair of pincers; and the ideas 
 are as frozen as if concocted in the bowels of Lapland. 
 Liquor produces no effect upon his mental powers ; or, 
 if it does, it is a smothering one. The whole energies 
 of the drink fall on his almost impassive frame. 
 From the first, his drunkenness is stupifying; he is 
 seized with a kind of lethargy, the white of his 
 eyes turns up, he breathes loud and harshly, and 
 sinks into an apoplectic stupor. Yet all this is 
 
53 
 
 perfectly harmless, and wears away without leaving 
 any mark behind it. Such persons are very apt to be 
 played upon by their companions. There are few 
 men who, in their younger days, have not assisted in 
 shaving the heads and painting the faces of these 
 lethargic drunkards. 
 
 V. Nervous Drunkard.—This is a very harmless and 
 very tiresome personage. Generally of a weak mind 
 and irritable constitution, he does not become boister- 
 ous with mirth, and rarely shows the least glimmering 
 of wit or mental energy. He is talkative and fond of 
 long-winded stories, which he tells in a drivelling, silly 
 manner. Never warmed into enthusiasm by liquor, he 
 keeps chatting at some ridiculous tale, very much in 
 the way of a garrulous old man in his dotage.* 
 
 VI. Choleric Drunkard.—There are a variety of 
 drunkards whom I can only class under the above title. 
 They seem to possess few of the qualities of the other 
 
 * The old gentleman who is represented as speaking, in 
 Bunbury’s admirable caricature of the ‘‘ Long Story,”’ furnishes 
 one of the best illustrations I have ever seen of this variety. It 
 is worth consulting, both on account of the story-teller, and the 
 effect his tedious garrulity produces upon the company. 
 
4 54 
 
 races, and are chiefly distinguished by an uncommon 
 -testiness of disposition. They are quick, irritable, and 
 impatient, but withal good at heart, and, when in 
 humour, very pleasant and generous. They are easily 
 put out of temper, but it returns almost immediately. 
 This disposition is very prevalent among Welshmen 
 and Highland lairds. Mountaineers are usually quick- 
 tempered; but such men are not the worst or most 
 unpleasant. Sterne is undoubtedly right when he 
 says that more virtue is to be found in warm than 
 in cold dispositions. Commodore Trunnion is a 
 marked example of this temperament; and Captain 
 Fluellen, who compelled the heroic Pistol to eat the 
 leek, is another. 
 
 VII. Periodical Drunkard.—There are persons 
 whose temperaments are so peculiarly constituted, that 
 they indulge to excess periodically, and are, in the 
 intervals of these indulgences, remarkably sober. This © 
 is not a very common case, but I have known more 
 than one instance of it; and a gentleman, distinguished 
 by the power of his eloquence in the senate and at the 
 bar, is said to furnish another. In the cases which I 
 have known, the drunken mania, for it can get no other 
 name, came on three or four times a-year. The per- 
 sons, from a state of complete sobriety, felt the most 
 
55 
 
 intense desire for drink; and no power, short of abso- 
 lute force or confinement, could restrain them from 
 the indulgence. In every case they seemed to be quite 
 aware of the uncontrollable nature of their passion, and 
 proceeded systematically by confining themselves to 
 their room, and procuring a large quantity of ardent 
 spirits. As soon as this was done, they commenced 
 and drank to excess till vomiting ensued, and the 
 stomach absolutely refused to receive another drop 
 of liquor. This state may last a few days or a few 
 weeks, according to constitutional strength, or the 
 rapidity with which the libations are poured down. 
 Daring the continuance of the attack, the individual 
 exhibits such a state of mind as may be looked for 
 from his peculiar temperament; he may be sanguin- 
 eous, or melancholy, or surly, or phlegmatic, or 
 nervous, or choleric. So soon as the stomach rejects 
 every thing that is swallowed, and severe sickness 
 comes on, the fit ceases. From that moment, recovery 
 takes place, and his former fondness for liquor is suc- 
 ceeded by aversion or disgust. This gains such ascen- 
 dency over him, that he abstains religiously from it for 
 weeks, or months, or even for a year, as the case may 
 be. During this interval, he leads a life of the most 
 exemplary temperance, drinking nothing but cold 
 water, and probably shunning every society where he 
 
56 
 
 is likely to be exposed to indulgence. So soon as this 
 period of sobriety has expired, the fit again comes on ; 
 and he continues playing the same game for perhaps 
 the better part of a long life. This class of persons I 
 would call periodical drunkards. 
 
 These different varieties are sometimes found strongly 
 marked; at other times so blended together that it is 
 not easy to say which predominates. The most agree- 
 able drunkard is he whose temperament lies between 
 the sanguineous and the melancholic. The genuine 
 sanguineous is asad noisy dog, and so common, that 
 every person must have met with him. The naval 
 service furnishes a great many gentlemen of this 
 description. The phlegmatic, I think, is rarer, but both 
 the nervous and the surly are not unusual, 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 DRUNKENNESS MODIFIED BY THE INEBRIATING 
 AGENT. 
 
 _IntToxiCaTIon is not only influenced by temperament, 
 but by the nature of the agent which produces it. 
 Thus, ebriety from ardent spirits differs in some par- 
 ticulars from that brought on by opium or malt liquors, 
 such as porter and ale. 
 
 I. Modified by Ardent Spirits.—Alcohol is the prin- 
 
 ciple of intoxication in all liquors. It is this which 
 gives to wine,* ale, and spirits, their characteristic 
 
 * Alcohol appears to exist in wines, in a very peculiar state 
 
58 
 
 ea 
 
 properties. In the natural state, however, it is so 
 pungent, that it could not be received into the stomach, 
 even in a moderate quantity, without producing death. 
 It can, therefore, only be used in dilution; and in this 
 state we have it, from the strongest ardent spirits, to 
 simple small beer. The first (ardent spirits) being the 
 most concentrated of its combinations, act most rapidly 
 upon the constitution. They are more inflammatory, 
 and intoxicate sooner than any of the others. Swal- 
 lowed in an overdose, they act almost instantaneously 
 —extinguishing the senses and overcoming the whole 
 body with a sudden stupor. When spirits are swal- 
 lowed raw, as in the form of a dram, they excite a 
 glow of heat in the throat and stomach, succeeded, in 
 those who are not much accustomed to their use, by 
 a flushing of the countenance, and a copious discharge 
 of tears. They are strongly diuretic. 
 
 Persons who indulge too much in spirits rarely get 
 corpulent, unless their indulgence be coupled with good 
 living. Their bodies become emaciated; they get 
 spindle-shanked; their eyes are glazed and hollow; 
 their cheeks fall in; anda premature old age overtakes 
 
 / 
 * 
 
 of combination. In the Appendix, I have availed myself of 
 Dr. Paris’s valuable remarks on this subject. 
 
59 
 
 them. They do not eat so well as their brother drunk- 
 ards. An insatiable desire for a morning dram makes 
 them early risers, and their breakfast amounts to almost 
 nothing. 
 
 -The principal varieties of spirits, as already men- 
 tioned, are rum, brandy, whisky, and gin. It is need- 
 less to enter into any detail of the history of these 
 fluids. Brandy kills soonest; it takes most rapidly 
 to the head, and, more readily than the others, tinges 
 the face to a crimson or livid hue. Rum is pro- 
 bably the next in point of fatality; and, after that, 
 whisky and gin. The superior diuretic qualities of 
 the two latter, and the less luscious sources from 
 which they are procured, may possibly account for 
 such differences. I am at the same time aware 
 that some persons entertain a different idea of the 
 relative danger of these liquors: some, for instance, 
 conceive that gin is more rapidly fatal than any 
 of them; but it is to be remembered, that it, more 
 than any other ardent spirit, is liable to adultera- 
 tion. That, from this circumstance, more lives may 
 be lost by its use, I do not deny. In speaking of gin, 
 however, and comparing its effects with those of the 
 rest of the class to which it belongs, I must be 
 understood to speak of it in its pure condition, and 
 not, in that detestable state of sophistication in which 
 
60 — 
 
 such vast quantities of it are drunk in London and — 
 
 elsewhere. When pure, I have no hesitation in 
 affirming that it is decidedly more wholesome than 
 either brandy or rum; and that the popular belief 
 of its greater tendency to produce dropsy, is quite 
 unfounded. 
 
 An experiment has lately been made for the purpose 
 of ascertaining the comparative powers of gin, brandy, 
 and rum upon the human body, which is not less re- 
 markable for the inconsequent conclusions deduced 
 from it, than for the ignorance it displays in confound- 
 ing dead animal matter with the living fibre. It was 
 made as follows :— 
 
 _ A piece of raw liver was put into a glass of gin, 
 another into a glass of rum, and a third into a glass of 
 brandy. That in the gin was, in a given time, partially 
 decomposed; that in the rum, in the same time, not 
 | diminished; and that in the brandy quite dissolved: 
 It was concluded from these results, that rum was the 
 most wholesome spirit of the three, and brandy the 
 least. The inferences deduced from these premises 
 are not only erroneous, but glaringly absurd; the 
 premises would even afford grounds for drawing 
 results of the very opposite nature: it might be said, 
 for instance, that though brandy be capable of dissolv- 
 ing dead animal matter, there is no evidence that it can 
 
 é 
 
61 
 
 do the same to the living stomach, and that it would in 
 reality prove less hurtful than the others, in so far as it 
 would, more effectually than they, dissolve the food 
 contained in that organ. These experiments, in fact, 
 prove nothing; and could only have been suggested by 
 one completely ignorant of the functions of the animal 
 economy. There is a power inherent in the vital 
 principle which resists the laws that operate upon 
 dead matter. This is known to every practitioner, and 
 is the reason why the most plausible and recondite 
 speculations of chemistry have come to naught in their 
 trials upon the living frame. The only way to judge 
 of ‘the respective effects of ardent spirits, is by experi- 
 ence and physiological reasoning, both of which inform 
 us that the spirit most powerfully diuretic and least 
 nourishing for the blood, must rank highest in the 
 scale of safety. Now and then persons are met with 
 on whose frames both gin and whisky have a much 
 more heating effect than the two other varieties of 
 spirits. This, however, is not common, and when it 
 does occur, can only be referred to some unaccountable 
 idiosyncrasy of constitution. 
 
 Il. Modified by Wines——Drunkenness from wines 
 closely resembles that from ardent spirits. It is equally 
 airy and volatile, more especially if the light wines, 
 
 D 
 
62 
 
 such as Champaign, Claret, Chambertin, or Volnay, be 
 drunk, On the former, a person may get tipsy several 
 times of a night, The fixed air evolved from it pro- 
 duces a feeling analogous to ebriety, independent of 
 the spirit it contains. Port, Sherry, and Madeira are 
 heavier wines, and have a stronger tendency to excite 
 headach and fever. | 
 
 The wine-bibber has usually an ominous rotundity 
 of face, and, not unfrequently, of corporation. His 
 nose is well studded over with carbuncles of the Claret 
 eomplexion; and the red of his cheeks resembles very 
 closely the hue of that wine. The drunkard from 
 ardent spirits is apt to be a poor, miserable, ema- 
 ciated figure, broken in mind and in fortune; but the 
 votary of the juice of the grape may usually boast the 
 “ paunch well lined with capon,” and calls to recol- 
 lection the bluff figure of Sir John Falstaff over his 
 potations of Sack.* 
 
 
 
 * There is reason to believe that the Sack of Shakspeare 
 was Sherry.—‘ Falstaff. . You rogue! here’s lime in this 
 
 Sack too. There is nothing but roguery to be found in 
 villanous man. Yet a coward is worse than a cup of Sack 
 with lime in it.”—Lime, it is well known, is added to the 
 grapes in the manufacture of Sherry. This not only gives 
 
63 
 
 Ill. Modified by Malt Liquors.—Malt liquors, 
 under which title we include all kinds of porter and 
 ales, produce the worst species of drunkenness; as, in 
 addition to the intoxicating principle, some noxious 
 ingredients are usually added, for the purpose of pre- 
 serving them and giving them their bitter. The hop 
 of these fluids is highly narcotic, and brewers often- 
 add other substances, to heighten its effect, such as 
 hyoscyamus, opium, belladonna, cocculus Indicus, lauro 
 cerasus, &c. Malt liquors, therefore, act in two ways 
 upon the body, partly by the alcohol they contain, 
 and partly by the narcotic principle. In addition to 
 this, the fermentation which they undergo is much less 
 perfect than that of spirits or wine. After being swal- 
 lowed, this process is carried on in the stomach, by 
 which fixed air is copiously liberated, and the digestion 
 of delicate stomachs materially impaired. Cider, 
 spruce, ginger, and table beers, in consequence of their 
 imperfect fermentation, often produce the same bad 
 effects, long after their first briskness has vanished. 
 
 Persons addicted to malt liquors increase enormously 
 in bulk. They become loaded with fat: their chin 
 
 the wine what is called its dry quality, but probably acts by 
 neutralising a portion of the malic or tartaric acid. 
 
 D 2 
 
64 
 
 gets double or triple, the eye prominent, and the whole 
 face bloated and stupid. Their circulation is clogged, 
 while the pulse feels like a cord, and is full and labour- 
 ing, but not quick. During sleep, the breathing is: 
 stertorous. Every thing indicates an excess of blood; 
 and when a pound or two is taken away, immense 
 relief is obtained. The blood, in such cases, is more 
 dark and sizy than in the others. In seven cases out 
 of ten, malt liquor drunkards die of apoplexy or palsy. 
 If they escape this hazard, swelled liver or dropsy 
 carries them off. The abdomen seldom loses its pro- 
 minency, but the lower extremities get ultimately ema- 
 ciated. Profuse bleedings frequently ensue from the 
 nose, and save life, by emptying the blood-vessels of 
 the brain. 
 
 The drunkenness in question is peculiarly of British 
 growth. The most noted examples of it are to be 
 found in innkeepers and their wives, recruiting ser- 
 geants, guards of stage-coaches, &c. The quantity of 
 malt liquors which such persons will consume in a day 
 is prodigious. Seven English pints is quite a common 
 allowance, and not unfrequently twice that quantity is 
 taken without any perceptible effect. Many of the 
 coal-heavers on the Thames think nothing of drinking 
 daily two gallons of porter, especially in the summer 
 season, when they labour under profuse perspirations. 
 
65 
 
 A friend has informed me that he knew an instance of 
 one of them having consumed eighteen pints in one 
 day, and he states that there are many such instances.* _ 
 
 The effects of malt liquors on the body, if not so 
 immediately rapid as those of ardent spirits, are more 
 stupifying, more lasting, and less easily removed. 
 The last are particularly prone to produce levity and 
 mirth, but the first have a stunning influence upon the 
 brain, and, in a short time, render dull and sluggish 
 the gayest disposition. They also produce sickness and 
 vomiting more readily than either spirits or wine. 
 
 Both wine and malt liquors have a greater tendency 
 to swell the body than ardent spirits. They form 
 blood with greater rapidity, and are altogether more 
 nourishing, The most dreadful effects, upon the 
 whole, are brought on by spirits, but drunkenness 
 from malt liquors is the most speedily fatal. The 
 former break down the body by degrees; the latter 
 operate by some instantaneous apoplexy or rapid 
 inflammation. 
 
 No one has ever given the respective characters of 
 
 * “Tt is recorded of a Welsh squire, William Lewis, who 
 died in 1793, that he drank eight gallons of ale per diem, and 
 weighed forty stones.’’— Vadd’s Comments on Corpulency. 
 
66 
 
 the malt liquor and ardent spirit drunkard with greater 
 truth than Hogarth, in his Beer Alley and Gin Lane. 
 The first is represented as plump, rubicund, and 
 bloated; the second as. pale, tottering, and emaciated, 
 and dashed over with the aspect of blank despair. 
 
 IV. Modified by Opium.—The drunkenness pro- 
 duced by opium has also some characteristics which it 
 is necessary to mention. This drug is principally em- 
 ployed by the Mahometans. By their religion, these 
 people are forbidden the use of wine,* and use opium 
 as a substitute. And a delightful substitute it is while 
 the first excitation continues; for the images it occa- 
 sions in the mind are more exquisite than any produced 
 even by wine. 
 
 There is reason to believe that the use of this medi- 
 cine has, of late years, gained ground in Great Britain. 
 Weare told by the “ English Opium Eater,’+ whose 
 
 * « The law of Mahomet which prohibits the drinking of 
 wine, is a law fitted to the climate of Arabia; and, indeed, be- 
 fore Mahomet’s time, water was the common drink of the 
 Arabs. The law which forbade the Carthaginians to drink 
 wine, was also a law of the climate.”’—Montesquieu, Book xiy., 
 Chap. x. 
 
 + London Magazine, Vols. IV. and VI. Old Series, 
 
67 
 
 powerful and interesting “ Confessions” have excited 
 so deep an interest, that the practice exists among the 
 work people at Manchester. Many of our fashionable 
 ladies have recourse to it when troubled with vapours, 
 or low spirits: some of them even carry it about with 
 them for the purpose. This practice is most perni- 
 cious, and no way different from that of drunkards, 
 -who swallow wine and other liquors to drive away 
 care. While the first effects continue, the intended 
 purpose is sufficiently gained, but the melancholy 
 which follows is infinitely greater than can be compen- 
 sated by the previous exhilaration. 
 
 Opium acts differently on different constitutions. 
 While it disposes some to calm, it arouses others to 
 fury. Whatever passion predominates at the time, it 
 increases; whether it be love, or hatred, or revenge, or 
 benevolence. Lord Kames, in his Sketches of Man, 
 speaks of the fanatical Faquirs, who, when excited by 
 this drug, have been known, with poisoned daggers, to 
 assail and butcher every European whom they could 
 overcome. In the century before last, one of this 
 nation attacked a body of Dutch sailors, and murdered 
 seventeen of them in one minute. The Malays are 
 strongly addicted to opium. When violently aroused 
 by it, they sometimes perform what is called Running- 
 a-Muck, which consists in rushing out in a state of 
 
68 
 
 phrenzied excitement, heightened by fanaticism, and 
 murdering every one who comes in their way. The- 
 Turkish commanders are well aware of the powers of. 
 this drug in inspiring an artificial courage; and fre- 
 quently give it to their men when they put them on 
 ‘any enterprise of great danger. 
 Some minds are rendered melancholy by opium. Its 
 usual effect, however, is to give rise to lively and 
 happy sensations. The late Duchess of Gordon is 
 said to have used it freely, previous to appearing in 
 ' great parties, where she wished to shine by the gaiety 
 of her conversation and brilliancy of her wit. A 
 celebrated pleader at the Scotch bar is reported to do 
 the same thing, and always with a happy effect. — 
 
 In this country opium is much used, but seldom 
 with the view of producing intoxication. Some, 
 indeed, deny that it can do so, strictly speaking. If 
 by intoxication is meant a state precisely similar: to 
 that from over-indulgence in vinous or spirituous 
 liquors, they are undoubtedly right; but drunkenness 
 merits a wider latitude of signification. The eestacies 
 of opium are much more entrancing than those of. 
 wine. There is more poetry in its visions—more 
 mental aggrandisement—more range of imagination. 
 Wine, in common with it, invigorates the animal 
 
 powers and propensities, but opium, in a more peculiar 
 
69 
 
 manner, strengthens those proper to man, and gives, 
 for a period amounting to hours, a higher tone to 
 the intellectual faculties. It inspires the mind with 
 a thousand delightful images, lifts the soul from 
 earth, and casts a halo of poetic thought and feeling 
 over the spirits of the most unimaginative. Under 
 its influence, the mind wears no longer that blank 
 passionless aspect which, even in gifted natures, it is 
 apt to assume. On the contrary, it is clothed with 
 beauty “as with a garment,” and colours. every 
 thought that passes through it with the hues of . 
 wonder and romance. Such are the feelings which 
 the luxurious and opulent Mussulman seeks to enjoy. 
 To stir up the languid current of his mind, satiated 
 with excess of pleasure and rendered sluggish by 
 indolence, he has recourse to that remedy which his 
 own genial climate produces in greatest perfection. 
 Seated perhaps amid the luxuries of Oriental splendour 
 —with fountains bubbling around, and the citron 
 shading him with its canopy, and scattering perfume 
 on all sides—he lets loose the reins of an imagination, 
 conversant from infancy with every thing gorgeous 
 and magnificent. The veil which shades the world of 
 fancy is withdrawn, and the wonders lying behind 
 it exposed to view; he sees palaces and temples in 
 the clouds; or the Paradise of Mahomet, with its 
 
 D3 
 
10 
 
 houris and bowers of amaranth, may stand revealed to 
 his excited senses. Every thing is steeped in poetic 
 exaggeration. The zephyrs seem converted into 
 aerial music, the trees bear golden fruit, the rose 
 blushes with unaccustomed beauty and perfume. 
 Earth, in a word, is brought nearer to the sky, and 
 becomes one vast Eden of, pleasure. Such are the 
 first effects of opium; but in proportion as they are 
 great, so is the depression which succeeds them. 
 Languor and exhaustion invariably come after; to 
 remove which, the drug is again had recourse to, and 
 becomes almost an essential of existence. 
 
 Opium retains at all times its power of exciting 
 the imagination, provided sufficient dozes are taken. 
 But, when it has been continued so long as to bring 
 disease upon the constitution, the pleasurable feelings 
 wear away, and are succeeded by others of a very 
 different kind. Instead of disposing the mind to be 
 happy, it now acts upon it like the spell of a demon, 
 and calls up phantoms of horror and disgust. The 
 fancy is still as powerful as ever, but it is turned in 
 another direction. Formerly it clothed all objects with 
 the light of heaven; now it invests them with the 
 attributes of hell. Goblins, spectres, and every kind 
 of distempered vision haunt the mind, peopling it with 
 dreary and revolting imagery. The sleep is no longer 
 
V1 
 
 cheered with its former sights of happiness. Frightful 
 dreams usurp their place, till, at last, the person be- 
 comes the victim of an almost perpetual misery.* 
 Opium resembles the other agents of intoxication in 
 this, that the fondness for it increases with use, and 
 
 * The following description, by a modern traveller, of a scene 
 witnessed by him in the East, gives a lively picture of the 
 effects of this drug :— 
 
 “< There is a decoction of the head and seeds of the poppy, 
 which they call Coquenar, for the sale of which there are 
 taverns in every quarter of the town, similar to our coffee- 
 houses. It is extremely amusing to visit these houses, and 
 to observe carefully those who resort there for the purpose 
 of drinking it, both before they have taken the dose, before it 
 begins to operate, and while it is operating. On entering the 
 tavern, they are dejected and languishing: soon after they have 
 taken two or three cups of this beverage, they are peevish, and, 
 as it were, enraged; every thing displeases them. They find 
 fault with every thing, and quarrel with one another, but in the 
 course of its operation, they make it up again ;—and, each one 
 giving himself up to his predominant passion, the lover speaks 
 sweet things to his idol—another, half asleep, laughs in his sleeve 
 —a third talks big and blusters—a fourth tells ridiculous stories. 
 In a word, a person would believe himself to be really in a 
 mad-house. A kind of lethargy and stupidity succeed to this 
 disorderly gaiety ; but the Persians, far from treating it as it 
 deserves, call it an ecstacy, and maintain that there is some- 
 thing exquisite and heavenly in this state.”’——Chardin. 
 
ev2 
 
 that, at last, it becomes nearly essential for bodily 
 
 comfort and peace of mind. There are many persons’ 
 who make a practice of swallowing half an ounce of 
 
 laudanum night and morning, and some will even take 
 
 from one to two drachms daily of solid opium. The 
 
 “ English Opium-Eater” himself, furnishes the most - 
 extraordinary instance on record of the power of habit 
 
 in bringing the body to withstand this drug. He took 
 
 daily eight thousand drops of laudanum, containing 
 ‘sthree hundred and twenty grains of opium. This 
 
 enormous quantity he reduced suddenly, and without 
 
 any considerable effort, to one thousand drops, or forty 
 grains. “ Instantaneously,” says he, “and as if by 
 magic, the cloud of profoundest melancholy which 
 
 rested upon my brain, like some black vapours which 
 
 I have seen roll away from the summits of the moun-— 
 tains, drew off in one day—passed off with its murky 
 banners, as simultaneously as a ship that has been 
 stranded, and is floated off by the spring-tide.” 
 
 The circumstance of the body being brought by 
 degrees to withstand a great quantity of opium is not 
 solitary, but exists as a general rule with regard to all 
 stimulants and narcotics. A person who is in the 
 _ habit of drinking ale, wine, or spirits, will take much 
 more with impunity than one who is not; and the 
 faculty of withstanding these agents goes on strength- 
 
13 
 
 a 
 
 ening till it acquires a certain point, after which it 
 becomes weakened. When this takes place, there is 
 either organic disease or general debility. A confirmed 
 drunkard, whose constitution has suffered from indul- 
 gence, cannot take so much liquor, without feeling it, as 
 one who is in the habit of taking his glass, but whose 
 strength is yet unimpaired. It is, I suspect, the same, 
 though probably in a less degree, with regard to opium. 
 
 Mithridates, king of Pontus, affords an instance of 
 the effects of habit in enabling the body to withstand 
 poisons; and, on the same principle, we find that 
 physicians and nurses who are much exposed to 
 infection, are less liable to take it than those persons 
 whose frames are not similarly fortified. 
 
 Opium resembles wine, spirits, and ales, in affecting 
 the brain and disposing to apoplexy. Taken in an 
 over-dose, it is fatal in four or five hours. The person 
 is seized with giddiness, and then falls into a stupor 
 from which it is almost impossible to arouse him, His 
 eyes are closed; his face at first flushed and turgid, 
 afterwards pale and clammy; his pulse slow; his 
 breathing stertorous; and his body convulsed. 
 
 I extract the following interesting case of opium- 
 eating from a London paper.:— 
 
 “ An inquest was held at Walpole stay: on the 
 body of Rebecca Eason, aged five years, who had been 
 
TA 
 
 diseased from her birth, was unable to walk or arti-. 
 culate, and, from her size, did not appear to be more 
 than jive weeks old. The mother had for many years 
 been in the habit of taking opium in large quantities, 
 (nearly a quarter of an ounce a-day;*) and, it is 
 supposed, had entailed a disease on her child which 
 caused its death; it was reduced to a mere skeleton, 
 and had been in that state from birth. Verdict; 
 ‘Died by the visitation of God; but from the great — 
 quantity of opium taken by the mother during her 
 pregnancy of the said child, and of suckling it, she 
 had greatly injured its health. It appeared that the 
 mother of the deceased had had five children; that 
 she began to take opium after the birth and weaning 
 of her first child, which was and is remarkably healthy ; 
 and that the other children have all lingered and died 
 in the same emaciated state as the child who was the 
 subject of this investigation. The mother is under 
 thirty: she was severely censured by the coroner for 
 indulging in so pernicious a practice.” 
 
 V. Modified by Tobacco.—A variety of drunkenness 
 is excited by tobacco. This luxury was introduced 
 
 * Equal to nearly three thousand drops of laudanum. 
 
15 
 
 into Europe from the New World, in 1559, by a 
 Spanish gentleman, named Hernandez de Toledo, who 
 brought a small quantity into Spain and Portugal. 
 From thence, by the agency of the French ambassador 
 at Lisbon, it found its way to Paris, where it was 
 used in the form of powder by Catherine de Medicis, 
 the abandoned instigator of the massacre of the Pro- . 
 testants on St. Bartholomew’s day. This woman, 
 therefore, may be considered the inventor of snuff, as 
 well as the contriver of that most atrocious trans- 
 action. It then came under the patronage of the 
 Cardinal Santa Crocé, the Pope’s nuncio, who, return- 
 ing from his embassy at the Spanish and Portuguese 
 courts, carried the plant to his own country, and thus 
 acquired a fame little inferior to that which, at 
 another period, he had won by piously bringing a 
 portion of the real cross from the Holy Land. .It was 
 received with general enthusiasm in the Papal states, 
 and hardly less favourably in England, into which it 
 was introduced by Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1585. It 
 was not, however, without opposition that it gained a 
 footing either in this country or in the rest of Europe. 
 Its principal opponents were the priests, the physicians, 
 and the sovereign princes: by the former, its use was 
 declared sinful; and in 1624, Pope Urban VIII. pub- 
 -blished a bull, excommunicating all persons found guilty 
 
"6 
 
 of taking snuff when in church. This bull was re- 
 newed in 1690 by Pope Innocent; and about twenty- 
 nine years afterwards, the Sultan Amurath IV. made 
 smoking a capital offence, on the ground of its produc- ° 
 ing infertility. For a long time smoking was forbidden 
 in Russia, under pain of having the nose cut off: and 
 _ in some parts of Switzerland, it was likewise made a 
 subject of public prosecution—the police regulations 
 of the Canton of Berne, in 1661, placing the prohibition 
 of smoking in the list of the ten commandments, 
 immediately under that against adultery. Nay, that 
 British Solomon, James I. did not think it beneath 
 the royal dignity to take up his pen upon the subject. 
 He accordingly, in 1603, published his famous “ Coun- 
 terblaste to Tobacco,” in which the following remark- 
 able passage occurs :—“ It is a custom loathesome to 
 the eye, hatefull to the nose, harmfull to the braine, 
 dangerous to the lungs, and, in the black stinking 
 fume thereof, nearest resembling the horrible Stygian 
 smoke of the pit that is bottomless.”* But, notwith- - 
 
 * « Tobacco,” King James farther observes, “ is the lively 
 image and pattern of hell, for it hath, by allusion, in it all the 
 parts and vices of the world, whereby hell may be gained; to 
 wit, first, it is a smoke; so are all the vanities of this world. 
 Secondly, it delighteth them that take it ; so do all the pleasures 
 
1% 
 
 standing this regal and sacerdotal wrath, the plant 
 extended itself far and wide, and is at this moment the 
 most universal luxury in existence. 
 
 The effects of tobacco are considerably different 
 from those of any other inebriating agent. Instead 
 of quickening, it lowers the pulse, and, when used to 
 excess, produces languor, depression of the system, 
 giddiness, confusion of ideas, violent pain in the stomach, 
 vomiting, convulsions, and even death. Its essential 
 oil is so intensely powerful, that two or three drops 
 inserted into a raw wound, would prove almost 
 instantly fatal. But when used in moderation, it has 
 a soothing effect upon the mind, disposing to placid 
 enjoyment, and mellowing every passion into repose. 
 Its effects, therefore, are inebriating ; and those who 
 
 
 
 of the world delight the men of the world. Thirdly, it maketh 
 men drunken and light in the head ; so do all the vanities of the 
 world, men are drunken therewith. Fourthly, he that taketh 
 tobacco cannot leave it; it doth bewitch him ; even so the pleasures 
 of the world make men loath to leave them ; they are, for the most 
 part, enchanted with them. And, farther, besides ail this, it is like 
 hell in the very substance of it, for it is a stinking loathsome thing, 
 and so is hell.”” And, moreover, his majesty declares, that ‘‘ were 
 he to invite the devil to a dinner, he should have three dishes ; 
 first, a pig; second, a poll of ling and. mustard; and, third, 
 a pipe of tobacco for digestion.” 
 
78 
 
 habitually indulge in it may with propriety be deno- 
 minated drunkards. In whatever form it is used, it 
 produces sickness, stupor, bewilderment, and stagger- 
 ing in those unaccustomed to its use. There is no 
 form in which it can be taken that is not decidedly 
 injurious and disgusting. The whole, from snuffing to 
 plugging, are at once so utterly uncleanly and un- 
 natural, that it is incredible in what manner they ever 
 insinuated themselves into civilized society. A vast 
 quantity of valuable time is wasted by the votaries of 
 tobacco, especially by the smokers; and that the 
 devotees of snuff are not greatly behind in this respect, 
 will be shown by the following singular calculation of 
 Lord Stanhope. ; 
 
 “ Every professed, inveterate, and incurable snuff- 
 taker,’ says his Lordship, “ at a moderate computa- 
 tion, takes one pinch in ten minutes. Every pinch, 
 with the agreeable ceremony of blowing and wiping 
 the nose, and other incidental circumstances, consumes 
 a minute and a half. One minute and a half out of 
 every ten, allowing sixteen hours to a snuff-taking day, 
 amounts to two hours and twenty-four minutes out of 
 every natural day, or one day out of ten. One day 
 out of every ten, amounts to thirty-six days and a half 
 in a year. Hence, if we suppose the practice to be 
 persisted in forty years, two entire years of the snuff- 
 
79 
 
 taker’s life will be dedicated to tickling his nose, and 
 two more to blowing it. The expense of snuff, snuff- 
 boxes, and handkerchiefs, will be the subject of a 
 second essay, in which it will appear that this luxury 
 eiicroaches as much on the income of the snuff-taker 
 as it does on his time; and that by proper application 
 of the time and money thus lost to the public, a 
 fund might be constituted for the discharge of the 
 national debt.” 
 
 But this is not the worst of snuffing, for though a 
 moderate quantity, taken now and then, may do no 
 harm, yet, in the extent to which habitual snuffers 
 carry it, it is positively pernicious. The membrane 
 which lines the nose gets thickened, the olfactory 
 nerves blunted, and the sense of smell consequently 
 impaired. Nor is this all, for, by the strong inspira- 
 tions which are made when the powder is drawn up, 
 some of the latter is pretty sure to escape into the 
 stomach. This organ is thence directly subjected to a 
 powerful medicine, which not only acts as a narcotic, 
 but produces heartburn, and every other symptom of 
 indigestion. It is generally believed that Napoleon 
 owed his death to the morbid state of his stomach pro- 
 duced by excessive snuffing. Snuffing has also a strong 
 tendency to give a determination to the head, and on 
 this account plethoric subjects should be the very last 
 
80 
 
 ever to enter upon the habit. — If it were attended with 
 no other inconvenience, the black loathsome dis-: 
 charge from the nose, and swelling and rubicundity 
 of this organ, with other circumstances equally dis- 
 agreeable, ought to deter every man from becoming 
 a snuffer. 
 
 The smoker, while engaged at his occupation, is even 
 a happier man than the snuffer. An air of peculiar 
 satisfaction beams upon his countenance; and as he 
 puffs forth volumes of fragrance, he seems to dwell in 
 an atmosphere of contented happiness. His illusions 
 have not the elevated and magnificent character of 
 those brought on by opium or wine. There is nothing 
 of Raphael or Michael Angelo in their composition 
 —nothing of the Roman or Venetian schools—nothing 
 of Milton’s sublimity, or Ariosto’s dazzling romance; _ 
 but there is something equally delightful, and, in its 
 way, equally perfect. His visions stand in the same 
 relation to those of opium or wine, as the Dutch 
 pictures of Ostade to the Italian ones of Paul Veronese 
 —as Washington Irving to Lord Byron—or as Izaak 
 Walton to Froissart. ‘There is an air of delightful 
 homeliness about them. He does not let his imagina- 
 tion run riot in the clouds, but restrains it to the lower. 
 sphere of earth, and meditates delightfully in this less 
 elevated region. . If his fancy be unusually brilliant, or 
 
8] 
 
 somewhat heated by previous drinking, he may see 
 thousands of strange forms floating in the tobacco 
 smoke. He may people it, according to his tempera- 
 ment, with agreeable or revolting images—with flowers 
 and gems springing up, as in dreams, before him—or 
 with reptiles, serpents, and the whole host of diablerie, 
 skimming, like motes in the sunshine, amid its curling 
 wreaths. 
 
 This is all that can be said in favour of smoking, and 
 quite enough to render the habit too common to leave 
 any hope of its suppression, either by the weapons of 
 ridicule, or the more summary plan of the Sultan 
 Amurath. In no sense, except as affording a temporary 
 gratification, can it be justified or defended. It pollutes 
 the breath, blackens the teeth, wastes the saliva which 
 is required for digestion, and injures the complexion. 
 In addition to this, it is apt to produce dispepsia, and 
 other disorders of the stomach; and, in corpulent sub- 
 jects, it disposes to apoplexy. At the present moment, 
 smoking is fashionable, and crowds of young men are 
 to be seen at all hours walking the streets with cigars 
 in their mouths, annoying the passengers. They seem 
 to consider it manly to be able to smoke a certain 
 number, without reflecting that there is scarcely an old 
 woman in the country who would not beat them to 
 naught with their own weapons, and that they would 
 
82 
 
 * 
 
 gain no sort of honour were they able to outsmoke all 
 the burgomasters of Amsterdam. As the practice, 
 however, seems more resorted to by these young 
 gentlemen for the sake of effect, and of exhibiting a 
 little of the haut ton, than for any thing else, it is likely 
 soon to die a natural death among them; particularly 
 as jockeys and porters haye lately taken the field 
 in the same way, being determined that no class of the 
 community shall enjoy the exclusive monopoly of street 
 smoking. 
 
 The observations made upon the effects of snuffing 
 and smoking, apply in a still stronger degree to. chew- 
 ing. This is the worst way for the health in which 
 tobacco can be used. The waste of saliva is greater 
 than even in smoking, and the derangements of the 
 digestive organs proportionably severe. All confirmed 
 chewers are more than usually subject to dispepsia and 
 hypochondriasis ; and many of them are afflicted with 
 liver complaint, brought on by their imprudent habit. — 
 
 The most innocent, and, at the same time, most dis- 
 gusting way of using tobacco, is plugging, which con- 
 sists in inserting a short roll of the plant in the nostril, 
 and allowing it to remain there so long as the person 
 feels disposed. Fortunately this habit is as rare as it 
 is abominable; and it is to be hoped that it will never 
 
 become common in Great Britain. 
 
83 
 
 ° 
 
 I have observed, that persons who are much addicted 
 to liquor have an inordinate liking to tobacco in all its 
 different forms: and it is remarkable that in the early 
 stages of ebriety almost every man is desirous of having 
 a pinch of snuff, This last fact it is not easy to explain, 
 but the former may be accounted for by that incessant 
 craving after excitement which clings to the system of 
 the confirmed drunkard. 
 
 From several of the foregoing circumstances, we are 
 justified in considering tobacco closely allied to intoxi- 
 cating liquors, and its confirmed votaries as a species 
 of drunkards. At least, it is certain that when used to 
 excess, if gives birth to many of the corporeal and 
 mental manifestations of ebriety. 
 
 VL—Modified by Nitrous Oxide.—The drunkenness, 
 if it merit that name, from inhaling nitrous oxide, is 
 likewise of a character widely differing from intoxica- 
 tion in general. This gas was discovered by Dr. 
 Priestley, but its peculiar effects upon the human body 
 were first perceived in 1799, by Sir Humphry Davy, 
 who, in the following year, published a very elaborate 
 account of its nature and properties, interspersed with 
 details by some of the most eminent literary and 
 scientific characters, of the sensations they experienced 
 on receiving it into their lungs. 
 
84: 
 
 According to these statements, on breathing the gas 
 the pulse is accelerated, and a feeling of heat and 
 expapsion pervades the chest. The most vivid and 
 highly pleasurable ideas pass, at the same time, through 
 the mind; and the imagination is exalted to a pitch of 
 entrancing ecstacy. The hearing is rendered more 
 acute, the face is flushed, and the body seems so light 
 that the person conceives himself capable of rising up 
 and mounting into the air. Some assume theatrical 
 attitudes; others laugh immoderately, and stamp upon. 
 the ground. There is an universal increase of mus- 
 cular power, attended with the most exquisite delight. 
 In a few cases there are melancholy, giddiness, and 
 indistinct vision; but generally the feelings are those 
 of perfect pleasure. After these strange effects have 
 ceased, no debility ensues, like that which commonly 
 follows high excitement. On the contrary, the mind 
 is strong and collected, and the body unusually vigorous 
 for some hours after the operation. 
 
 At the time of the discovery of the effects of nitrous 
 oxide, strong hopes were excited that it might prove 
 useful in various diseases. These, unfortunately; have 
 not been realised. Even the alleged properties of the 
 gas have now fallen into some discredit. That it has 
 produced remarkable effects cannot be denied, but 
 there is much reason for thinking that, in many cases, 
 
85 
 
 these were principally brought about by the influence 
 of imagination. Philosophers seem to be divided on 
 this point, and their conflicting testimonies I do not 
 pretend to reconcile. My own opinion is, that there 
 must be some truth in its reported attributes; but that 
 by the power of fancy these attributes have been 
 grossly, though unintentionally exaggerated. If the 
 statements first published concerning it be true, the in- 
 toxication it produces is entirely one sui generis, and 
 differs so much from that, produced by other agents, 
 that it can hardly be looked upon as the same thing. 
 
 The above remarks appeared in the first edition of 
 this work, and since writing them, I have tried the 
 experiment_of inhaling nitrous oxide. The principal 
 effects it produced were giddiness and violent beating 
 in the head, such as occur in the acme of drunkenness. 
 There was also a strong propensity to laugh: it occurs 
 to me, however, that the risible tendency might be con- 
 trolled by a strong effort of volition, in the same way as 
 in most cases of drunkenness, were the effort impera- 
 tively requisite. Altogether I experienced nearly the 
 sensations of highly excited ebriety. There was- the 
 same seeming lightness and expansion of the head, the 
 same mirthfulness of spirit, and the same inordinate pro- 
 pensity to do foolish things, knowing them to be foolish, 
 
 E 
 
86 
 
 as occur. in drunkenness in general. I was perfectly 
 aware what I was about, and could, I am persuaded, 
 with some effort, have subjected the whimsies of fancy 
 to the soberer dictates of judgment. In a word, the gas 
 produced precisely a temporary paroxysm of drunken-. 
 ness, and such a determination of blood upwards as 
 rendered the complexion livid, and left behind some 
 degree of headach. It would be worth while. trying 
 whether similar effects would not follow the inhalation 
 of oxygen gas. This is all I can say on the subject. 
 from personal experience. Those who. wish to know 
 more, should read Sir H. Davy’s work, but, above all, 
 they should try the gas upon themselves. In the 
 meantime I shall lay before the reader ‘the details, in 
 their own words, of the sensations experienced. by 
 Messrs. Edgeworth and Coleridge. 
 
 Mr. Epcewortn’s Casz.—, My first sensation 
 was an universal and considerable tremor. I then 
 perceived some giddiness in my head, and a violent 
 dizziness in my sight; these sensations by degrees 
 subsided, and I felt a great. propensity to. bite through 
 the wooden mouth-piece, or the tube of the bag, 
 through which I inspired the air. After I had, breathed. 
 all the air that was in the bag, I eagerly wished for 
 more. I then felt a strong propensity to laugh, and 
 
87 
 
 did burst into a violent. fit of laughter, and capered 
 about the room without having the power of restrain- 
 ing myself, By degrees, these feelings subsided, except 
 the tremor, which lasted for an hour after I had 
 breathed the air, and I felt a weakness in my knees. 
 The principal feeling through the whole of the time, 
 or what I should call the characteristical part of the 
 effect, was a total difficulty of restraining my feelings, 
 both corporeal and mental, or, in other words, not 
 having any command of myself.” 
 
 Mr. CoLueRipGe’s Casz.—“ The first time I in- 
 spired the nitrous oxide, I felt am highly pleasurable 
 sensation of warmth over my whole frame, resembling 
 that which I once remember to have experienced after 
 returning from a walk in the snow into a warm room. 
 The only motion which I felt inclined to make, was 
 that: of laughing at those who were looking at me. 
 My eyes felt distended, and, towards the last, my heart 
 beat as if it were leaping up and down: On removing 
 the mouth-piece, the whole sensation went off almost 
 ‘instantly. 
 
 “ The second time, I felt the same pleasurable sen- 
 sation of warmth, but not, I think, in quite so great a 
 degree. I wished to know what effect it would have 
 on my impressions: I fixed my eye on some trees in 
 
 E 2 
 
88 
 
 the distance, but I did not find any other effect, except 
 that they became dimmer and dimmer, and looked at 
 last as if I had seen them through tears. My heart 
 beat more violently than the first time. This was after 
 a hearty dinner. aN 
 
 “ The third time, I was more violently acted on than 
 in the two former. Towards the last, I could not 
 avoid, nor indeed felt any wish to avoid, beating the 
 ground with my feet; and, after the mouth-piece was 
 removed, I remained for a few seconds motionless, in 
 great ecstacy. | 
 
 “ The fourth time was immediately after breakfast. 
 The first few inspirations affected me so little, that I 
 thought Mr. Davy had given me atmospheric air; but 
 soon felt the warmth beginning about my chest, and 
 spreading upward and downward, so that I could feel 
 its progress over my whole frame. My heart did not 
 beat so violently; my sensations were highly pleasur- 
 able, not so intense or apparently local, but of more 
 unmingled pleasure than I had ever. before ex- 
 perienced.” * 
 
 
 
 * The doses in these experiments were from five to seven quarts. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ENUMERATION 
 OF THE 
 
 LESS COMMON INTOXICATING AGENTS. 
 
 
 
 In this Chapter, I shall content myself with the enu- 
 meration of a few of the less common intoxicating 
 agents. To detail all the productions of nature which 
 have the power of inebriating, would be an endless and 
 uninteresting topic. 
 
 Hemilock.—A powerful narcotic, producing giddi- 
 ness, elevation of spirits, and other symptoms of 
 ebriety. It was by an infusion of the leaf of this plant 
 that Socrates was poisoned. 
 
 Leopard’ s-bane.—( Arnica montana.)— Properties 
 analogous to those of hemlock and other narcotics. 
 
 Bangue.—This is the leaf of a species of wild 
 
90 
 
 hemp, growing on the shores of Turkey, and of the 
 Grecian Archipelago. It possesses many of the pro- , 
 perties of opium, and is used by the poorer classes of 
 Mussulmen as a substitute for this drug. Before being 
 used, it is dried, and the exiccated leaves are either 
 chewed entire, or reduced into a fine powder and made 
 into pills. Its effects are to elevate the spirits, dispel 
 melancholy, and give increased energy to the corporeal 
 faculties—followed by languor both of body and mind. 
 
 Hop.—Similar in its effects to opium, only inferior 
 in degree. Used in porter brewing. 
 
 Wolfsbane.—( Aconitum napellus.)—A most deadly 
 narcotic, producing, in small doses, the usual symptoms 
 of ebriety, such as giddiness, elevation of spirits, &e. 
 When taken to excess it is inevitably fatal. 
 
 Cocculus Indicus,—The intoxicating powers of this 
 berry are considerable, It is used by the brewers to — 
 increase the strength of porter and ales; and is some- 
 times thrown into ponds for the purpose of intoxicating 
 the fishes, that they may thereby be more easily caught. 
 
 Foxglove.—( Digitalis.)—Likewise a powerful nar- 
 cotic, and capable of producing many of the symptoms 
 of drunkenness. It has the peculiar effect of lowering, 
 instead of raising the pulse. . 
 
 Nightshade.—( Belladonna.)—This is one of the most 
 virulent nareotics we possess. Like opium, hop, and 
 
91 
 
 cocculus Indicus, it is used by brewers to augment the 
 intoxicating properties of malt liquors. “ The Scots,” 
 says Buchanan, “ mixed a quantity of the juice of the 
 belladonna with the bread and drink with which, by 
 their truce, they were bound to supply the Danes, 
 which so intoxicated them, that the Scots killed the 
 greater part of Sweno’s army.” 
 
 * Some children ate, in a garden, the fruit of the 
 belladonna, (deadly nightshade.) Shortly after, they 
 had burning fever, with convulsions, and very strong 
 palpitations of the heart: they lost their senses, and 
 became completely delirious: one of them, four years 
 of age, died the next day: the stomach contained some 
 berries of the belladonna crushed, and some seeds; 
 if exhibited three ulcers; the heart was livid, and the 
 pericardium without serosity.” * 
 
 * One child ate four ripe berries of the belladonna, 
 ‘another ate six. Both one and the other were guilty 
 of extravagancies which astonished the mother; their 
 pupils were dilated; their countenances no longer 
 remained the same; they had a cheerful delirium, ac- 
 companied with fever. The physician being called in, 
 found them in a state of great agitation, talking at 
 
 * Journal Générale de Médecine, liv. xxiv. p. 224. 
 
92 
 
 random, running, jumping, laughing sardonically; their 
 countenances purple, and pulses hurried. He admin- 
 istered to each of them half a grain of emetic tartar 
 and a drachm of glauber salt, in four or five ounces of 
 water; they had copious evacuations during seven or 
 eight hours, and the symptoms disappeared.” * 
 Henbane.—( Hyoscyamus.)—Similar in its properties 
 to nightshade and opium. The intoxicating properties 
 of hyoscyamus appear to have been known from a very 
 early period. It was with this plant that the Assassin 
 Prince, commonly called the “ Old Man of the Moun- 
 tain,” inebriated his followers, preparatory to install- 
 ing them into his service. The following eloquent 
 passage from a modern writer will prove interesting :— 
 © There was at Alamoot, and also at Masiat, in 
 Syria, a delicious garden, encompassed with lofty 
 walls, adorned with trees and flowers of every kind— 
 with murmuring brooks and translucent lakes—with 
 bowers of roses and trelisses of the vine—airy halls 
 and splendid kiosks, furnished with carpets of Persia 
 and silks of Byzantium. Beautiful maidens and bloom- 
 ing boys were the inhabitants of this delicious spot, 
 which resounded with the melody of birds, the mur- 
 
 
 
 * Gazette de Santé, 11 Thermidor, an. xy. p- 508. 
 
93 
 
 mur of streams, and the tones and voices of instruments 
 —all respired contentment and pleasure. When the 
 chief had noticed any youth to be distinguished for 
 strength and resolution, he invited him to a banquet, 
 where he placed him beside himself, conversed with 
 him on the happiness reserved for the faithful, and 
 contrived to administer to him an intoxicating draught, 
 prepared from the hyoscyamus. While insensible, he 
 was conveyed to the garden of delight, and there 
 awakened by the application of vinegar. On opening 
 his eyes, all Paradise met his view; the black-eyed 
 and blue-robed houris surrounded. him, obedient to his 
 wishes; sweet music filled his ears; the richest viands 
 were served up in the most costly vessels, and the 
 choicest wines sparkled in golden cups. The fortunate 
 youth believed himself really in the Paradise of the 
 Prophet, and the language of his attendants confirmed 
 the delusion. When he had had his fill of enjoyment, 
 and nature was yielding to exhaustion, the opiate was 
 again administered, and the sleeper transported back to 
 the side of the chief, to whom he communicated what 
 had passed, and who assured him of the truth and 
 reality of all he had experienced, telling him such 
 was the bliss reserved for the obedient servants of the 
 Imaum, and enjoining, at the same time, the strictest 
 secrecy. Ever after, the rapturous vision possessed the 
 
 E 3 
 
94, 
 
 imagination of the deluded enthusiast, and he panted . 
 for the hour when death, received in obeying the com- 
 
 mands of his superior, should dismiss him to the bowers 
 
 of Paradise.” * 
 
 Palm Wine.—This is prepared from the juice which 
 exudes from the palm tree. Its properties are very 
 inebriating; and it is an amusing fact to witness the 
 stupor and giddiness into which the lizards frequenting 
 these trees are thrown, by partaking of the juice 
 which yields it. They exhibit all the usual phenomena 
 of intoxication. 
 
 Camphor.—The intoxicating properties of camphor 
 are considerable. It elevates the spirits, increases 
 voluntary motion, and gives rise to vertigo; and these 
 effects, as in the case of all narcotics, are succeeded 
 by drowsiness, lassitude, and general depression. In 
 large doses, syncope, convulsions, delirium, and even 
 death, take place. It is sometimes used as a substitute 
 for opium in cases of delirium, where, from particular 
 circumstances, the latter either cannot be taken, or 
 does not produce its usual effects. The common 
 belief, however, of camphor being an antidote to this 
 medicine, is quite unfounded. It neither decomposes 
 
 
 
 * Von Hammer’s Hist. of the Assassins. 
 
95 
 
 opium, nor prevents it from acting poisonously upon 
 the system; but, in consequence of its stimulating 
 properties, it may be advantageously given in small 
 doses to remove the stupor and coma produced by 
 opium. ; 
 
 Saffron—This aromatic possesses moderate intoxi- 
 cating properties. Taken in sufficient doses, it accel- 
 erates the pulse, produces giddiness, raises the spirits, 
 and gives rise to paroxysms of laughter. In a word, 
 it exhibits many of the phenomena occasioned by over- 
 indulgence in liquors, only ina very inferior degree. 
 
 Darnel.—Possesses slight intoxicating properties. 
 
 -Clery.—Possesses slight intoxicating properties. 
 
 Carbonic Acid.—Carbonic acid partially inebriates, 
 as is seen in drinking ginger beer, cider, Champaign, 
 or even soda water, in which no alcoholic principle 
 exists. Ethers, when taken in quantity, also give rise 
 to a species of intoxication, which resembles that from 
 ardent spirits in all respects, except in being more 
 fugacious. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 
 
 DIFFERENCES IN THE ACTION OF OPIUM 
 AND ALCOHOL, 
 
 THE modus operandi of opium upon the body is con- 
 siderably different from that of alcohol. The latter 
 intoxicates chiefly by acting directly upon the nerves, 
 the former by acting secondarily upon them, through the 
 medium of absorption. This is easily proved by injecting 
 a quantity of each into the cellular tissue of any animal, 
 and comparing the effects with those produced when 
 either is received into the stomach. M. Orfila* details — 
 some interesting experiments which he made upon 
 
 dogs. In applying the watery extract of opium to 
 
 * Toxicologie Générale. 
 
97 
 
 them in the first manner, (by injection into the cellular 
 tissue,) immediate stupor, convulsions, and debility 
 ensued, and proved fatal in an hour or two. When, 
 on the contrary, even a larger quantity was introduced 
 into the stomach of the animal, it survived ten, twelve, 
 or eighteen hours, although the esophagus was pur- 
 posely tied to prevent vomiting. The operation of 
 alcohol was the reverse of this; for, when injected 
 into the cellular substance, the effects were slight; but 
 when carried into the stomach, they were powerful 
 and almost instantaneous. This proves that opium acts 
 chiefly by being taken up by the absorbents, as this is 
 done much more rapidly by the drug being directly 
 applied to a raw surface than in the stomach, where 
 the various secretions and processes of digestion retard 
 its absorption. Besides, alcohol taken in quantity pro- 
 duces instant stupefaction. It is no sooner swallowed 
 than the person drops down insensible. Here is no 
 time for absorption: the whole energies of the spirit 
 are exerted against the nervous system. The same 
 rapid privation of power never occurs after swallowing 
 opium. There is always an interval, and generally one 
 of some extent, between the swallowing and the stupor 
 which succeeds. Another proof that opium acts in 
 this manner, is the circumstance of its being much 
 more speedily fatal than alcohol, when injected into 
 
98 
 
 the blood-vessels. Three or four grains in solution, 
 forced into the carotid artery of a dog, will kill him in 
 a few minutes. Alcohol, used in the same manner, 
 would not bring on death for several hours. 
 
 In addition, it may be stated, that a species of . 
 drunkenness is produced by inhaling the gas of intoxi- 
 cating liquors. Those employed in bottling spirits 
 from the cask, feel, it frequently with great severity. 
 _ This proves that there is a close sympathy between the 
 nerves of the nose and lungs, and those of the stomach. 
 From all these circumstances, it is pretty evident that 
 intoxication from spirits is produced more by the 
 direct action of the fluid upon the nerves of the latter 
 organ, than by absorption. 
 
 Mr. Brodie supposes that there is no absorption 
 whatever of alcohol, and supports his views with a 
 number of striking facts.** This, however, is a length 
 
 u 
 aR cd 
 
 * The following are the grounds on which he supports his 
 doctrine. “1. In experiments where animals have been killed 
 by the injection of spirits into the stomach, I have found this 
 organ to bear the marks of great inflammation, but never any 
 preternatural appearances whatever in the brain. 2. The effects 
 of spirits taken into the stomach, in the last experiment, were so 
 instantaneous, that it appears impossible that absorption should 
 have taken place before they were produced. 3. A’ person who 
 
99 
 
 to which I cannot go. I am inclined to think that 
 though such absorption is not necessary to produce 
 drunkenness, it generally takes place to a greater or 
 lesser degree; nor can I conceive any reason why 
 alcohol may not be taken into the circulation as well 
 as any other fluid. My reasons for supposing that it 
 is absorbed are the following. 1. The blood, breath, 
 and perspiration of a confirmed drunkard differ from 
 those of a sober man; the former being darker, and the 
 two latter strongly impregnated with a spirituous odour. 
 2. The perspiration of the wine-drinker is often of the 
 hue of his favourite liquor: after a debauch on Port, 
 Burgundy, or Claret, it is not uncommon to see the 
 shirt or sheets in which he lies, tinted to a rosy colour 
 by the moisture which exudes from his body. 3. 
 Madder, mercury, and sulphur are received into the 
 
 is intoxicated frequently becomes suddenly sober after vomiting. 
 4, In the experiments which I have just related, I mixed 
 tincture of rhubarb with the spirits, knowing from the experi- 
 ments of Mr. Home and Mr. William Brande, that this 
 (rhubarb) when absorbed into the circulation, was readily 
 separated from the blood by the kidneys, and that very small 
 quantities might be detected in the urine by the ‘addition of 
 potash ; but though I never failed to find urine in the bladder, 
 I never detected rhubarb in it.”"—Phil. Trans. of the Roy. 
 Soc. of Lond. 1811, Part I. p. 178. 
 
100. 
 
 circulation unchanged; the former dyeing the bones, 
 and the others exhaling through the pores of the skin, 
 so as to communicate their peculiar odours to the per- 
 son, and even discolour coins and other metallic sub- 
 stances in his pockets. The first of these reasons is a 
 direct proof of absorption: the second shows, that as 
 wine is received into the circulation, and passes through 
 it, alcohol may do the same; and the third furnishes 
 collateral evidence of other agents exhibiting this phe- 
 nomenon as well as spirituous liquors. The doctrine of 
 absorption is supported by Dr. Trotter,* who conceives 
 that alcohol de-oxygenizes the blood, and causes it to 
 give out an unusual portion of hydrogen gas. The 
 quantity of this gas in the bodies of drunkards is so 
 great, that many have attempted to explain from it 
 the circumstance of Spontaneous Combustion, by which, 
 it is alleged, the human frame has been sometimes 
 
 ae ed burned to ashes. 
 
 
 
 * Essay on Drunkenness. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 PHYSIOLOGY OF DRUNKENNESS. 
 
 In administering medicines, the practitioner has a 
 natural desire to learn the means by which they pro- 
 duce their effects upon the body. Thus, he is not 
 -a diuretic, 
 f the bile. 
 d under- 
 
 contented with knowing that squill acts 
 
 
 
 
 
 and that mercury increases the secreti 
 He inquires by what process they do so} 
 stands that the first excites into increased action the 
 secretory arteries of the kidneys, and the last the 
 secretory veins of the liver. In like manner, he does 
 not rest satisfied with the trite knowledge that wines, 
 and spirits, and ales, produce intoxication: he extends 
 his researches beyond this point, and is naturally 
 anxious to ascertain by what peculiar action of the 
 
102 
 
 system these agents give rise to so extraordinary an 
 effect. 
 
 All the agents of which we have spoken, with the 
 exception of tobacco, whose action from the first is 
 decidedly sedative, operate partly by stimulating the 
 frame. They cause the heart to throb more vigorously, . 
 and the blood to circulate freer, while, at the same 
 time, they exert a peculiar action upon the nervous 
 system. The nature of this action, it is probable, will 
 never be satisfactorily explained. If mere stimulation 
 were all that was wanted, drunkenness ought to be 
 present in many cases where it is never met with, It, - 
 or more properly speaking, its symptoms, ought to exist 
 in inflammatory fever, and after violent exercise, such 
 as running or hard walking. Inebriating agents, 
 therefore, with few exceptions, have a twofold action, 
 They both act by increasing the circulation, and by 
 influencing the nerves; and the latter operation, there 
 can be no doubt, is the more important of the two. 
 Having stated this general fact, it will be better to con-— 
 sider the cause of each individual symptom in detail. — 
 
 I. Vertigo—tThis is partly produced by the ocular 
 delusions under which the drunkard labours, but it is 
 principally owing to other causes; as it is actually 
 greater when the eyes are shut than when they are 
 
103 
 
 open—these causes, by the exclysion of light, being un- 
 accountably increased. Vertigo, from intoxication, is far 
 less liable to produce sickness and vomiting than from 
 any other cause; and when it does produce them, it is 
 to a very inconsiderable degree. These symptoms, in 
 ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, arise from the dis- 
 ordered state of the stomach, and not, as we have else- 
 where mentioned, from the accompanying giddiness. 
 There are, indeed, a certain class of subjects who 
 vomit and become pale, as soon as vertigo comes 
 over them, but such are few in number compared 
 with those whose stomachs are unaffected by this sen- 
 sation. In swinging, smoking, sailing at sea, or turn- 
 ing rapidly round, sickness and vomiting are apt to 
 occur; and there seems no doubt that they proceed in 
 a great measure from the vertigo brought on by these 
 actions. The giddiness of drunkenness, therefore, as 
 it very rarely sickens, must be presumed to have some 
 characters peculiar to itself. In this, aa Mell as in 
 some other affections, it seems to be the consequence 
 of a close sympathy between the brain and nerves of 
 the stomach; and whatever affects the latter organ, or 
 any other viscus strongly sympathising with it, may 
 bring it on equally with inebriating agents: calculi in 
 the ureters or biliary ducts are illustrations of this fact. 
 In intoxication, the giddiness is more strongly marked, 
 
104 
 
 because the powers both of body and mind are tem- 
 porarily impaired, and the sensorium so disordered as 
 to be unable to regulate the conduct. 
 
 A degree of vertigo may be produced by loading the 
 stomach too rapidly and copiously after a long fast. 
 Common food, in this instance, amounts to a strong 
 stimulus in consequence of the state of the stomach, in 
 which there was an unnatural want of excitement. 
 This organ was in a state of torpor; and a stimulus 
 which, in ordinary circumstances, would hardly have 
 been felt, proves, in reality, highly exciting. For the 
 same reason, objects have an unnatural luminousness 
 when a person is suddenly brought from intense dark- 
 ness to a brilliant light. 
 
 II. Double Vision.—The double vision which occurs 
 _ in drunkenness may be readily accounted for by the 
 influence of increased circulation in the brain upon the 
 nerves of sight. In phrenzy, and various fevers, the 
 same phenomenon occurs. Every nerve is supplied 
 with vessels; and it is conceivable that any unusual 
 impulse of blood into the optics may so far affect that 
 pair as to derange their actions. Whence, they convey 
 false impressions to the brain, which is itself too much 
 thrown off its just equilibrium to remedy, even if that 
 under any circumstances were possible, the distorted 
 
105 
 
 images of the retina. The refraction of light in the 
 tears, which are secreted more copiously than usual 
 during intoxication, may also assist in multiplying 
 objects to the eye. 
 
 Ill. Staggering and Stammering.—These symptoms 
 are, in like manner, to be explained from the dis- 
 ordered state of the brain and nervous system. When 
 the origin of sensation is affected, it is impossible that 
 parts whose actions depend upon it can perform their 
 functions well. The nervous fluid is probably carried 
 to the muscles in a broken and irregular current, and 
 the filaments which are scattered over the body are 
 themselves directly stunned and paralyzed: hence, the 
 insensibility to pain, and other external impressions. 
 This insensibility extends everywhere, even to the 
 organs of deglutition and speech. The utterance is 
 thick and indistinct, indicating a loss of power in the 
 lingual nerves which give action to the tongue; and 
 the same want of energy seems to prevail in the gusta- 
 tory branches which give it taste. 
 
 IV. Heat and Flushing.—These result from the 
 strong determination of blood to the surface of the 
 body. This reddens and tumifies the face and eyes, 
 and excites an universal glow of heat. Blood is the 
 
106 
 
 cause of animal heat, and the more it is determined to 
 any part, the greater is the quantity of caloric evolved 
 
 therefrom. 
 
 V. Ringing in the Ears.—This is accounted for by 
 the generally increased action within the head, and 
 more particularly by the throbbing of .the internal 
 carotid arteries which run in the immediate neighbour- 
 hood of the ears. 
 
 V1. &levation of Spirits —The mental pleasure of 
 - Intoxication is not easily explained on physiological 
 principles. We feel a delight in being rocked gently, 
 in swinging on a chair, or in being tickled. These 
 undoubtedly act upon the nerves, but in what manner, 
 it would be idle to attempt investigating. Intoxicating 
 agents no doubt do the same thing. The mental 
 manifestations produced by their influence depend 
 almost entirely upon the nerves, and are, unlike the 
 corporeal ones, in a great measure independent of 
 vascular excitement. The power of exciting the 
 feelings inherent in these principles, can only be 
 accounted for by supposing a most intimate relation 'to 
 subsist between the body and the mind. The brain, 
 through the medium of its nervous branches, is the 
 source of all this excitement. These branches receive 
 
107 
 
 the impressions and convey them to their fountain- 
 head, whence they are showered like sparkling rain- 
 drops. over the. mind, in a thousand fantastic varieties. 
 No bodily affection ever influences the mind but 
 through the remote or proximate agency of this organ, 
 It sits enthroned in the citadel of thought, and, though 
 material itself, acts with wizard power both upon 
 matter and spirit. No other texture has the same 
 pervading principle. If the lungs be diseased, we have 
 expectoration and cough; if the liver, jaundice or 
 dropsy; if the stomach, indigestion; but when the 
 brain is affected, we have not merely many bodily 
 symptoms, but severe affections of the mind; nor are 
 such affections ever produced by any organ but through 
 the agency of the brain. It, therefore, acts in a 
 double capacity upon the frame, being both the source 
 of the corporeal feelings, and of the mental manifesta- 
 tions. Admitting this truth, there can be little diffi- 
 culty in apprehending why intoxication produces so 
 powerful a mental influence. This.must proceed from 
 a resistless impulse being given to the brain, by virtue 
 of the peculiar action of inebriating agents upon the 
 nerves. That organ of the mind is suddenly endowed 
 with increased energy. Not only does the blood cir- 
 culate through it more rapidly, but an action, suz 
 generis, is given to its whole substance. Mere in- 
 
108 
 
 crease of circulation, as we have already stated, is not 
 sufficient: there must be some other principle at work 
 upon its texture; and it is this principle, whatever it 
 may be, which is the main cause of drunkenness. 
 At first, ebriety has a soothing effect, and falls over 
 the spirit like the hum of bees, or the distant murmur 
 of a cascade. Then to these soft dreams of Elysium 
 succeed a state of maddening energy and excitement 
 in the brain. The thoughts which emanate from its 
 prolific tabernacle, are more fervid and original than 
 ever—they rush out with augmented copiousness, and 
 sparkle over the understatiding like the aurora borealis, . 
 or the eccentric scintillations of light upon a summer 
 cloud. Ina word, the organ is excited to a high, but 
 not a diseased action, for this is coupled with pain, 
 and, instead of pleasurable, produces afflicting ideas. 
 But its energies, like those of any other part, are apt 
 to be over-excited. When this takes place, the 
 balance is broken; the mind gets tumultuous and dis- 
 ordered, and -the ideas inconsistent, wavering, and 
 absurd. Then come the torpor and exhaustion subse- 
 quent on such excessive stimulus. The person falls 
 into drowsiness or stupor, and his mind, as well as his 
 body, is followed by languor corresponding to the 
 previous excitation. 
 Such is a slight and unsatisfactory attempt to eluci- 
 
109 
 
 date some of the more prominent phenomena of 
 drunkenness. Some are omitted as being too ob- 
 vious to require explanation, and others have been 
 elsewhere cursorily accounted for in different parts of 
 the work. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 , Sap 
 METHOD OF CURING THE FIT OF DRUNKENNESS. 
 
 Zz 
 
 I. From Liquors.—Generally speaking, there is 
 no remedy for drunkenness equal to vomiting. The 
 sooner the stomach is emptied of its contents the 
 better, and this may, in most cases, be accomplished 
 by drinking freely of tepid water, and tickling the 
 fauces. On more obstinate occasions, powerful emetics 
 will be necessary. The best for this purpose, are ten 
 grains of sulphate of copper, half a drachm of sulphate 
 of zinc, or five grains of tartar emetic. Either of these 
 should be dissolved in a small quantity of tepid water, 
 and instantly swallowed. Should this treatment fail 
 in effecting vomiting, and dangerous symptoms super- 
 vene, the stomach pump, lately invented by Jukes, 
 
11] a 
 
 should be employed. Cold applications to the head 
 are likewise useful. In all cases, the head ought to be 
 well elevated, and the neckcloth removed, that there 
 may be no impediment to the circulation. Where 
 there is total insensibility, where the pulse is slow 
 and full, the pupils dilated, the face flushed, and the 
 breathing stertoroys, it becomes a question whether 
 blooding might be useful. Darwin* and Trotter speak 
 discouragingly of the practice, As a general rule I 
 think it is bad; and that many persons who would 
 have recovered, if left to themselves, have lost their 
 lives by being prematurely bled. In all cases it should 
 be done cautiously, and not for a considerable time. 
 Vomiting and other means should invariably be first 
 had recourse to, and if they fail, and nature is unable 
 of her own power to overcome the stupor, blooding 
 may be tried. In this respect, liquors differ from 
 opium, the insensibility from which is benefited by 
 abstraction of blood. 
 
 There is one variety of drunkenness in which both 
 blooding and cold are inadmissable. This is when a 
 person is struck down, as it were, by drinking suddenly 
 a great quantity of ardent spirits. Here he is over- 
 
 ” * Zoonomia. 
 
 F2 
 
112 
 
 come by an instantaneous stupor: his countenance is 
 ghastly and pale, his pulse feeble, and his body cold. 
 While these symptoms continue, there is no remedy 
 but vomiting. When, however, they wear off, and are 
 succeeded, as they usually are, by flushing, heat, and 
 general excitement, the case is changed, and must be 
 treated as any other where such symptoms exist. 
 
 The acetate of ammonia is said to possess singular 
 properties in restoring from intoxication. This fact 
 was ascertained by M. Masurer, a French chemist. 
 ' According to him, from twenty to thirty drops in a 
 glass of water will, in most cases, relieve the patient 
 from the sense of giddiness and oppression: of the 
 brain; or, if that quantity should be insufficient, half 
 the same may be again given in eight or ten minutes 
 after. In some cases the remedy will occasion nausea 
 or vomiting, which, howevér, will be salutary to the 
 patient, as the state of the brain is much aggravated 
 by the load on the stomach and subsequent indigestion. 
 It is also farther stated that the value of this medicine 
 is greatly enhanced from its not occasioning that heat 
 of the stomach and subsequent inflammation which are 
 apt to be produced by pure ammonia... Whether it 
 possesses all the virtues attributed to it, I cannot say 
 from personal observation, having never had occasion 
 to use it in any case which came under my manage- 
 
113 
 
 t 
 
 ment; but I think it at least promises to be useful, 
 and is at all events worthy of a trial. . 
 
 Mr. Bromley of Deptford recommends a draught com- 
 posed of two drachms of Aq. Ammon. Aromat, in two 
 ounces of water, as an effectual remedy in drunkenness. 
 
 We have already mentioned that the excitement of 
 drunkenness is succeeded by universal languor. In 
 the first stage, the drunkard is full of energy, and 
 
 capable of withstanding vigorously all external in- 
 
 fluences. In the second, there is general torpor and 
 exhaustion, and he is more than usually subject to 
 every impression, whether of cold or contagion. Per- 
 sons are often picked up half dead in this second stage. 
 The stimulus of intoxication had enabled them to 
 endure the chill of the atmosphere, but the succeeding 
 weakness left them more susceptible than before of its 
 severity. In this state the body wili not sustain any 
 farther abstraction of stimuli; and blooding and cold 
 would be highly injurious. Vomiting is here equally 
 necessary, as in all other instances; but the person 
 must be kept in a warm temperature, and cherished 
 
 with light and nourishing food—with soups, if such can 
 
 be procured, and even with negus, should the prostra- 
 
 tion of strength be very great. © 
 A paroxysm of periodical drunkenness may be some- 
 times shortened by putting such small quantities of 
 
114 
 
 a 
 tartar emetic into the liquor which the person indulges 
 in, as to bring on nausea. This, however, must be done 
 with secrecy and caution. 
 
 It may here be mentioned, though not with a view 
 of recommending the practice, that the vegetable acids 
 have a strong effect both in counteracting and remoy- 
 ing-drunkenness. To illustrate this fact, the follow- 
 ing circumstance may be mentioned. About twenty 
 years ago, an English regiment was stationed in 
 Glasgow, the men of which, as is common in all 
 regiments, became enamoured of whisky. This liquor, 
 to which they gave the whimsical denomination of 
 white ale, was new to them—being nearly unknown 
 in England: and they soon indulged in it to such 
 an extent, as to attract the censure of their officers. 
 Being obliged to be at quarters by a certain hour, 
 they found out the plan of sobering themselves by 
 drinking large quantities of vinegar, perhaps a gill 
 or two at a draught. This, except in very bad cases, 
 had the desired effect, and enabled them to enter the 
 barrack-court, or’ appear on parade, in a state of 
 tolerable sobriety. The power of the vegetable acids 
 in resisting intoxication, is well shown in the case of 
 cold punch—a larger portion of which can be with- 
 stood than of either grog or toddy, even when the 
 quantity of spirit is precisely the same. 
 
115 
 
 There is nothing which has so strong a tendency to 
 dispel the effects of a debauch as hard excercise, 
 especially if the air be cold. Aperients and diaphor- 
 etics are also. extremely useful for the same purpose. 
 
 For some days after drinking too much, the food 
 should be light and unirritating, consisting principally 
 of vegetables. Animal food is apt to heat the body, 
 and dispose it to inflammatory complaints. * 
 
 Il. From Opium.—When a dangerous quantity of 
 opium has been taken, the treatment, in the first 
 
 instance, is the same as with regard to spirits, or any 
 
 
 
 * In speaking of the treatment, it is necessary to guard 
 against confounding other affections with drunkenness :—“ ‘There 
 is a species of delirium that often attends the accession of typhus 
 fever, from contagion, that I have known to be mistaken for 
 ebriety. Among seamen and soldiers, whose habits of intoxica- 
 tion are common, it will sometimes require nice discernment to 
 decide; for the vacant stare in the countenance, the look of 
 idiotism, incoherent speech, faultering voice, and tottering walk, 
 are so alike in both cases, that the naval and military surgeon 
 ought at all times to be very cautious how he gives up a man to 
 punishment, under these suspicious appearances. . Nay, the cir- 
 cumstance of his having come from a tavern, with even the 
 effluvium of liquor about him, are signs not always to be 
 trusted; for these haunts of seamen and soldiers are often the 
 sources of infection.” — Trotter. 
 
116 
 
 other intoxicating fluid. Immediate vomiting, by the — 
 administration of similar emetics, is to be attempted, 
 and when it has taken place, it should be encouraged 
 by warm drinks, till there is reason to believe that the 
 stomach has been freed of the poison. Large quantities 
 of a strong infusion of coffee ought then to be given, 
 or the vegetable acids, such as vinegar or lemon-juice, 
 mixed with water. These serve to mitigate the bad 
 consequences which often follow, even after the 
 opium has been brought completely up. If the person 
 show signs of apoplexy, more especially if he be of a 
 plethoric habit, the jugular vein, or temporal artery 
 should be opened, and a considerable quantity of 
 blood taken away. Every means must be used to 
 arouse him from stupor. He must be moved about, 
 if possible, from room to room, hartshorn applied to 
 his nostrils, and all plans adopted to prevent him from 
 sinking into lethargy. For this purpose, camphor, 
 asafoetida, or musk, might be administered with advan- 
 tage. In cases where vomiting cannot be brought 
 about by the ordinary means, M. Orfila suggests that 
 one or two grains of tartar emetic, dissolved in an: 
 ounce or two of water, might be injected into the 
 veins. In desperate cases, Jukes’s pump may be tried. 
 Purgatives are latterly necessary. | 
 
 Many practitioners consider vinegar and the other 
 
117 
 
 vegetable acids antidotes to opium. This opinion M. 
 
 Orfila has most satisfactorily shown to be erroneous. 
 
 In a series of well-conducted and conclusive experi- 
 
 ments made by him, it appears that the vegetable acids 
 
 aggravate the symptoms of poisoning by opium, when- 
 
 ever they are not vomited. They hurry them on more 
 
 rapidly, render them more violent, produce death at 
 
 an earlier period, and give rise to inflammation of the 
 stomach—an event which hardly ever occurs when 
 they are not employed. These effects, it would appear, 
 
 are partly produced by their power of dissolving 
 
 opium, which they do better than the mere unassisted 
 
 fluids of the stomach; consequently the absorption is 
 
 more energetic. The only time when acids can be of 
 use, is after the person has brought up the poison by 
 
 vomiting. They then mitigate the subsequent symp- 
 
 toms, and promote recovery; but if they be swallowed 
 
 before vomiting takes place, and if this act cannot 
 
 by any means be brought about, they aggravate the 
 
 disorder, and death ensues more rapidly than if they 
 
 had not been taken. 
 
 Coffee has likewise a good effect when taken after 
 the opium is got off the stomach; butit differs from the 
 acids in this, that it does not, under any circumstances, 
 increase the danger. While the opium is still unre- 
 moved, the coffee may be considered merely inert; 
 
 F3 
 
118 
 
 and it is, therefore, a matter of indifference whether 
 at this time it be taken or not. Afterwards, however, 
 it produces the same beneficial effects as lemonade, 
 tartaric acid, or vinegar. According to Orfila, the 
 infusion is more powerful as an antidote than the 
 decoction. 
 Drunkenness or poisoning from the other narcotics, 
 such as hemlock, belladonna, aconite, hyoscyamus, &e. 
 is treated in precisely the same manner as that from — 
 opium. | 
 
 IIL. From Tobacco.—If a person feel giddy or languid 
 from the use of this luxury, he should lay himself 
 down on his back, exposed to a current of cool air. 
 Should this fail of reviving him, let him either swallow 
 twenty or thirty drops of hartshorn, mixed with a glass 
 of cold water, or an ounce of vinegar moderately 
 diluted. Where tobacco has been received into the 
 stomach, so as to produce dangerous symptoms, a 
 powerful emetic. must immediately be given, and 
 vomiting encouraged by copious drinks, till the poison” 
 is brought up. After this, vinegar ought to be freely 
 exhibited, and lethargy prevented by the external and 
 internal use of stimuli. If apoplectic symptoms 
 appear, blooding must be had recourse to. The same 
 rule applies here, with regard to acids, as in the case 
 
119 
 
 of opium. They should never be given till the stomach 
 is thoroughly liberated of its contents by previous 
 vomiting. — 
 
 Accidents happen oftener with tobacco than is 
 commonly supposed. Severe languor, retching, and 
 convulsive attacks sometimes ensue from the applica- 
 tion of ointment, made with this plant, for the cure of 
 rmg-worm; and Santeuil, the celebrated French poet, 
 lost his life in consequence of having unknowingly 
 drunk a glass of wine, into which had been put some 
 Spanish snuff. 
 
 IV. From Nitrous Oxide-—Though the inhalation 
 of this gas is seldom attended with any risk, yet, in 
 very plethoric habits, there might be a determina- 
 tion of blood to the head, sufficient to produce apo- 
 plexy. If a person, therefore, becomes, after the 
 experiment, convulsed, stupified, and livid in the 
 countenance, and if these symptoms do not soon wear 
 away, some means must be adopted for their removal. 
 In general, a free exposure to fresh air, and dashing 
 cold water over the face, will be quite sufficient, but 
 if the affection is so obstinate as to resist this plan, it 
 will then be necessary to draw some blood from the 
 arm, or, what is still better, from the jugular vein. 
 When, in delicate subjects, hysteria and other nervous 
 
: 120 
 
 symptoms are produced, blooding is not necessary ; all 
 that is requisite to be done being the application of 
 cold water to the brow or temples, and of hartshorn to 
 the nostrils. In obstinate cases, twenty or thirty drops 
 of the latter in a glass of water, may be administered 
 with advantage. . 
 
-CHAPTER xX. 
 
 PATHOLOGY OF DRUNKENNESS. 
 
 Tue evil consequences of drinking, both in a physical 
 and moral point of view, seem to have been known 
 from the most remote antiquity. They are expressly 
 mentioned in Scripture; nor can there be a doubt 
 that the Homeric fiction of the companions of Ulysses 
 being turned into swine by the enchanted cup of 
 Circe, plainly implied the bestial degradation into 
 which men bring themselves by coming under the 
 dominion of so detestable a habit. Having mentioned 
 these circumstances in favour of the accuracy of 
 ancient knowledge, we shall simply proceed to detail 
 the effects of drunkenness, so far as the medical prac- 
 titioner is professionally interested in knowing them. 
 
122 
 
 The moral consequences belong more properly to the 
 legislator and divine, and do not require to be here 
 considered. 
 
 I, State of the Liver.—One of the most common 
 consequences of drunkenness is acute inflammation. 
 This may affect any organ, but its attacks are princi- 
 pally confined to the brain, the stomach, and the liver. 
 It is unnecessary to enter into any detail of its nature 
 and treatment. These are precisely the same as when 
 it proceeds from any other cause. The inflammation 
 of drunkenness is, in a great majority of cases, chronic ; 
 and the viscus which, in nine cases out of ten, suffers, 
 is the liver. . 
 
 Liquors, from the earliest ages, have been known to 
 affect this organ. Probably the story of Prometheus 
 stealing fire from heaven and animating clay, alluded 
 to the effects of wine upon the human body; and the 
 punishment of having his liver devoured by a vulture, 
 may be supposed to refer to the consequences which 
 men draw upon themselves by over-indulgence—this 
 organ becoming thereby highly diseased. Man is 
 not the only animal so affected. Swine which are fed 
 on the refuse of breweries, have their livers enlarged — 
 in the same manner. Their other viscera become also 
 indurated, and their flesh so tough, that, unless killed 
 
123 
 
 early, they are unfit to be eaten. Some fowl-dealers 
 in London are said to mix gin with the food of the 
 birds, by which means they are fattened, and their 
 livers swelled to a great size. The French manage 
 to enlarge this organ in geese, by piercing it shortly 
 after the creatures are fledged. * 
 
 This is a viscus which, in confirmed topers, never 
 escapes; and it withstands disease better than any 
 other vital part, except, perhaps, the spleen. Some- 
 times, by a slow chronic action, it is enlarged to double 
 its usual size, and totally disorganized, and yet the 
 person suffers comparatively little. The disease fre- 
 quently arises in tropical climates, from warmth and 
 other natural causes, but an excess in spirituous liquors 
 is more frequently the cause than is generally imagined. 
 
 The consequences which follow chronic inflamma- 
 tion of the liver, are very extensive. The bile, in 
 general, is not secreted in due quantity or quality, 
 consequently digestion is defective. The bowels, from 
 want of their usual stimulus, become torpid. The 
 person gets jaundiced, his skin becoming yellow, dry, 
 
 * “ They have a custom of fostering a liver complaint in 
 their geese, which encourages its growth to the enormous weight 
 of some pounds ; and this diseased viscus is considered “a great 
 delicacy.” —Matthews’ Diary of an Invalid. 
 
124 
 
 and rough, and the white of his eyes discoloured. As 
 the enlargement goes on, the free passage of blood in 
 the veins is impeded, and their extremities throw out 
 lymph: this accumulating, forms dropsy, a disease 
 with which a great proportion of drunkards are ulti- 
 mately more or less affected. 
 
 The jaundice of drunkenness is not an original 
 disease, but merely a symptom of the one under con- 
 sideration. A very slight cause will often bring it on; 
 it is, consequently, not always dangerous. Dropsy is, 
 for the most part, also symptomatic of diseased liver, 
 but sometimes, more especially in dram-drinkers, it 
 arises from general debility of the system. In the 
 former case, effusion always takes place in the cavity 
 of the abdomen. In the latter, there is general ana- 
 sarca throughout the body, usually coupled with more 
 or less topical affection. In every instance, dropsy, 
 whether general or local, is a very.dangerous disease. 
 
 II. State of the Stomach, &c.—Like the liver, the 
 stomach is more subject to chronic than acute inflam- 
 mation. It is also apt to get indurated, from long 
 continued, slow action going on within its substance. 
 This disease is extremely insidious, frequently proceed- 
 ing great lengths before it is discovered. ‘The organ is 
 often thickened to half an inch, or even an inch; and 
 
125, 
 
 its different tunics so matted together that they cannot 
 be separated. The pyloric orifice becomes, in many 
 cases, contracted. The cardiac may suffer the same 
 disorganization, and so may the csophagus; but these 
 are less common, and, it must be admitted, more rapidly 
 fatal. When the stomach is much thickened, it may 
 sometimes be felt like a hard ball below the left ribs. 
 At this point there is also a dull uneasy pain, which is 
 augmented upon pressure. 
 
 Indigestion or spasm may arise from a mere imper- 
 fect action of this organ, without any disease of its 
 structure; but when organic derangement takes place, 
 they are constant attendants. In the latter case it is ex- 
 tremely difficult for any food to remain on the stomach ; 
 it is speedily vomited. What little is retained under- 
 goes a painful fermentation, which produces sickness and 
 heartburn. There is, at the same time, much obstinacy 
 in the bowels, and the body becomes emaciated. 
 
 This disease, though generally produced by dissipa- 
 tion, originates sometimes from other causes, and 
 affects the soberest people. Whenever the stomach is 
 neglected, when acidity is allowed to become habitual, 
 or indigestible food too much made use of, the founda- 
 tion may be laid for slow inflammation, terminating in 
 schirrus and all its bad consequences. 
 
 Vomiting of bilious matter in the mornings, is a 
 
126 
 
 very common circumstance among all classes of drunk- 
 ards. But there is another kind of vomiting much 
 more dangerous, and that is when inflammation of the 
 villous coat of the stomach takes place. In such a state 
 there is not much acute pain, but rather a dull feeling 
 of uneasiness over the abdomen, attended with the 
 throwing up of a dark, crude matter, resembling coffee 
 grounds. I have seen two cases in which the vomit- 
 ing stopped suddenly, in consequence of metastasis 
 to the head. In these, the affection soon proved — 
 fatal, the persons being seized with indistinctness of 
 vision, low delirium, and general want of muscular 
 power: the action of the kidneys was also , totally 
 suspended for three days before death. On examina- 
 tion, post mortem, there was effusion in the ventricles of . 
 the brain, besides extensive inflammation along the inner 
 surface of the upper portion of the alimentary canal. 
 
 There is nothing more indicative of health, than a 
 good appetite for breakfast ; but confirmed topers, from 
 the depraved state of their stomachs, lose all relish for 
 this meal. ‘ 
 
 Persons of this description are generally of a costive 
 habit of body, but a debauch with those who are 
 constitutionally sober, is, for the most part followed by 
 more or less diarrhea. 
 
 In the latter stages of a drunkard’s life, though he 
 
127 
 
 has still the relish for liquor as strongly as ever, he no 
 longer enjoys his former power of withstanding it. 
 This proceeds from general weakness of the system, 
 and more particularly of the stomach. This organ gets 
 debilitated, and soon gives way, while the person is 
 
 intoxicated much easier, and often vomits what he had —— 
 
 swallowed. His appetite likewise fails; and to restore 
 it, he has recourse to various bitters, which only aggra- 
 vate the matter, especially as they are in most cases 
 taken under the medium of ardent spirits. Bitters 
 are often dangerous remedies. When used mo- 
 derately, and in cases of weak digestion from natural 
 causes, they frequently produce the best effects; but a 
 long continuance of them is invariably injurious. 
 There is a narcotic principle residing in most bitters, 
 which physicians have too much overlooked. It 
 destroys the sensibility of the stomach, determines to 
 the head, and predisposes to apoplexy and _ palsy. 
 This was the effect of the famous Portland Powder, * 
 
 
 
 * The Portland Powder consisted of equal parts of the roots 
 of round birthwort and gentian, of the leaves of germander and 
 ground pine, and of the tops of the lesser centaury, all dried. 
 Drs. Cullen, Darwin, and Murray of Gottingen, with many 
 other eminent physicians, bear testimony to the pernicious effects 
 of this compound. 
 
128 
 
 so celebrated many years ago for the cure of gout; and 
 similar consequences. will, in the long-run, follow 
 bitters as they are commonly administered. Persons 
 addicted to intemperance, have an inordinate liking for 
 these substances; let them be ever so nauseous, they 
 are swallowed greedily, especially if dissolved in spirits. 
 Their fondness for purl, herb-ale, and other pernicious 
 morning drinks, is equally striking. 
 
 There is nothing more characteristic of a ee 
 than an indifference to tea, and beverages of a like 
 nature. When a woman exhibits this quality, we may 
 reasonably suspect her of indulging in liquor. If 
 drunkards partake of tea, they usually saturate it 
 largely with ardent spirits. The unadulterated fluid 
 is too weak a stimulus for their unnatural appetites. 
 
 III. State of the Brain.—Inflammation of this organ 
 is often a consequence of intemperance. It may follow 
 immediately after a debauch, or it may arise secondarily 
 from an excess of irritation being applied to the body, 
 during the stage of.debility. Even an abstraction of 
 stimulus, as by applying too much cold to the head, 
 may bring it on in this latter state. 
 
 Dr. Armstrong, in his lectures, speaks of a chronic 
 inflammation of the brain and its membranes, proceed- 
 ing, among other causes, from the free use of strong 
 
129 
 
 wines and liquors. According to him, it is much more 
 common after, than before, forty years of age, although 
 he has seen several instances occurring in young 
 persons. The brain gets diseased, the diameter of the 
 vessels being diminished, while their coats are thickened 
 and less transparent than usual. In some places they 
 swell out and assume a varicose appearance. The 
 organ itself has no longer the same delicate and elastic 
 texture, becoming either unnaturally hard, or of a 
 morbid softness. Slight effusions in the various 
 cavities are apt to take place. Under these circum- 
 stances, there is a strong risk of apoplexy. To this 
 structure is to be ascribed the mental debasement, the 
 loss of memory, and gradual extinction of the intellec- 
 tual powers. I believe that the brains of all confirmed 
 drunkards exhibit more or less of the above appear- 
 
 ances. 
 
 IV. State of the Kidneys.—During intoxication the 
 action of the kidneys is always much increased; and 
 this is a favourable circumstance, as, more than any 
 thing else, it carries off the bad effects of drinking. 
 The kidney, however, in confirmed drunkards, is apt 
 to become permanently diseased, and secretes its 
 accustomed fluid with unusual activity, not only in the 
 moments of drunkenness, when such an increase is 
 
130 
 
 ‘ 
 
 useful, but at all periods, even when the person abstains 
 from every sort of indulgence. The disease called 
 diabetes is thus produced, which consists in a morbid 
 increase of the secretion, accompanied with a diseased . 
 state of the texture of the kidneys. This affection is 
 mostly fatal. 
 
 V. State of the Bladder.—Drunkenness affects this 
 organ in common with almost every other; hence it is 
 subject to paralysis, spasm, induration, &c. and to all 
 the bad consequences thence resulting—such as pain, 
 incontinence, and retention of urine, 
 
 VI. State of the Blood and Breath.—The blood of a 
 professed drunkard, as already stated, differs from that 
 of a sober man. It is more dark, and approaches to 
 the character of venous. The ruddy tint of those car- 
 buncles which are apt to form upon the face, is no 
 proof to the contrary, as the blood which supplies 
 them is crimsoned by exposure to the air, on the same 
 principle as that by which the blood in the pulmonary 
 arteries receives purification by the process of breathing. 
 The blood of a malt liquor drinker is not merely darker, 
 but also more thick and sizy than in other cases, 
 owing, no doubt, to the very nutritious nature of his 
 _ habitual beverage. 
 
131 
 
 The breath of a drunkard has always a spirituous 
 odour. This is partly owing to the state of the 
 stomach, which communicates the flavour of its cus- 
 tomary contents to respiration; and partly also, there 
 can be little doubt, to the absorption of the liquor by 
 the blood, through the medium of the lacteals. 
 
 VII. State of the Perspiration.—The perspiration of 
 a confirmed drunkard, has often a strong spirituous 
 odour. I have met with two instances, the one in a 
 Claret, the other in a Port drmker, in which the 
 moisture which exuded from their bodies had a ruddy 
 complexion, similar to that of the wine on which they 
 had committed their debauch. 
 
 VIII. State of the Eyes, &c.—The eyes may be 
 affected with acute or chronic inflammation. Almost 
 all drunkards have the latter more or less. Their eyes 
 are red and watery, and have an expression so peculiar, 
 that the cause can never be mistaken. This, and a 
 certain want of firmness about the lips, which are loose, 
 gross, and sensual, betray at once the toper. Drunken- 
 ness impairs vision. The delicacy of the retina is pro- 
 bably affected; and it is evident, that, from long con- 
 tinned inflammation, the tunica adnata which covers the 
 cornea must; lose its original clearness and transparency. 
 
132 
 
 ° 
 
 Pleurisy often arises in drunkards from their re- 
 maining out in the open air, exposed to cold and damp. 
 Inflammation of the intestines, of the kidneys, of the - 
 bladder, &c. is also liable to occur, both from general 
 excitement, and particular irritation of these’ organs. 
 Rheumatism is often traced to the neglect and exposure 
 of a fit of drunkenness. 
 
 Most drunkards have a constant tenderness and red- 
 ness of the nostrils. This, I conceive, arises from the 
 state of the stomach and esophagus. The same mem- 
 brane which lines them is prolonged upwards to the 
 nose and mouth, and carries thus far its irritability. 
 
 There is no organ which so rapidly betrays the 
 Bacchanalian propensities of its owner as the nose. It 
 not only becomes red and fiery, like that of Bardolph,* 
 
 
 
 * “ Falstaff. Thou art our admiral: thou bearest the lan- 
 thorn in the poop; but ’tis in the nose of thee: thou art the 
 ' knight of the burning lamp. 
 
 ** Bardolph. Why, Sir John, my face does you no harm. 
 
 “ Falstaff. No, I'll be sworn! I make as good use of it as 
 many a man doth of a death’s head or a memento mori. I never 
 see thy face but I think of hell-fire.”»——‘* When thou rann’st 
 up Gads-hill in the night to catch my horse, if I did not think 
 thou hadst been an ignis-fatuus, or a ball of wildfire, there’s no 
 purchase in money. O! thou art a perpetual triumph—an ever- 
 Jasting bonfire light: thou hast saved me a thousand marks in 
 
 
 

 
 133 
 
 but acquires a general increase of size—displaying 
 upon its surface various small pimples, either wholly of 
 a deep crimson hue, or tipped with yellow, in conse- 
 quence of an accumulation of viscid matter within 
 them. The rest of the face often presents the same 
 carbuncled appearances. 
 
 I have remarked that drunkards who have a foul, 
 livid, and pimpled face, are less subject to liver com- 
 plaint than those who are free from such eruptions. 
 In this case the determination of blood to the surface 
 of the body seems to prevent that fluid from being 
 ~ directed so forcibly to the viscera as it otherwise 
 
 would be. The same fact is sometimes observed in 
 sober persons who are troubled with hepatic affection. 
 While there is a copious rush upon the face or body, 
 they are comparatively well, but no sooner does it go 
 in than they are annoyed by the liver getting into 
 disorder. 
 
 IX. State of the Hair.—The hair of drunkards is 
 
 
 
 links and torches, walking with me in the night betwixt tavern 
 and tavern; but the Sack thou hast drunk me would have 
 bought me lights as good cheap, at the dearest chandler’s in 
 Europe. I have maintained that salamander of yours with fire 
 any time this two and thirty years—heaven reward me for it!” 
 
 G 
 
 =o 
 
 
 
134 
 
 generally dry, slow of growth, and lable to come: out; 
 they are consequently more: subject to: baldness than 
 other people. At the same time, it would be exceed-: 
 ingly unjust to suspect any one, whose hair was: of: 
 this description, of indulgence in liquors, for we. fre- 
 quently find in the soberest persons that the hairs are: 
 arid, few in number, and prone to decay. Baldness 
 with such persons is merely a local affection, but: in 
 drunkards it is: constitutional, and proceeds from that 
 general defect of vital energy which pervades their 
 whole system. 
 
 X. Gout.—Gout is the offspring of gluttony, drunk- 
 enness, or sensuality, or of them: all put together. It 
 occurs most frequently with tlie: wine-bibber. A 
 very slight cause may bring it on when hereditary: 
 predisposition exists; but in other circumstances con- _ 
 siderable excess will be required before it makes its 
 appearance. It is one of the most afflicting conse- 
 quences of intemperance, and seems to have been 
 known as such from an early age—mention being made 
 of it by Hippocrates, Aretzus, and Galen. Among 
 the Roman ladies, gout was very prevalent, during the 
 latter times of the empire; and, at the present day, 
 there are few noblemen who have it not to hand 
 down to their offspring as a portion of their heritage. 
 
135 
 
 XI. Tremors.—A- general tremor is an attendant 
 upon almost all drunkards. This proceeds from nerv- 
 ous irritability. Even those who are habitually tem- 
 perate, have a quivering in their hands next morning, 
 if they indulge overnight in a debauch. While it 
 lasts, a: person cannot hold any thing without shaking, 
 neither can he write steadily. Among those who 
 have long devoted themselves to the mysteries of 
 Silenus, this amounts to a species of palsy, affecting 
 the whole body, and even the lips, with a sort of 
 paralytic trembling. On awaking from sleep, they 
 frequently feelit. so strongly, as to-seem in the cold fit 
 of an ague, being neither able to walk steadily, nor 
 articulate distinctly. It is singular that the very cause 
 of this distemper should be employed for its cure. 
 When the confirmed drunkard awakes with tremor, he 
 immediately swallows a dram; the most violent shak- 
 ing “is quieted by this means. The opium-eater has 
 recourse to the'same method: to remove’ the agitation 
 produced by one dose of opium, he takes another. This, 
 in both cases, is only adding fuel to the fire, the 
 tremors coming on at shorter intervals, and larger 
 doses being required for their removal. 
 
 Drunkards are more subject. than any other class of 
 people to apoplexy and palsy. 
 
 G 2 
 
136 
 
 _ XII. Palpitation of the Heart.—This is a very dis- 
 tressing consequence of drunkenness, producing diffi- 
 cult breathing, and such a determination to the head 
 as often brings on giddiness.. Drunkards are apt. to 
 feel it as they step out of bed, and the vertigo is fre- 
 quently so great as to make them stumble. There are 
 some sober persons who are much annoyed by this 
 affection. In them it may arise from spasmodic action 
 of the fibres of the heart, nervous irritability, or organic 
 disease, such as aneurism, or angina pectoris. 
 
 XIII. Aysteria.—Female drunkards are very subject 
 to hysterical affections. There is a delicacy of fibre 
 in women, and a susceptibility of mind, which make 
 them feel more acutely than the other sex all external 
 influences. Hence their whole system is often violently 
 affected with hysterics and other varieties of nervous 
 weakness. These affections are not always traced to 
 their true cause, which is often neither more nor less 
 than dram-drinking. When a woman’s nose becomes 
 crimsoned at the point, her eyes somewhat red, and 
 more watery than before, and her lips fuller and less 
 firm and intellectual in their expression, we may sus- 
 
 pect that something wrong is going on. 
 
 XIV. Epilepsy —Drunkenness may bring on epilepsy, 
 
137 
 
 or falling-sickness, and may excite it into action in 
 those who have the disease from other causes. Many 
 persons cannot get slightly intoxicated without hav- 
 ing an epileptic or other convulsive attack. These 
 fits generally arise in the early stages, before drunken- 
 ness has got toa height. If they do not occur early, 
 the individual will probably apr them altogether for 
 the time. 
 
 XV. Sterility —This is a state to which confirmed 
 drunkards are very subject. The children of such per- 
 sons are, in general, neither numerous nor healthy. 
 From the general defect of vital power in the parental 
 system, they are apt to be puny and emaciated, and 
 more than ordinarily liable to inherit all the diseases 
 of those from whom they are sprung. 
 
 XVI. Emaciation—Emaciation is peculiarly charac- 
 teristic of the spirit drinker. He wears away, before 
 his time, into the “lean and slippered pantaloon” 
 spoken of by Shakspeare in his “ Stages of Human 
 Life.” All drunkards, however, if they live long 
 enough, become emaciated. The eyes get hollow, the 
 cheeks fall in, and wrinkles soon furrow the counte- 
 ‘nance with the marks of age. The fat is absorbed from 
 every part, and the rounded plumpness which formerly 
 
138 
 
 characterised the body soon wears away. The whole 
 form gets lank and debilitated. ‘There is a want of due 
 warmth, and the hand is usually covered with a chill 
 clammy perspiration. 
 
 XVII. Corpulency.—Malt liquor and wine drinkers 
 
 are, for the most part, corpulent, a circumstance which 
 - rarely attends the spirit drinker, unless he be, at the 
 same time, a don vivant. Both wines and malt liquors 
 are more nourishing than spirits. Under their use, the 
 blood becomes, as it were, enriched, and an universal 
 deposition of fat takes place throughout the system. 
 The omentum and muscles of the belly are, in a par- 
 ticular manner, loaded with this secretion ; whence the 
 abdominal protuberance so remarkable in persons who 
 indulge themselves in wine and ales. As the abdomen 
 is the part which becomes most enlarged, so is it that 
 which longest retains its enlargement. It seldom parts 
 with it, indeed, even in the last stages, when the rest 
 of the body is in a state of emaciation. There.can be 
 no doubt that the parts which first lose their corpu- 
 lency are the lower extremities. Nothing is more 
 common than to see a pair of spindle-shanks tottering 
 under the weight of an enormous corporation, to which 
 they seem attached more like artificial appendages, 
 than natural members. The next parts which give 
 
139 
 
 way are the shoulders. They fall flat, and lose their 
 former firmness and rotundity of organization. After 
 this, the whole body becomes loose, flabby, and in- 
 elastic; and five years do as much to the constitution 
 as fifteen would have done under a system of strict 
 temperance and sobriety. The worst symptom that 
 can befall a corpulent man, is the decline of his lower 
 extremities.* So long as they continue firm, and 
 correspond with the rest of the body, it is a proof 
 that there is still vigour remaining; but when they 
 gradually get attenuated, while other parts retain their 
 original fulness, there can be no sign more sure that 
 his constitution is breaking down, and that he will 
 never again enjoy his wonted strength. 
 
 XVIII. Premature Old Age.—Drunkenness has a 
 dreadful effect in anticipating the effects of age. It 
 causes time to pace on with giant strides—chases youth 
 
 * This circumstance has not escaped the observation of Shak- 
 spéare,—“' Chief Justice. Do you set down your name in the 
 scroll of youth, that are written down old, with all the characters 
 of age? Have you not a moist eye, a dry hand, a yellow cheek, 
 a white beard, a decreasing leg, an increasing belly? Is not 
 your voice broken, your wind short, your chin double, your wit 
 single, and every part about you blasted with antiquity; and 
 will you yet call yourself young? Fie, fie, fie, Sir John! ” 
 
140 
 
 from the constitution of its victims—and clothes them 
 prematurely with the grey garniture of years. How 
 often do we see the sunken eye, the shrivelled cheek, _ 
 the feeble, tottering step, and hoary head, in men who — 
 
 have scarcely entered into the autumn of their existence. 
 To witness this distressing picture, we have only to 
 walk out early in the mornings, and see those gaunt, 
 melancholy shadows of mortality, betaking themselves 
 to the gin-shops, as to the altar of some dreadful 
 demon; and quaffing the poisoned cup to his honour, 
 as the Carthaginians propitiated the deity of their 
 worship, by flinging their children into the fire which 
 burned within his. brazen image. Most of these 
 unhappy persons are young, or middle-aged men; and 
 though some drunkards attain a green old age, they 
 are few in number compared with those who sink 
 untimely into the grave ere the days of their youth 
 have well passed by.* Nothing is more common than 
 
 
 
 * & Vet nobody tell me that there are numbers who, though 
 they live most irregularly, attain, in health and spirits, those 
 remote periods of life attained by the most sober; for this argu- 
 ment being grounded on a case full of uncertainty and hazard, 
 and which, besides,.so seldom occurs as to look more like a 
 miracle than the work of nature, men should not suffer them- 
 selves to be thereby persuaded to live irregularly, nature having 
 
141 
 
 to see a man of fifty, as hoary, emaciated, and wrinkled, 
 as if he stood on the borders of fourscore. 
 
 XIX. Ulcers.—Ulcers often break out on the bodies 
 of drunkards. Sometimes they are fiery and irritable, 
 but in general they possess an indolent character. Of 
 whatever kind they may be, they are always aggravated 
 in such constitutions. A slight cause gives rise to 
 them; anda cut or bruise which, in health, would have 
 healed in a few days, frequently degenerates into a 
 foul sloughy sore. When drunkards are affected with 
 scrofula, scurvy, or any cutaneous disease whatever, 
 they always, ceteris paribus, suffer more than other 
 
 people. 
 
 XX. Melancholy —Though drunkards over their 
 cups are the happiest of mankind, yet, in their solitary 
 hours, they are the most wretched. Gnawing care, 
 heightened perhaps by remorse, preys upon their con- 
 science. While sober, they are distressed both in 
 body and mind, and fly to the bowl to drown their — 
 
 been too liberal to those who did so without suffering by it; a 
 favour which very few have any right to expect.’’—Cornaro 
 on Health. 
 
 G3 
 
| 142 
 
 misery in oblivion. Those, especially, whom hard 
 fate drove to this desperate remedy, feel the pangs of 
 low spirits with seven-fold force. The weapon they 
 employ to drive away care is turned upon themselves. 
 Every time it is used, it becomes less capable of 
 scaring the fiend of melancholy, and more effectual in 
 wounding him that uses it. 
 
 All drunkards are apt to become peevyish and dis- 
 contented with the world. They turn enemies to the 
 established order of things, and, instead of looking to 
 themselves, absurdly blame the government as the 
 origin of their misfortunes. 
 
 XXI. Madness.*—This terrible infliction often 
 proceeds from drunkenness. When there is hereditary 
 predisposition, indulgence in liquor is more apt to call 
 it into action than when there is none, The mind — 
 and body act reciprocally upon one another; and when 
 the one is injured the other must suffer more or less. 
 
 
 
 * & The excessive use of spirituous liquors among the lower 
 ranks of people, is justly considered a great cause of that de- 
 plorable evil insanity, to which they are liable, as well as to 
 those bilious and dropsical complaints, formerly so little known.”’ 
 —Sir John Sinclair. 
 
143 
 
 In intemperance, the structure of the brain is no longer 
 the same as in health; and the mind, that immortal 
 part of man, whose manifestations depend upon this 
 organ, suffers a corresponding injury. 
 
 Intoxication may affect the mind in two ways. A 
 person, after excessive indulgence in liquor, may be 
 seized with delirium, and run into a state of violent 
 outrage and madness. In this case the disease comes 
 suddenly on: the man is fierce and intractable, and 
 requires a strait-jacket to keep him in order. Some 
 never get drunk without being insanely outrageous: 
 they attack, without distinction, all who come in their 
 way, foam at the mouth, and lose all sense of danger. 
 This fit either goes off in a few hours, or degenerates 
 into a confirmed attack of lunacy. More generally, 
 however, the madness of intoxication is of another 
 character, partaking of the nature of idiotism, into 
 which state the mind resolves itself, in consequence of 
 a long-continued falling off in the intellectual powers. 
 
 Drunkenness, according to the reports of Bethlehem 
 Hospital, and other similar institutions for the insane, 
 is one of the most common causes of lunacy; and there 
 are few but must have witnessed the wreck of the 
 most powerful minds, by this destructive habit. It has 
 a more deplorable effect upon posterity than any other 
 practice, for it entails not only bodily disease upon the 
 
144 
 
 innocent offspring, but also the more afflicting diseases 
 of the mind. * 
 
 XXIL—Delirium Tremens. -—Both the symptoms 
 and treatment of this affection require to be mentioned, 
 because, unlike the diseases already enumerated, it 
 originates solely in the excessive use of stimulating 
 liquors, and is cured in a manner peculiar to itself. 
 
 Delirium tremens seldom takes place except in con- 
 firmed drunkards. Tt occurs generally after an ex- 
 cessive fit of drinking which has continued for some 
 days without intermission; but I have also known it 
 to arise from a person having been too suddenly de- 
 prived of the stimulus to which he had been long 
 accustomed. A medical friend lately mentioned to me 
 
 * It has been considered ‘unnecessary to enter into any detail 
 of the nature and treatment of the foregoing diseases, because 
 they may originate from many other causes besides drunkenness ; 
 and when they do arise from this source, they acquire a peculiarity 
 of character. Their treatment is also precisely the same as in 
 ordinary cases—it being always understood, that the bad habit 
 which brought them on must be abandoned before any good can 
 result from medicine. The disease, however, which follows is 
 different, and requires particular consideration. 
 
 t This disease is not very appropriately named, for trembling, 
 though a common, is not an invariable symptom, ~ 
 
145 
 
 the case of one of his patients who fractured his leg, 
 and who, in consequence of the abstemiousness re- 
 quisite.in such a case, was seized with this disease four 
 days after the accident. 
 
 Delirium tremens comes on with lassitude, loss of 
 appetite, and frequent exacerbations of cold. The 
 
 pulse is weak and quick, and the body covered with a 
 7 chilly moisture. The countenance is pale, there are 
 usually tremors of the limbs, anxicty, and a total dis- 
 relish for the common amusements of life. Then suc- 
 ceed retching, vomiting, and much oppression at the 
 pit of the stomach. When the person sleeps, which is 
 but seldom, he frequently starts in the utmost terror, 
 having his imagination haunted by frightful dreams. 
 To the first coldness, glows of heat succeed, and the 
 slightest renewed agitation of body or mind, sends out 
 a profuse perspiration. The tongue is dry and furred: 
 every object appears unnatural and hideous. . There is 
 a constant dread of being haunted by spectres. Black 
 or luminous bodies seem to float before the person: he 
 conceives that vermin and all sorts of impure things 
 are crawling upon him, and is constantly endeavouring 
 to pick them off. His ideas are wholly confined to 
 himself and his own affairs, of which he entertains the 
 most disordered notions. He imagines that he is away 
 from home, forgets those who are around him, and: is 
 
146 
 
 irritated beyond measure by the slightest contradiction. 
 Calculations, buildings, and other fantastic schemes 
 often occupy his mind; and a belief that every person 
 is confederated to ruin him, is commonly entertained. 
 This state generally lasts from four to ten days, and 
 goes off after a refreshing sleep; but sometimes, either 
 from the original violence of the disease, or from im- 
 -proper treatment, it proves fatal. There is another 
 termination which the complaint sometimes, though 
 rarely, assumes. It may run into madness or confirmed 
 idiotism. Indeed, when it continues much beyond the 
 time mentioned, there is danger of the mind se eG 
 permanently alienated. 
 
 Subsultus, low delirium, very cold skin, contracted . 
 pupil, strabismus, short intermitting pulse, and frequent 
 vomiting, are indications of great danger. 
 
 This disease is to be distinguished from typhus, in not 
 being contagious, and in haying neither the petechiz 
 nor cadaverous smell that often occur in this variety of 
 fever. The delirium is not so impetuous in its attack, and 
 there is, from the beginning, less prostration of strength. 
 
 From phrenitis it is readily distinguishable, by being 
 attended with a more moderate degree of fever, by the 
 want of turgescency, redness of the eyes, and intoler- 
 ance of light. The face likewise, instead- of being 
 flushed, is pale, and the pulse weak. 
 
147 
 
 It is distinguished from mania by being without the 
 wild, furious glassy eye of ibs labouring under that 
 disorder. 
 
 « Those patients who have been driven to intoxica- 
 tion from some great affliction, are generally in im- 
 minent danger; for, during the progress of the com- 
 plaint, their raving incessantly turns upon the recent 
 calamity, and produces an irritation and exhaustion 
 most difficult to be counteracted. But confirmed 
 drunkards, who have previously laboured under chronic 
 hepatitis, or some similar organic affection, perhaps 
 stand the worst chance; at least I have seen two 
 subjects of this kind who sank rapidly under the 
 disease.”’ * 
 
 In treating delirium tremens, particular attention 
 must be paid to the nature of the disease, and constitu- 
 tion of the patient. Dr. Clutterbuck conceives that it 
 arises from congestion, or inflammation in the brain. 
 This view seems to me as erroneous in principle as 
 dangerous in the practice to which it must naturally 
 lead. I agree with Dr. Ryan in considering it a 
 
 * Armstrong’s Practical Illustrations of Typhus Fever, &e. 
 a work to which I am indebted for some valuable hints, and to 
 which the reader is referred for farther information on Delirium 
 Tremens. 
 
148 
 
 nervous disease, originating in that species of excite- 
 ment often accompanying debility. On this account, 
 blooding is, in the great majority of cases, very preju- 
 dicial, and ought never to be adopted except in very 
 plethoric subjects, or when there is much local affec- 
 tion—a circumstance which very rarely happens.: 
 Even here it must be used in moderation, and only at 
 the commencement of the complaint. In like manner, 
 purgatives cannot be employed except at the beginning: 
 nor at any period can they be carried to a great 
 extent.. As the bowels are, in most cases, in extreme 
 disorder, and the evacuations black and viscid, some 
 smart physic should be given early; but when the dis- 
 ease has proceeded any length, the less we have to do 
 with such medicines the better. As soon as the bowels 
 have been opened, a quantity of tepid water strongly 
 impregnated with salt, should be dashed over the body, 
 and the person immediately: thereafter well dried and 
 put to bed. Laudanum should then be administered 
 in doses of from forty to sixty drops, according to cir- 
 “cumstances, and repeated every now and'then till sleep 
 be procured. The “ black drop,” in doses proportioned 
 ' to its strength, which is nearly four times greater than 
 that of landanum, may be advantageously used as a sub- 
 stitute for the latter ; or the acetate of morphine, in doses 
 of a quarter of a grain, repeated occasionally, may be — 
 
149 
 
 employed with equal benefit. The great object of the 
 treatment is to soothe the apprehensions of the patient, 
 - and procure him rest. A moderate quantity of wine 
 will be necessary, especially if he has been a confirmed 
 drinker, and labours under much weakness. The 
 principal means, indeed, after purging has been carried 
 to its due extent, are wine, opium, and tepid effusion : 
 the latter may be tried two, three, or four times in the 
 twenty-four hours, as occasion requires. The mind 
 is, at the same time, to be soothed in the gentlest 
 manner, the whimsical ideas of the patient to be 
 humoured, and his fancies indulged as far as possible. 
 All kinds of restraint or contradiction are most hurt- 
 ful. Some recommend blisters to the head, but these 
 
 are, in every case, injurious. 
 
 Such are the principal diseases brought on by 
 drunkenness. There are still several others which 
 have not been enumerated—nor is there any affection 
 incident to either the body or mind, which this vice 
 does not aggravate into double activity. The number 
 of persons who die in consequence of complaints so 
 produced, is much greater than unprofessional people 
 imagine. This fact is well known to medical men, who 
 are aware that many of the cases they are called upon 
 to attend, originate in liquor, although very often the 
 
150 
 
 circumstance is totally unknown either to the patient 
 or his friends. This is particularly the case with regard 
 to affections of the liver, stomach, and other viscera 
 concerned in digestion. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 SLEEP OF DRUNKARDS. 
 
 To enter at large upon the subject of sleep would 
 require a volume. At present I shall merely consider 
 it so far as it is modified by drunkenness. 
 
 The drunkard seldom knows the delicious and 
 refreshing slumbers of the temperate man. He is 
 restless, and tosses in bed for an hour or two before 
 falling asleep. Even then, his rest is not comfortable. 
 He awakes frequently during night, and each time his 
 mouth is dry, his skin parched, and his head, for the 
 most part, painful and throbbing. These symptoms, 
 from the irritable state of his constitution, occur even 
 when he goes soberly to bed; but if he lie down 
 
152 
 
 heated with liquor, he feels them with double force. 
 Most persons who fall asleep in a state of intoxication, 
 have much headach, exhaustion, and general fever, on 
 awaking. Some constitutions are lulled to rest by 
 liquors, and others rendered excessively restless; but 
 the first are no gainers by the difference, as they suffer 
 abundantly afterwards. Phlegmatic drunkards drop 
 into slumber more readily than the others: their sleep 
 is, in reality, a sort of apoplectic stupor. 
 
 I. Dreams.—Dreams may be readily supposed to be 
 common, from the deranged manifestations of the brain 
 which occur in intoxication. They are usually of a 
 painful nature, and leave a gloomy impression upon the 
 mind. In general, they are less palpable to the under- 
 standing than those which occur in soberness. They 
 come like painful grotesque conceptions. across. the 
 imagination; and though this faculty can embody 
 nothing into shape, meaning, or consistence, it is yet 
 haunted with melancholy ideas. These visions depend 
 much on the mental constitution of the person, and 
 are modified by his habitual tone of thinking. ~ It is, 
 however, to be remarked, that while. the waking 
 thoughts of the drunkard are full of sprightly images, 
 those of his sleep are usually tinged with a shade of 
 perplexing melancholy. 
 
— 153 
 
 II. Mightmare—Drunkards are subject to night- 
 mare. There are many persons, whether sober or 
 dissipated, who cannot lie long on their backs without 
 an attack of this distressing affection. It seldom, 
 indeed, comes on except in this posture. It is com- 
 monly supposed to occur only when the sleep is 
 unusually profound. Many observations have con- 
 vinced me that this opinion is erroneous, and that it 
 always takes place when the slumber is imperfect. Dr. 
 Darwin says, that on awaking from nightmare, he has 
 observed that his pulse was’ not accelerated; and he is 
 disposed to think, contrary to the general belief, that 
 there is no laboriousness of respiration. The justness of 
 this doctrine, however, is extremely doubtful, and I have 
 remarked, that, whatever may have been the state of 
 breathing and pulsation during the fit, both are affected 
 on coming out of it. The heart, on the relief from 
 terror, beats quickly, and the breathing is invariably 
 hurried. 
 
 Physiologists have generally imputed incubus to 
 mechanical compression upon the diaphragm from a 
 full stomach. This, probably, is very often the real 
 cause, for we find that after eating a hearty supper we 
 are more disposed to it than at other times. The 
 blood, in consequence of the full expansion of the lungs 
 being prevented, accumulates in the right cavities of 
 
154 
 
 the heart. These circumstances naturally’ produce a_ 
 degree of oppression, and would lead us to infer, con 
 trary to the author of the Zoonomia, that, im many 
 cases at least, the breathing’ must be laborious: There: 
 are, however, I am convinced, examples of nightmare — 
 which are referrible to other causes than meré me+ 
 chanical compression of the lungs. It may certainly: 
 be brought on by sympathetic connection between the 
 stomach and brain. Such instances we sometimes meet 
 with in those who are subject to chronic gastritis. 
 
 Drunkards are more afflicted than other people with 
 this disorder, in so far as they are equally subject’ to 
 all the ordinary causes, and liable to others, from: which 
 sober people are exempted. Intoxication is fertile in 
 producing reveries and dreams, those playthings of the 
 fancy; and it may also give rise to such a distortion of 
 idea, as to call up incubus, and all its frightful accom- 
 paniments. 
 
 III. Sleep-walking.—Somnambulism is another affec- 
 tion to which drunkards are more liable than’ their 
 neighbours. I apprehend that the slumber is never 
 profound when this takes place, and that, in drunken-. 
 ness in particular, it may occur in a state of very im-- 
 perfect sleep. Drunkards, even when consciousness is 
 not quite abolished, frequently leave their beds and walk 
 
155 
 about the room. They know perfectly well what they 
 are about, and recollect it afterwards, but if questioned, 
 either at the moment or at any future period, they are 
 totally unable to give any reason for their conduct. 
 Sometimes, after getting up, they stand a little time 
 and endeavour to account for rising, then go again 
 deliberately to bed. There is often, in the behaviour 
 of these individuals, a strange mixture of folly and 
 rationality. Persons half tipsy have been known to 
 arise and go out of doors in their night-dress, being all 
 the while sensible of what they were doing, and aware 
 of its absurdity. The drunken somnambulism has not 
 always this character. Sometimes the reflecting faculties 
 are so absorbed in slumber, that the person has no con- 
 sciousness of what he does. From drinking, the affection 
 is always more dangerous than from any other cause, as 
 the muscles have no longer their former strength, and 
 are unable to support the person in his hazardous expe- 
 ditions. If he gets upon a house-top, he does not balance 
 himself properly, from giddiness; he is consequently 
 liable to falls and accidents of every kind. It is con- 
 sidered, with justice, dangerous to awaken a sleep- 
 walker. In a drunken fit, there is less risk than under ° 
 other circumstances, the mind being so far confused by 
 
 intoxication, as to be, in some measure, insensible to 
 the shock. 
 
156 
 
 In this affection, the eyes are often, perhaps gener- 
 ally, open, and communicate impressions to the mind. 
 The ears, likewise, are not always impervious to 
 sounds, for a sleep-walker, when spoken to, will 
 sometimes answer rationally. It appears that there 
 is, in this state, a certain connection between the body 
 and the mind. The principal fault lies in the judg- 
 ment, which exercises no power over the will. Hence, 
 somnambulists get into the most hazardous situations, 
 from want of understanding to check the blind im- 
 pulses of instinct and volition. Courage is not, with 
 them, an abstract quality, but proceeds, as in maniacs, 
 from an ignorance of danger. * 
 
 * Yor farther information on sleep, the reader is referred to 
 Darwin’s Zoonomia, Richerand’s Physiology, Waller’s Treatise 
 on the Incubus, Bond’s Essay on the same, Hartley on Man, 
 Magendie’s Physiology, and other writers. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF DRUNKARDS, 
 
 WHETHER such a quantity of hydrogen may accumu- 
 late in the bodies of drunkards as to sustain combustion, 
 I profess myself totally unable to determine. This 
 subject is, indeed, one which has never been satisfac- f 
 torily investigated; and; notwithstanding the cases 
 brought forward in support of the doctrine, the general 
 opinion seems to be, that the whole is fable, or at least 
 so much involved in obscurity as to afford no just 
 grounds for belief. The principal information on this 
 point, is in the Journal de Physique, in an article by _ 
 Pierre Aime Lair, a copy of which -was published in’ 
 
 the sixth volume of the Philosophical Transactions, by 
 Mr. Alexander Tilloch. A number of cases are there 
 
 H 
 
158 
 
 given: and it is not a little singular that the whole of 
 them are those of women in advanced life. When we 
 consider that writers like Vicq d’ Azyr, Le Cat, Jaco- 
 beeus, Rolli, and Bianchini, have given their testimony 
 in support of such facts, it requires some effort to 
 believesthem unfounded in truth. At the same time, 
 in perusing the cases themselves, it is impossible to 
 divest the mind of an idea that some misstatement or 
 other exists, either as to their alleged cause or their 
 actual nature—and that their relaters have been led 
 into an unintentional misrepresentation. So thoroughly 
 am I satisfied of this, that I think it doubtful whether, 
 if the clothes of a notorious drunkard were to catch 
 fire, his body would be more severely injured, or more 
 liable to become inflammable than that of the soberest 
 person. It seems probable that to the effects of a 
 stroke of lightning are we to impute many of the 
 cases in question. M. Foderé remarks, that hydrogen 
 gas is developed in certain cases of disease, even in the 
 living body; and he seems inclined to join with M. 
 Mere in attributing what is called spontaneous com- 
 bustion, to the united action of hydrogen and electri- 
 city in the first instance, favoured by the accumulation 
 of animal oil, and the impregnation of spirituous 
 liquors. In the present state of our knowledge, it is 
 needless to hazard any conjectures upon this mysterious 
 
159 
 
 subject. The best way is to give a case or two, and 
 let the reader judge for himself. 
 
 CasE oF Mary Cuves.—* This woman, aged 
 fifty, was much addicted to intoxication. Her propen- 
 sity to this vice had increased after the death of her 
 husband, which happened a year and a half before: for 
 about a year, scarcely a day had passed in the course 
 of which she did not drink at least half a pint of rum 
 or aniseed-water. Her health gradually declined, and 
 about the beginning of February, she was attacked by 
 the jaundice and confined to her bed. Though she 
 was incapable of much action, and not in a condition 
 to work, she still continued her old habit of drinking 
 every day, and smoking a pipe of tobacco. The bed 
 in which she lay, stood parallel to the chimney of the 
 apartment, the distance from it of about three feet. 
 On Saturday morning, the Ist of March, she fell on 
 the floor, and her extreme weakness having prevented 
 her from getting up, she remained in that state till 
 some one entered and put her to bed. The following 
 night she wished to be left alone: a woman quitted 
 her at half-past eleven, and, according to custom, shut 
 the door and locked it. She had put on the fire two 
 large pieces of coal, and placed a light in a candlestick 
 on a chair at the head of the bed. At half-past five in 
 
 H 2 
 
160 
 
 the morning, smoke was seen issuing through the 
 window, and the door being speedily broke open, some 
 flames which were in the room were soon extinguished. 
 Between the bed and the chimney were found the 
 remains of the unfortunate Clues; one leg and a thigh 
 were still entire, but there remained nothing of the 
 skin, the muscles, and the viscera. The bones of the 
 cranium, the breast, the spine, and the upper ex- 
 tremities were entirely calcined, and covered with a 
 whitish efflorescence. The people were much sur- 
 prised that the furniture had sustained so little injury. 
 The side of the bed which was next the chimney 
 had suffered most; the wood of it was slightly burned, 
 but the feather-bed, the clothes, and covering were 
 safe. I entered the apartment about two hours after 
 it had been opened, and observed that the walls 
 and every thing in it were blackened; that it was 
 filled with a very disagreeable vapour; but that 
 nothing except the body exhibited any strong traces 
 of fire.” 
 
 This case first appeared in the Annual Register for 
 1773, and is a fair specimen of the cases collected in — 
 the Journal de Physique. There is no evidence that 
 the combustion was spontaneous, as it may have 
 been occasioned either by lightning, or by contact with 
 the fire. The only circumstance which militates 
 
161 
 
 against the latter supposition, is the very trifling 
 degree of burning that was found in the apartment. 
 
 Case oF Don Gio Maria Brrruoui.—* Hay- 
 ing spent the day in travelling about the country, he 
 arrived in the evening at the house of his brother-in- 
 law. He immediately requested to be shown to his 
 
 "destined apartment, where he had a_ handkerchief 
 placed between his shirt and shoulders; and, being left 
 alone, betook himself to his devotions. A few minutes 
 had scarcely elapsed when an extraordinary noise was 
 heard in the chamber, and the cries of the unfortunate 
 man were particularly distinguished: the people of the 
 house hastily entering the room, found him extended 
 on the floor, and surrounded by a light flame, which 
 receded (4 mesure) as they approached, and finally 
 vanished. On the following morning, the patient was 
 examined by M. Battlaglia, who found the integuments 
 of the right arm almost entirely detached, and pendant 
 from the flesh; from the shoulders to the thighs, the 
 integuments were equally injured; and on the right 
 hand, the part most injured, mortification had already 
 commenced, which, notwithstanding immediate scarifi- 
 cation, rapidly extended itself. The patient complained 
 of burning thirst, was horribly convulsed, and was 
 
 exhausted by ‘continual vomiting, accompanied by 
 
162 
 
 fever and delirium. On the fourth day, after two 
 hours of comatose insensibility, he expired. During 
 the whole period of his suffering, it was impossible to 
 trace any symptomatic affection. A short time 
 previous to his death, M. Battlaglia observed with 
 astonishment that putrefaction had made so much 
 progress; the body already exhaled an insufferable 
 odour; worms crawled from it on the bed, and the 
 nails had become detached from the left hand. 
 
 “ The account given by the unhappy patient was, 
 that he felt a stroke like the blow of a cudgel on the 
 right hand, and at the same time he saw a lambent 
 flame attach itself to his shirt, which was immediately 
 reduced to ashes, his wristbands, at the same time, 
 being utterly untouched. The handkerchief, which, 
 as before mentioned, was placed between his shoulders 
 and his shirt, was entire, and free from any trace of 
 burning; his breeches were equally uninjured, but 
 though not a hair of his head was burned, his coif was 
 totally consumed. The weather, on the night of the 
 accident, was calm, and the air very pure; no empy- 
 reumatic or bituminous odour was perceived in the 
 room, which was also free from smoke; there was no 
 vestige of fire, except that the lamp which had been 
 full of oil, was found dry, and the wick reduced to a 
 cinder.” 
 
163 
 
 This case is from the work of Foderé, and is given 
 as abridged by Paris and Fonblanque, in their excellent 
 treatise on Medical Jurisprudence. It occurred in 1776, 
 and is one of the best authenticated to be met with. 
 I am not aware that the subject of it was a drunkard: 
 if he were not, and if the facts be really true, we must 
 conclude that spontaneous combustion may occur in 
 sober persons, as well as in the dissipated. 
 
 Some chemists have attempted to account for this 
 kind of combustion, by the formation of phosphuretted 
 hydrogen in the body. This gas, as is well known, 
 inflames on exposure to the air; nor can there be a 
 doubt that if a sufficient quantity were generated, the 
 body might be easily enough consumed. If such an . 
 accumulation can be proved ever to take place, there 
 is an end to conjecture; and we have before us a cause 
 sufficiently potent to account for the burning. But 
 all the related cases rest on vague report, and are 
 unsupported by such evidence as would warrant us in 
 placing much reliance upon them. Inflammable 
 eructations are said to occur occasionally in northern 
 latitudes, when the body has been exposed to intense 
 cold after excessive indulgence in spirituous liquors ; 
 and the case of a Bohemian peasant is narrated, who 
 lost his life in consequence of a column of ignited 
 inflammable air issuing from his mouth, and baffling 
 
164 
 
 extinction. This case, as well as others of the same — 
 kind, is alleged to have arisen from phosphuretted 
 hydrogen, generated by some chemical combination of 
 alcohol and animal substances in the stomach. What 
 truth there may be in these relations I do not pretend — 
 to say. They wear unquestionably the aspect of 
 fiction; and are, notwithstanding, repeated from so 
 many quarters, that it is nearly as difficult to doubt 
 them altogether as to give them our entire belief. 
 There is one thing, however, which may be safeiy 
 denied; and that is the fact of drunkards having been 
 blown up in consequence of their breath or eructations 
 catching fire from the application of a lighted candle. 
 These tales are principally of American extraction ; 
 and seem elaborated by that propensity for the mar- | 
 vellous for which our transatlantic brethren have, of. 
 late years, been distinguished. 
 
 The subject of spontaneous combustion is one well 
 worth investigating, both in a medical and judicial point 
 of view. At present it is unnecessary to enter more 
 deeply into it, as it is supported more by hypothesis 
 and loose analogy than by authenticated facts. In 
 arguing upon its possibility, one great error has been 
 committed by physicians; and that is the circumstance 
 - of confounding the state of the living system with that 
 of the dead. In post mortem examinations, nothing is 
 
165 
 
 more common than to find the body charged with in- 
 flammable gases; whence the insufferable odour which 
 exhales from it. That such a quantity of these might 
 accumulate, as to support combustion, is, perhaps, not 
 impossible, but it is to be remembered, that they are 
 the result of decomposition,—and that such decom- 
 position cannot take place to any extent in the living 
 fibre. When animal matter runs into decay, it parts 
 with many of the laws which vitality imposed upon it, 
 and enters under the dominion of others. But 
 chemists, who in general are indifferent physiologists, 
 have neglected these facts, and have thus been the 
 means of introducing into medicine much that is 
 erroneous, both in theory and practice. * 
 
 * Ina memoir lately read before the Académie des Sciences, 
 the following are stated to be the chief circumstances connected 
 with spontaneous combustion. Having stated my own doubts 
 of such a phenomenon, I cannot of. course vouch for their accu- 
 racy, but leave the reader to form his own opinion upon the 
 subject. ; 
 
 «1. The greater part of the, persons who have fallen a victim 
 to spontaneous combustion have made an immoderate use of 
 alcoholic liquors. 2. The combustion is almost always general, 
 but sometimes is only partial. 3. It is much rarer among men 
 than among women, and they are principally old women. 
 There is but one case of the combustion of a girl seventeen 
 
 H3 
 
166 
 
 years of age, and that was only partial. 4. The body and the 
 viscera are invariably burnt, while the feet, the hands, and the 
 top of the skull almost always escape combustion. 5. Although 
 it requires several faggots to burn a common corpse, incineration 
 takes place in these spontaneous combustions without any effect 
 on the most combustible matters in the neighbourhood. In an 
 extraordinary instance of a double combustion operating upon 
 two persons in one room, neither the apartment nor the furni- 
 ture was burnt. 6. It has not been at all proved that the pre- 
 sence of an inflamed body is necessary to develope spontaneous 
 human combustions. (7. Water, so far from extinguishing the 
 flame, seems to give it more activity; and when the flame has 
 disappeared, secret combustion goes on. 8. Spontaneous 
 combustions are more frequent in winter than in summer. 
 9. General combustions are not susceptible of cure, only partial. 
 10. Those who undergo spontaneous combustion are the prey 
 of a very strong internal heat. 11. The combustion bursts out 
 all at once, and consumes the body in a few hours. 12. The 
 parts of the body not attacked are struck with mortification. 
 13. In persons who have been attacked with spontaneous com- 
 bustion, a putrid degeneracy takes place which soon leads to 
 gangrene.” . 
 
CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 DRUNKENNESS JUDICIALLY CONSIDERED. 
 
 Nor only does the drunkard draw down upon him- 
 self many diseases, both of body and mind, but if, 
 in his intoxication, he commit any crime or misde- 
 meanour, he becomes, like other subjects, amenable to 
 the pains of law. In this respect, indeed, he is worse 
 off than sober persons, for drunkenness, far from 
 palliating, is held to aggravate every offence: the law 
 does not regard it_as any extenuation of crime. “ A 
 drunkard,” says Sir Edward Coke, “ who is vol- 
 untarius demon, hath no privilege thereby; but what 
 hurt or ill soever he doth, his drunkenness doth aggra- 
 vate it.” In the case of the King versus Maclauchlin, 
 March, 1737, the plea of drunkenness, set up in miti- 
 
168 
 
 gation of punishment, was not allowed by the court. 
 Sir George Mackenzie says he never found it sus- 
 tained, and that in a case of murder it was repelled— 
 Spott versus Douglas, 1667. Sir Matthew Hales, c. 4, 
 is clear against the validity of the defence, and all 
 agree that “levis et modica ebrietas non excusat nec 
 minuit delictum.” It is a maxim in legal practice, that 
 “ those who presume to commit crimes when drunk, 
 must submit to punishment when sober.” This state 
 of the law is not peculiar to modern times. In ancient 
 Greece, it was decreed by Pittacus, that “he who 
 committed a crime when intoxicated, should receive 
 a double punishment,” viz. one for the crime itself, 
 and the other for the ebriety which prompted him to 
 commit it. The Athenians not only punished offences 
 done in drunkenness with increased severity, but, by 
 an enactment of Solon, inebriation in a magistrate 
 was made capital. The Roman law was, in some 
 measure, an exception, and admitted ebriety as a plea 
 for any misdeeds committed under its influence: per 
 vinum delapsis capitalis pena remittitur. Notwith- 
 standing this tenderness to offences by drunkards, the 
 Romans, at one period, were inconsistent enough to 
 punish the vice itself with death, if found occurring in 
 a woman. By two acts passed in the reign of James 
 I., drunkenness was punishable with fine, and, failing 
 
169 
 
 payment, with sitting publicly for six hours in the 
 stocks; 4 Jac. I. c. 5, and 21 Jac. I.c.'7. By the first 
 of these acts, justices of the peace may proceed against 
 drunkards at the sessions, by way of indictment; and 
 this act remained in operation till the 10th of October, 
 1828, at which time, by the act of the 9th Geo. IV. c. 
 61, §. 35, the law for the suppression of drunkenness 
 was repealed, without providing any punishment for 
 offenders in this respect. Previous to this period the 
 ecclesiastical courts could take cognizance of the offence, 
 and punish it accordingly. As the law stands at pre- 
 sent, therefore, drunkenness, per se, is not punishable, 
 but acts of violence committed under its influence are 
 held to be aggravated rather than otherwise; nor can 
 the person bring it forward as an extenuation of any 
 folly or misdemeanour which he may chance to commit. 
 In proof of this, it may be stated, that a bond signed in 
 a fit of intoxication, holds in law, and is perfectly 
 binding, unless it can be shown that the person who 
 signed it was inebriated by the collusion or contrivance 
 of those to whom the bond was given. A judge or 
 magistrate found drunk wpon the bench, is liable to 
 removal from his office; and decisions pronounced by 
 him in that state are held to be null and void. Such 
 persons cannot, while acting ez officio, claim the benefit 
 of the repeal in the ancient law—their offence being 
 
170 
 
 in itself an outrage on justice, and, therefore, a mis- 
 demeanour. Even in blasphemy, uttered in a state of 
 ebriety, the defence goes for nothing, as is manifest 
 from the following case, given in Maclaurin’s Argu- 
 ments and Decisions, p. 732. 
 
 “ Nov. 22, 1697. Patrick Kinninmouth, of that ilk, 
 was brought to trial for blasphemy and adultery. The 
 last charge was passed from. The indictment alleged, 
 He had affirmed Christ was a bastard, and that he had 
 said, ‘ If any woman had God on one side, and Christ 
 on the other, he would stow [cut] the lugs: [ears] 
 out of her head in spite of them both.’ He pleaded 
 chiefly that he was drunk or mad when he uttered 
 these expressions, if he did utter them. The court 
 found the libel relevant to infer the pains libelled, 7. e. 
 death; and found the defence, That the pannel was 
 furious or distracted in his wits relevant; but repelled 
 the alledgeance of fury or distraction arising from 
 drunkenness.” 
 
 It thus appears that the laws both of Scotland and 
 England agree in considering drunkenness no palliation 
 of crime, but rather the reverse; and it is well that it 
 is so, seeing that ebriety could be easily counterfeited, 
 and made a cloak for the commission of atrocious 
 offences. By the laws, drunkenness is looked upon as 
 criminal, and this being the case, they could not con- 
 
171 
 
 sistently allow one crime to mitigate the penalties due 
 to another. * 
 
 
 
 * “ The laws against intoxication are enforced with great 
 rigour in Sweden. Whoever is seen drunk, is fined, for the first 
 offence, three dollars; for the second, six; for the third and 
 fourth, a still larger sum, and is also deprived of the right of 
 voting at elections, and of being appointed a representative. 
 He is besides publicly exposed in the parish church on the 
 following Sunday. If the same individual is found committing 
 the same offence, a fifth time, he is shut up in a house of cor- 
 rection, and condemned to six months’ hard labour ; and if he 
 is again guilty, of a twelvemonth’s punishment of a similar 
 description. If the offence has been committed in public, such 
 as at a fair, an auction, &c. the fine is doubled; and if the 
 offender has made his appearance in a church, the punishment 
 is still more severe. Whoever is convicted of having induced 
 another to intoxicate himself, is fined three dollars, which sum is 
 doubled if the person is a minor. ,An ecclesiastic who falls into 
 this offence loses his benefice: if it is a layman who occupies 
 any considerable post, his functions are suspended, and perhaps 
 he is dismissed. Drunkenness is never admitted as an excuse 
 for any crime; and whoever dies when drunk is buried igno- 
 miniously, and deprived of the prayers of the church. It is 
 forbidden to give, and more explicitly to sell, any spirituous 
 liquors to students, workmen, servants, apprentices, and private 
 soldiers. Whoever is observed drunk in the streets, or making 
 a noise in a tavern, is sure to be taken to prison and detained 
 till sober, without, however, being on that account exempted 
 
172 
 
 from the fines. Half of these fines goes to the informers, (who 
 are generally police officers,) the other half to the poor. If the 
 delinquent has no money, he is kept in prison until some one 
 pays for him, or until he has worked out his enlargement. 
 Twice-a-year these ordinances are read aloud from the pulpit 
 by the clergy; and every tavern-keeper is bound, under the 
 penalty of a heavy fine, to have a copy of them hung up in the 
 principal rooms of his house.”’——Schubert’s Travels in Sweden. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 METHOD OF CURING THE HABIT OF DRUNKENNESS, 
 
 To remove the habit of drunkenness from any one in 
 whom it has been long established, is a task of peculiar 
 difficulty. We have not only to contend against the 
 cravings of the body, but against those of the mind; 
 and in struggling with both, we are, in reality, carrying 
 on a combat with nature herself. The system no 
 longer performs its functions in the usual manner ; and 
 to restore these functions to their previous tone of 
 action, is more difficult than it would be to give them 
 an action altogether the reverse of nature and of 
 health. 
 
 The first step to be adopted, is the discontinuance 
 of all liquors or substances which have the power of 
 
174, 
 
 intoxicating. The only question is—should they be 
 dropped at once, or by degrees? Dr. Trotter, in his 
 Essay on Drunkenness, has entered into a long train 
 of argument, to prove that, in all cases, they ought to 
 be given up instanter. He contends, that, being in 
 themselves injurious, their sudden - discontinuance 
 cannot possibly be attended with harm. But his 
 reasonings on this point, though ingenious, are not 
 conclusive. A dark unwholesome dungeon is a bad 
 thing, but it has been remarked, that those who have 
 been long confined to such a place, have become sick 
 if suddenly exposed to the light and pure air, on 
 recovering their liberty: had this been done by 
 degrees, no evil effects would have ensued. A 
 removal from an unhealthy climate (to which years had 
 habituated a man) to a healthy one, has sometimes 
 been attended with similar consequences. Even old 
 ulcers cannot always be quickly healed up with 
 safety. Inebriation becomes, as it were, a second 
 nature, and is not to be rapidly changed with impunity, 
 more than other natures. Spurzheim* advances the 
 same opinion. “ Drunkards,” says he, “ cannot leave 
 off their bad habits suddenly, without injuring their 
 
 
 
 * View of the Elementary Principles of Education. 
 
 - 
 
175 
 
 health.’ Dr. Darwin speaks in like terms of the 
 injurious effects of too sudden a change; and for these, 
 and other reasons about to be detailed, I am disposed, 
 upon the whole, to coincide with them. 
 
 If we consider attentively the system of man, we 
 will be satisfied that it accommodates itself to various 
 states of action. It will perform a healthy action, of 
 which there is only one state, or a diseased action, of 
 which there are a hundred. The former is uniform, 
 and homogeneous. It may be raised or lowered, 
 according to the state of the circulation, but its nature 
 is ever the same: when that changes—when it assumes 
 new characters—it is no longer the action of health, 
 but of disease. The latter may be multiplied to in- 
 finity, and varies with a thousand circumstances; such 
 as the organ which is affected, and the substance which 
 is taken. Now, drunkenness, in the long run, is one 
 of those diseased actions. The system no longer acts 
 with its original purity: it is operated upon by a 
 fictitious excitement, and, in the course of time, assumes 
 a state quite foreign to its original constitution—an 
 action which, however unhealthy, becomes, ultimately, 
 in some measure, natural. When we use opium for a 
 long time, we cannot immediately get rid of it, be- 
 cause it has given rise to a false action in the system— 
 which latter would suffer a sudden disorder if deprived 
 
176 
 
 of its accustomed stimulus.* Disease here triumphs over — 
 health, and has established so strong a hold upon the 
 body, that it is dislodged with difficulty by its lawful — 
 possessor. When we wish to get rid of opium, or any ; 
 _ other narcotic to which we are accustomed, we must 
 do so by degrees, and let the healthy action gradually 
 expel the diseased one. Place spirits or wine in the 
 situation of opium, and the results will be the same. 
 For these reasons, I am inclined to think, that, in 
 many cases at least, it would be improper and dangerous 
 to remove intoxicating liquors all at once from the 
 drunkard. Such a proceeding seems: at variance with 
 the established actions of the human body, and as in- 
 judicious as unphilosophical. 
 
 I do not, however, mean to say, that there are no 
 cases in which it would be necessary to drop liquors 
 all at once. When much bodily vigour remains— 
 when the morning cravings for the bottle are not irre- 
 sistible, nor the appetite altogether broken, the person 
 
 * When Abbas the Great published an edict to prohibit the 
 use of coquenar, (the juice of boiled poppies,) on account of its 
 dismal effects on the constitution, a great mortality followed, 
 which was only stopped at last by restoring the use of the pro- 
 hibited beverage. 
 
177 
 
 should give over his bad habits instantly. This is a 
 state of incipient drunkenness. He has not yet 
 acquired the constitution of a confirmed sot, and the 
 sooner he ceases the better. The immediate abandon- 
 ment of drinking may also, in general, take place when 
 there is any organic disease, such as enlarged liver, 
 dropsy, or schirrus stomach. Under these circum- 
 stances, the sacrifice is much less than at a previous 
 period, as the frame has, in a great measure, lost its 
 power of withstanding liquors, and the relish for them 
 is also considerably lessened. But even then, the 
 sudden deprivation of the accustomed stimulus has 
 been known to produce dangerous exhaustion; and it 
 has been found necessary to give it again, though in 
 more moderate quantities. Those drunkards who have 
 no particular disease, unless a tremor and loss of 
 appetite be so denominated, require to be deprived of 
 the bottle by degrees. Their system would be apt to 
 fall into a state of torpor if it were suddenly taken 
 away, and various mental diseases, such as melancholy, 
 madness, and delirium tremens, might even be the result. 
 With such persons, however, it must be acknowledged 
 that there is very great difficulty in getting their pota- 
 tions diminished. Few have fortitude to submit to 
 any reduction. There is, as the period of the ac- 
 
 customed indulgence arrives, an oppression and faint- 
 
178 
 
 ness at the precordia, which human nature can 
 scarcely endure, together with a gnawing desire, in- 
 finitely more insatiable than the longings of a pregnant 
 woman. 
 
 There are many persons that cannot be called 
 drunkards, who, nevertheless, indulge pretty freely in 
 the bottle, though after reasonable intervals. Such 
 persons usually possess abundance of health, and 
 resist intoxication powerfully. Here the stomach and 
 system in general lose their irritability, in the same way 
 as in confirmed topers, but this is more from torpor 
 than from weakness. The springs of life become less 
 delicate; the pivots on which they move get, as it 
 were, clogged, and, though existence goes on with 
 vigour, it is not the bounding and elastic vigour of 
 perfect health. This proceeds not from debility, but . 
 from torpor; the muscular fibre becoming, like the 
 hands of a labouring man, hardened and blunted in its 
 sensibilities. Such are the effects brought on by a 
 Jrequent use of inebriating agents, but an excessive use 
 in every case gives rise to weakness. This the system 
 can only escape by a proper interval being allowed to 
 elapse between our indulgences. But if dose be 
 heaped on dose, before it has time to rally from former 
 exhaustion, it becomes more and more debilitated; the 
 
 blood ceases to circulate with its wonted force; the 
 
179 
 
 secretions get defective; and the tone of the living 
 fibre daily enfeebled. 
 
 Drunkenness, in the long run, changes its character. 
 The sensations of the confirmed tippler, when intoxi- 
 cated, are nothing, in point of pleasure, to those of the 
 habitually temperate man, in the same condition. We 
 drink at first for the serenity which is diffused over 
 the mind, and not from any positive love we bear to 
 the liquor. But, in the course of time, the influence 
 of the latter, in producing gay images, is deadened. 
 It is then chiefly a mere animal fondness for drink 
 which actuates us. We like the taste of it, as a child 
 likes sweatmeats; and the stomach, for a series of 
 years, has been so accustomed to an unnatural 
 stimulus, that it cannot perform its functions properly 
 without it. In such a case, it may readily be believed 
 that liquor could not be suddenly removed with safety. 
 
 The habit will sometimes be checked by operating 
 skilfully upon the mind. If the person has a feeling 
 heart, much may be done by representing to him the 
 state of misery into which he will plunge himself, his 
 family, and his friends. Some men, by a strong effort, 
 have given up liquors at once, in consequence of such 
 representations. 
 
 Some drunkards have attempted to cure themselves 
 by the assumption of voluntary oaths. They go before 
 
180 
 
 a magistrate, and swear that for a certain period they 
 shall not taste liquors of any kind; and it is but just 
 to state, that these oaths are sometimes strictly enough 
 kept. They are, however, much oftener broken—the 
 physical cravings for the bottle prevailing over what- 
 ever religious obligation may have been entered into. 
 Such a proceeding is as absurd as it is immoral, and 
 never answers the purpose of effecting any thing like 
 a radical cure; for, although the person abides by his — 
 solemn engagement, it is only to resume-his old habits 
 more inveterately than ever the moment it expires. 
 Many men become drunkards from family broils. 
 They find no comfort at home, and gladly seek for it 
 out of doors. In such cases, it will be almost impossible 
 to break the habit. The domestic sympathies and 
 affections, which oppose a barrier to dissipation, and 
 wean away the mind from the bottle, have here no 
 room to act. When the mother of a family becomes 
 addicted to liquor, the case is very afflicting. Home, © 
 instead of being the seat of comfort and order, becomes 
 a species of Pandemonium: the social circle is broken 
 up, and all its happiness destroyed. In this case, there 
 is no remedy but the removal of the drunkard. A feel- 
 ing of perversity has been known to effect a cure 
 among the fair sex. A man of Philadelphia, who was 
 afflicted with a drunken wife, put a cask of rum in her 
 
181 
 
 way, in the charitable hope that she would drink 
 herself to death. She suspected the scheme, and, from 
 a mere principle of contradiction, abstained, in all time 
 coming, from any sort of indulgence in the bottle. 
 
 Man is very much the creature of habit. By drink- 
 ing regularly at certain times, he feels the longing for 
 liquor at the stated return of those periods—as after 
 - dinner, or immediately before going to bed, or what- 
 ever the period may be. He even feels it in certain 
 companies, or in a particular tavern at which he is in 
 the habit of taking his libations. We have all heard 
 the story of the man who could never pass an inn on 
 the road-side without entering it and taking a glass, 
 and who, when, after a violent effort, he succeeded in 
 getting beyond the spot, straightway returned to re- 
 ward himself with a bumper for his resolution. It is 
 a good rule for drunkards to break all such habits. 
 Let the frequenter of drinking clubs, masonic lodges, 
 and other Bacchanalian assemblages, leave off attend- 
 ing these places, and if he must drink, let him do so 
 at home, where, there is every likelihood, his potations 
 will be less liberal. Let him also forswear the society 
 of boon companions, either in his own habitation or 
 in theirs. Let him, if he can manage it, remove from 
 ~ the place of his usual residence, and go somewhere 
 else, Let him also take abundance of exercise, court 
 
 I 
 
182 
 
 the society of intellectual and sober persons, and turn 
 his attention to reading, or gardening, or sailing, or 
 whatever other amusement he has a fancy for. By 
 following this advice rigidly, he will get rid of that 
 baleful habit which haunts him like his shadow, and 
 intrudes itself by day and by night into the sanctuary 
 of his thoughts. And if he refuses to lay aside the 
 Circean cup, let him reflect that Disease waits upon 
 his steps—that Dropsy, Palsy, Emaciation, Poverty, 
 and Idiotism, followed by the pale phantom, Death, 
 pursue him like attendant spirits, and claim him as 
 their prey. 
 
 Sometimes an attack of disease has the effect of 
 sobering drunkards for the rest of their lives. I knew 
 a gentleman who had apoplexy in consequence of dis- 
 sipation. He fortunately recovered, but the danger 
 which he had escaped made such an impression upon 
 his mind, that he never, till his dying day, tasted any 
 ‘liquor stronger than simple water. Many persons, 
 after such changes, become remarkably lean; but this 
 is not an unhealthy emaciation. Their mental powers 
 also suffer a very material improvement—the intellect 
 becoming more powerful, and the moral feelings more 
 soft and refined. 
 
 In a small treatise on Nayal Discipline, lately pub- 
 lished, the following whimsical and ingenious mode of 
 
183 
 
 punishing drunken seamen is recommended :—“ Separ- 
 ate for one month every man who was found drunk, 
 from the rest of the crew; mark his clothes ‘ drunkard ;’ 
 give him six-water grog, or, if beer, mixed one-half 
 water; let them dine when the crew had finished; 
 employ them in every dirty and disgraceful work, &c. 
 This had such a salutary effect, that in less than six 
 months not a drunken man was to be found in the 
 ship. The same system was introduced by the writer 
 into every ship on board which he subsequently served. 
 When first lieutenant of the Victory and Diomede, the 
 beneficial consequences were acknowledged,—the cul- 
 prits were heard to say, that they would rather receive 
 six dozen lashes at the ganegway, and be done with it, 
 than be put into the ‘ drunken mess’ (for so it was 
 named,) for a month.” 
 
 Those persons who have been for many years in the 
 habit of indulging largely in drink, and to whom if has 
 become an elixir vite indispensable to their happiness, 
 cannot be suddenly deprived of it. This should be 
 done by slow degrees, and must be the result of con- 
 viction. Ifthe quantity be forcibly diminished against 
 the person’s will, no good can be done; he will only 
 seize the first opportunity to remunerate himself for 
 what he has been deprived of, and proceed to greater 
 excésses than before. If his mind can be brought, by 
 
 12 
 
184 
 
 calm reflection, to submit to the decrease, much may 
 be accomplished in the way of reformation. Many 
 difficulties undoubtedly attend this gradual process, 
 and no ordinary strength of mind is required for its 
 completion. It is, however, less dangerous than the 
 method recommended by Dr. Trotter, and ultimately 
 much more effectual. Even although his plan were 
 free of hazard, its effects are not likely to be lasting. 
 The unnatural action, to which long intemperance 
 had given rise, clings to the system with pertinacious 
 adherence. The remembrance of liquor, like a delight- 
 ful vision, still attaches itself to the drunkard’s mind; 
 and he longs, with insufferable ardour, to feel once 
 more the ecstacies to which it gave birth. This is 
 the consequence of a too rapid separation. Had the 
 sympathies of nature been gradually operated upon, 
 there would have been less violence, and the longings 
 had a better chance of wearing insensibly away. 
 Among the great authorities for acting in this 
 manner, may be mentioned the celebrated Dr. Pitcairn. 
 In attempting to break the habit in a Highland chieftain, 
 one of his patients, he exacted a promise that the latter 
 would every day drop a certain quantity of sealing-wax 
 into his glass. He did so, and as the wax accumulated, 
 the capacity of the glass diminished, and, consequently, 
 the quantity of whisky it was capable of containing. 
 
185 
 
 By this plan he was cured of his bad habit altogether. 
 In mentioning such a whimsical proceeding, I do not 
 mean particularly to recommend it for adoption; al- 
 though I am satisfied that the principle on which its 
 eccentric contriver proceeded, was substantially correct. 
 
 A strong argument against too sudden a change is 
 afforded in the case of food. I have remarked: that 
 persons who are in the daily habit of eating animal 
 food feel a sense of weakness about the stomach if they 
 suddenly discontinue it, and live for a few days entirely 
 upon vegetables. This I have experienced personally, 
 in various trials made for the purpose; and every 
 person in health, and accustomed to good living, will, 
 I am persuaded, feel the same thing. The stomach, 
 from want of stimulus, loses its tone; the craving for 
 animal food is strong and incessant; and, if it be 
 resisted, heartburn, water-brash, and other forms of 
 indigestion, are sure to ensue. In such a case vegetables 
 are loathed as intolerably insipid, and even bread is 
 looked upon with disrelish and aversion. It is precisely 
 the same with liquors. Their sudden discontinuance, 
 where they have been long made use of, is almost sure 
 to produce the same, and even worse consequences to 
 the individual. 
 
 I cannot give any directions with regard to the 
 regimen of a reformed drunkard. This will depend 
 
186 
 
 upon different circumstances, such as age, constitution, 
 diseases, and manner of living. It may be laid down 
 as a general rule, that it ought to be as little heating 
 as possible. A milk or vegetable diet will commonly 
 be preferable to every other. But there are cases in 
 which food of a richer quality is requisite, as when 
 there is much emaciation and debility. Here it 
 may even be necessary to give a moderate quantity 
 of wine. In gout, likewise, too great a change of 
 living is not always salutary, more especially in 
 advanced years, where there is weakness of the diges- 
 tive organs, brought on by the disease. In old age, 
 wine is often useful to sustain the system, more espe- 
 cially when sinking by the process of natural decay. 
 The older a person is, the greater the inconvenience 
 of abstaining all at once from liquors, and the more 
 slowly ought they to be taken away. I cannot bring 
 myself to believe that a man, who for half a century 
 has drunk freely, can suddenly discontinue this ancient 
 habit without a certain degree of risk: the idea is 
 opposed to all that we know of the bodily and mental 
 functions. 
 
 In attempting to cure the habit of drunkenness, opium 
 may sometimes be used with advantage. By giving 
 it in moderate quantities, the liquors which the person 
 is in the habit of taking, may be diminished to a 
 
187 
 
 considérable extent, and he may tlius be enabled to 
 leave them off altogether. Theré is only one risk, 
 and it is this—that he may become as confirmed a 
 votary of opium as he was before of spirits or wine. 
 Of two evils, however, we should always choose the 
 least: and it it is certain that however perniciously 
 opium may act upon the system, its moral effects and 
 its power of injuring reputation are decidedly less 
 formidable than those of the ordinary intoxicating 
 agents. 
 
 The following anecdote has been communicated to 
 me by an ingenious correspondent, and exhibits a mode 
 of curing dram-drinking equally novel and effective :— 
 
 About the middle of last century, in a provincial 
 town on the east coast of Scotland, where smuggling 
 was common, it was the practice for two respectable 
 merchants to gratify themselves with a social glass of 
 good Hollands, for which purpose they regularly ad- 
 journed, at a certain hour, to a neighbouring gin-shop. 
 It happened one morning that something prevented 
 one of them from calling on his neighbour at the usual 
 time. Many a wistful and longing look was cast for 
 the friend so unaccountably absent, but he came not. 
 His disappointed companion would not go to the dram- 
 shop alone; but he afterwards acknowledged that the 
 want of his accustomed cordial rendered him uneasy 
 
188 
 
 the whole day. . However, this feeling induced him to 
 reflect upon the bad habit he was acquiring, and the 
 consequences which were likely to follow. He there- 
 fore resolved to discontinue dram-drinking entirely, 
 but found it difficult to put his resolution into practice, 
 until, after some deliberation, he hit wpon the follow- 
 ing expedient. Filling a bottle with excellent Hollands, 
 he lodged it in his back-shop, and the first morning 
 taking his dram, he replaced it with simple water. Next 
 morning he took a second dram, replacing it with 
 another glass of water; and in this manner he went on, 
 replacing the fluid substracted from the bottle with 
 water, till at last the mixture became insipid and ulti- 
 mately nauseous, which had such an effect upon his 
 palate, that he was completely cured of his bad habit, 
 and continued to live in exemplary soberness till his 
 death, which happened.in extreme old age. 
 
 Dr. Kain, an American physician, recommends 
 tartar emetic for the cure of habitual drunkenness. 
 “ My method of prescribing it,” says he, “ has varied 
 according to the habits, age, and constitution of the 
 patient. I give it only in alterative and slightly nau- 
 seating doses. A convenient preparation of the medi- 
 cine is eight grains dissolved in four ounces of boiling 
 water—half. an ounce of the solution to be put into 
 a half-pint, pint, or quart of the patient’s favourite 
 
189 
 
 liquor, and to be taken daily in divided portions. If 
 severe vomiting and ‘purging ensue, I should direct 
 laudanum to allay the irritation, and diminish the 
 dose. In every patient it should be varied according 
 to its effects. In one instance, in a patient who lived 
 ten miles from me, severe vomiting was produced, 
 more,,I think, from excessive drinking than the use of 
 the remedy. He recovered from it, however, without 
 any bad effects. In some cases, the change suddenly 
 produced in the patient’s habits, has brought on con- 
 siderable lassitude and debility, which were of but 
 short duration. In a majority of cases, no other effect 
 has been perceptible than slight nausea, some diarrhea, 
 and a gradual, but very uniform, distaste to the men- 
 struum.” * 
 
 It very often happens, after a long course of dissipa- 
 tion, that the stomach loses its tone, and rejects almost 
 every thing that is swallowed. The remedy, in this 
 case, is opium, which should be given in the solid form 
 in preference to any other. Small quantities of negus 
 are also beneficial; and the carbonate of ammonia, 
 combined with some aromatic, is frequently attended — 
 with the best effects. Where there is much prostra- 
 
 * American Journal of the Medical Sciences, No. 1V. 
 
 13 
 
190 
 
 tion of strength, wine should always be given. In such 
 a case, the entire removal of the long accustomed 
 stimulus would be attended with the worst effects. 
 This must be done gradually. | ? . 
 
 Enervated drunkards will reap much benefit by re- 
 moving to the country, if their usual residence is in 
 town. The free air and exercise renovate their en- 
 feebled frames; new scenes are presented to occupy 
 their attention; and, the mind being withdrawn from 
 former scenes, the chain of past associations is broken 
 in two. 
 
 Warm and cold bathing will occasionally be useful, 
 according to circumstances. Bitters are not to be re- 
 commended, especially if employed under the medium 
 of spirits. When there is much debility, chalybeates 
 will prove serviceable. A visit to places where there 
 are mineral springs is of use, not only from the waters, 
 but from the agreeable society to be met with at such 
 quarters. The great art of breaking the habit consists 
 in managing the drunkard with kindness and address. 
 This management must, of course, be modified by the 
 events which present themselves, and which will vary 
 in different cases. 
 
 Persons residing in tropical climates ought, more 
 than others, to avoid intoxicating liquors. It is too 
 much the practice in the West Indies to allay thirst by 
 
19] 
 
 copious draughts of rum punch. In the East Indies, 
 both the natives and strangers, with greater propriety, 
 principally use sherbet. In countries where the solar 
 influence is felt with such force, we cannot be too 
 temperate. The food should be chiefly vegetable, and 
 the drink as unirritating as possible. It may be laid 
 down as an axiom, that in these regions, wine and 
 ardent spirits are invariably hurtful; not only in im- 
 mediately heating the body, but in exposing it to the 
 influence of other diseases.* A great portion of the 
 deaths which occur among Europeans in the tropics, 
 are brought on by excess. Instead of suiting their 
 regimen to the climate, they persist in the habits of 
 their own country, without reflecting that what is 
 comparatively harmless in one region, is most destruc- 
 tive in another. There cannot be a stronger proof of 
 this than the French troops in the West Indies having 
 always, except in the St. Domingo expedition, suffered 
 less in proportion to their numbers, than the British, 
 
 
 
 * “ In warm countries, the aqueous part of the blood loses 
 itself greatly by perspiration; it must therefore be supplied by 
 a like liquid. Water is there of admirable use; strong liquors 
 would coagulate the globules of blood that remain after the 
 transuding of the aqueous humour.”’—Montesquieu, Book xiv. 
 Chap. x. 
 
192 
 
 who are- unquestionably more addicted to intemper- 
 ance. “I aver, from my own knowledge and custom,” | 
 observes Dr. Mosely, “as from.the custom and obser- 
 vation of others, that those who drink nothing but 
 water, are but little affected by the climate, and can 
 undergo the greatest fatigue without inconvenience.” * 
 
 It is a common practice in the West of Scotland to 
 send persons who are excessively addicted to drunken- 
 ness, to rusticate and learn sobriety on the islands of 
 Loch Lomond. There are, I believe, two islands 
 appropriated for the purpose, where the convicts meet 
 with due attention, and whatever indulgences their 
 friends choose to extend towards them. Whether 
 such a proceeding is consistent with law, or well 
 adapted to answer the end in view, may be reasonably 
 doubted, but of its severity as a punishment, there can 
 be no question.. It is indeed impossible to inflict any 
 penalty upon drunkards so great as that of absolutely 
 debarring them from indulging in liquor. 
 
 * Tropical Diseases. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 ADVICE TO INVETERATE DRUNKARDS. 
 
 Ir a man is resolved to continue a drunkard, it may 
 here be proper to mention in what manner he can do 
 so with least risk to himself. One of the principal 
 rules to be observed, not only by him, but by habitually 
 sober people, is never to take any inebriating liquor, 
 especially spirits, upon an empty stomach. There is 
 no habit more common or more destructive than this: 
 it not only intoxicates readier than when food has 
 been previously taken, but it has a much greater 
 tendency to impair the functions of the digestive 
 organs. In addition, drunkards should shun raw 
 spirits, which more rapidly bring on disease of the 
 stomach, than when used in a diluted state. These 
 
194 
 
 _ fluids are safe in proportion to the state of their 
 dilution: but to this general rule there is one excep- 
 tion, viz. punch. This, though the most diluted form 
 in which they are used, is, I suspect, nearly the very 
 worst—not from the weakness of the mixture, but 
 from the acid which is combined with it. This acid, 
 although, for the time-being, it braces the stomach and 
 enables it to withstand a greater portion of liquor than 
 it would otherwise do, has ultimately the most per- 
 nicious effect upon this organ—giving rise to thickening 
 of its coats, heartburn, and all the usual distressing 
 phenomena of indigestion. Other organs, such as the 
 kidneys, also suffer, and gravelly complaints are apt 
 to be induced. A common belief prevails that punch 
 is more salubrious than any other spirituous compound, 
 but this is grounded on erroneous premises. When 
 people sit down to drink punch, they are not so apt— 
 owing to the great length of time which elapses ere 
 such a weak fluid produces intoxication—to be 
 betrayed into excess as when indulging in toddy. In 
 this point of view it may be said to be less injurious; 
 but let the same quantity of spirits be taken in the 
 form of punch, as in that of grog or toddy, and there 
 can be no doubt that in the long run the consequences 
 will be far more fatal to the constitution. If we com- 
 mit a debauch on punch, the bad consequences cling 
 
 i 
 ae 
 > 5 See 
 
195 
 
 much longer to the system than those proceeding from 
 a similar debauch upon any other combination of 
 ardent spirits. In my opinion, the safest way of using 
 those liquids is in the shape of grog.* Cold toddy, or 
 a mixture of spirits, cold water and sugar, ranks next 
 in the scale of safety; then warm toddy; then cold 
 punch—and raw spirit is the most pernicious of all. 
 ' At one time I entertained a more favourable view of 
 punch, and looked upon it as the safest of all, but 
 subsequent observation has obliged me to change my 
 opinion, and.to place this mixture almost at the very 
 bottom of the scale. 
 
 The malt liquor drunkard should, as a general rule, 
 prefer porter to strong ale. Herb ale and purl are 
 very pernicious, but the lighter varieties, such as 
 small beer and home-brewed, are not only harmless, 
 but even useful. 
 
 As to the wine-bibber, no directions can be given 
 
 * The origin of the term grog is curious. Before the time 
 of Admiral Vernon, rum was given in its raw state to the 
 seamen; but he ordered it to be diluted, previous to delivery, 
 with a certain quantity of water. So incensed were the tars at 
 this watering of their favourite liquor, that they nicknamed the 
 Admiral Old Grog, in allusion to a grogram coat which he 
 chanced to wear: hence the name. 
 
196 
 
 which will prove very satisfactory. The varieties of 
 wines are ‘so numerous, that any complete estimate of 
 their respective powers is here impossible. It may, 
 however, be laid down as a general rule, that those 
 which are most diuretic, and excite least headach 
 and fever, are the safest for the constitution. The 
 light dry wines, such as Hock, Claret, Burgundy, 
 Bucellas, Rhenish, and Hermitage, are, generally 
 speaking, more salubrious than the stronger varieties, 
 such as Port, Sherry, or Madeira. Claret, in particular, 
 is the most wholesome wine that is known. Tokay,* 
 Frontignac, Malmsey, Vino Tinto, Montifiascone, 
 Canary,- and other sweet wines, are apt, in conse- 
 quence of their imperfect fermentation, to produce acid 
 upon weak stomachs; but in other cases they are 
 delightful drinks; and when there is no tendency to 
 acidity in the system, they may be taken with com- 
 parative safety to a considerable extent. Whenever 
 there is disease, attention must be paid to the wines 
 best adapted to its particular nature. For instance, in 
 gout, the acescent wines, such as Hock and Claret, 
 
 must be avoided, and Sherry or Madeira substituted in 
 
 * Catharine I. of Russia was intemperately addicted to the 
 use of Tokay. She died of dropsy, which compl was pro- 
 bably brought on by such indulgence. 
 
197 
 
 their room; and should even these run into the acetous 
 fermentation, they must be laid aside, and replaced by 
 weak brandy and water. Champaign, except in cases 
 of weak digestion, is one of the safest wines that can 
 be drunk. Its intoxicating effects are rapid, but ex- 
 ceedingly transient, and depend partly upon the car- 
 bonie acid which is evolved from it, and partly upon 
 the alcohol, which is suspended in this gas, being 
 applied rapidly and extensively to a large surface of 
 the stomach. 
 
 Drunkards will do well to follow the maxim of the 
 facetious Morgan Odoherty, and never mix their 
 wines. Whatever wine they commence with, to that 
 let them adhere throughout the evening. If there be 
 any case where this rule may be transgressed with 
 safety, it is perhaps in favour of Claret, a moderate 
 quantity of which is both pleasant and refreshing after 
 a course of Port or Madeira. Nor is the advice of the 
 same eccentric authority, with regard to malt liquors, 
 less just or less worthy of observance—the toper being 
 recommended to abstain scrupulously from such fluids 
 when he means before-hand to “ make an evening of 
 it,’ and sit long at the bottle. . The mixture, un- 
 questionably, not only disorders the stomach, but 
 effectually weakens the ability of the person to with- 
 stand the forthcoming debauch. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 DRUNKENNESS IN NURSES. 
 
 < 
 
 Women, especially in a low station, who act as nurses, 
 are strongly addicted to the practice of drinking porter 
 and ales, for the purpose of augmenting thei milk. 
 No language can be sufficiently strong to deprecate 
 this habit. It is most pernicious, and lays the founda- 
 tion of a multitude of diseases to the infant. The milk, 
 which ought to be bland and unirritating, acquires cer- 
 tain heating qualities, and becomes deteriorated to a 
 degree of which those unaccustomed to investigate such 
 matters have little conception. The child nursed by a 
 drunkard is hardly ever healthy. It is, in a particular 
 manner, subject to derangements of the digestive 
 organs, and convulsive affections. With regard to the 
 
199 
 
 latter, Dr. North* remarks, that he has seen them 
 almost instantly removed by the child being transferred 
 to a temperate woman. I have observed the same 
 thing not only in convulsive cases, but in many others. 
 No woman is qualified to be a nurse, unless strictly 
 sober; and though stout children are sometimes reared 
 by persons who indulge to a considerable extent in 
 liquor, there can be no doubt that they are thereby 
 exposed to risk, and that they would have had a much 
 better chance of doing well, if the same quantity of 
 milk had been furnished by natural means. Ifa woman 
 cannot afford the necessary supply, without these 
 indulgences, she should give over the infant to some 
 one who can, and drop nursing altogether. The only 
 cases in which a moderate portion of malt liquor is 
 justifiable, are when the milk is deficient, and the 
 nurse averse or unable to put another in her place. 
 Here, of two evils we choose the least, and rather give 
 the infant milk of an inferior quality, than endanger 
 its health by weaning it prematurely, or stinting it of 
 its accustomed nourishment. 
 
 Connected with this subject is the practice of admin- 
 istering stimulating liquors to children. \ This habit is 
 
 * Practical Observations on the Convulsions of Infants. 
 
200 . 
 
 So common in some parts of Scotland, that infants of 
 a few days old are often forced to swallow raw whisky. 
 Parents should be careful of allowing their offspring 
 stimulating liquor of any kind. The earlier persons 
 are initiated in its use, the more completely does it 
 gain dominion over them, and the more difficult is the 
 passion for it to be eradicated. Children naturally 
 dislike liquors, a pretty convincing proof that in early 
 life they are totally uncalled for, and that they only 
 become agreeable by habit. It is, in general, long before” 
 the palate is reconciled to malt liquors; and most 
 young persons prefer the sweet home-made wines of 
 their own country, to the richer varieties imported from 
 abroad. This shows that the love of such stimulants 
 is in a great measure acquired, and also points out the 
 necessity of guarding youth as much as possible from 
 the acquisition of so unnatural a taste. 
 
CHAPTER XVIL. 
 
 eS 
 
 ; 
 
 LIQUORS NOT ALWAYS HURTFUL. 
 
 TuovueuH drunkenness is always injurious, it does not 
 follow that a moderate use of those agents which 
 produce it isso. So far is this from being the case, that 
 inebriating liquors are sometimes positiveiy beneficial. 
 It is impossible to deny that, in particular situations, 
 as in those of hard-wrought seamen and soldiers, a mo- 
 derate allowance is proper. The body, in such cases, 
 would often sink under the accumulation of fatigue, if 
 not recruited by some artificial stimulus. When Captain 
 Bligh and his unfortunate companions were exposed 
 to those dreadful privations consequent to their 
 being set adrift, in an open boat, by the mutineers of 
 the Bounty, the few drops of rum which were occa- 
 
202 
 
 sionally doled out to each individual, proved of such 
 extraordinary service, that, without this providential 
 aid, every one must have perished of absolute exhaus- 
 tion. This, and innumerable cases besides, prove that 
 if liquors are often perverted to the worst purposes, 
 and capable of producing the greatest calamities, they 
 are also, in particular circumstances, of unquestionable 
 benefit. It is unnecessary to mention many diseases 
 of debility wherein wine is of more use than any 
 medicine the physician can administer. Malt liquors 
 also, when used in moderation, are often beneficial. 
 Though the drunkenness produced by their excessive 
 use is of the most stupifying and disgusting kind, yet, 
 under temperate management, they are more whole- 
 some than either spirits or wine. They abound in 
 nourishment, and are well adapted to the labourmg 
 man, whose food is usually not of a very nutritive 
 character. Every pugilist knows that under the use 
 of ale or porter he acquires strength much more 
 effectually than under either wine or spirits. The 
 only regret is, that malt liquors are so often adulterated 
 by narcotics. This renders them improper for persons 
 of a plethoric habit of body, and also prevents them 
 from being employed in many cases, in which they 
 might otherwise be useful. It is to be regretted that 
 ‘the system of making home-brewed ale, so common 
 
203 
 
 among the English, has made little progress in Scot- 
 land. This excellent beverage is free from those 
 dangerous .combinations employed by the brewers; 
 and to the labouring classes in particular, it is a most 
 nourishing and salubrious drink.* , 
 
 In higher circles, where there is good living and 
 little work, liquors of any kind are far less necessary ; 
 and till a man begins to get into the decline of life, 
 they are absolutely uszless. When that happens, 
 he will be the better of a moderate allowance to 
 recruit the vigour which approaching age steals from 
 the frame. For young and middle-aged men, in good 
 circumstances, water is the best drink. The food they 
 eat is sufficiently nutritious and stimulating without 
 any assistance from liquor. This they may depend 
 upon; and, notwithstanding the ideas they may 
 entertain of the effeminacy of the water drinker, there 
 can be no doubt that, both in body and mind, he is 
 much more enviably situated than themselves. His 
 blood flows as cool and as pure as the element he 
 quaffs; his brain is clear and composed; he is not 
 
 * “Tn no respect is the alteration in diet more injurious, than 
 in substituting ardent spirits for ale, the ancient beverage of the 
 common people.””—,Str John Sinclair. 
 
204 
 
 ‘encumbered with any useless corpulency; his body is 
 free of all bad humours; his stomach of all bad diges- 
 tions ;‘ and his appetite is healthy and natural. Having 
 stated thus much, I am not ascetic enough to maintain 
 that any man in health will be the worse of a moderate 
 allowance. It is only such an excess as injures the 
 constitution that is to be blamed. Abstractly con- 
 sidered, liquors in themselves are not pernicious: it is 
 their abuse alone that makes them so, in the same 
 manner as the most wholesome food becomes hurtful 
 
 when taken to a gluttonous excess. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 
 
 No. I. 
 Excerpt from Paris’s Pharmacologia. 
 
 “¢ Tue characteristic ingredient of all wines is alcohol, and the 
 quantity of this, and the condition or state of combination in 
 which it exists, are the circumstances that include all the inter- 
 esting and disputed points of medical inquiry. Daily experience 
 convinces us that the same quantity of alcohol, applied to the 
 stomach under the form of natural wine, and in astate of mixture 
 with water, will produce very different effects upon the body, 
 and to an extent which it is difficult to comprehend: it has, for 
 instance, been demonstrated that Port, Madeira, and Sherry 
 contain from one-fourth to one-fifth of their bulk of alcohol, so 
 that a person who takes a bottle of either of them, will thus 
 take nearly half a pint of alcohol, or almost a pint of pure 
 brandy! and moreover, that different wines, although of the 
 same specific gravity, and consequently containing the same abso- 
 lute proportion of spirit, will be found to vary very considerably 
 in their intoxicating powers; no wonder, then, that such results 
 should stagger the philosopher, who is naturally unwilling to 
 accept any tests of difference from the nervous system, which 
 elude the ordinary resources of analytical chemistry; the con- 
 clusion was therefore drawn, that alcohol must necessarily exist 
 in wine, in a far different condition from that in which we 
 know it in a separate state, or, in other words, that its elements 
 
 K 
 
206 
 
 only could exist in the vinous liquor, and that their union was 
 determined, and, consequently, alcohol produced by the action of 
 distillation. That it was the product and not the educt of 
 distillation, was an opinion -which originated with Rouelle, 
 who asserted that aleohol was not completely formed until the 
 " temperature was raised to the point of distillation: more lately, 
 the same doctrine was revived and promulgated by Fabbroni, 
 in the memoirs of the. Florentine Academy. Gay-Lussac has, 
 however, silenced the clamorous partisans of this theory, by 
 separating the alcohol by distillation at the temperature of 66° 
 Fah., and by the aid of a vacuum, it has since been effected at 
 56°: besides, it has been shown that by precipitating the 
 colouring matter, and some of the other elements of the wine, 
 by sub-acetate of lead, and then saturating the clear liquor with 
 sub-carbonate of potass, the alcohol may be completely separated 
 without any elevation of temperature; and by this ingenious 
 expedient, Mr. Brande has been enabled to construct a table, 
 exhibiting the proportions of combined alcohol which exist in the 
 several kinds of wine: no doubt, therefore, can remain upon 
 this subject, and the fact of the difference of effect, produced by 
 the same bulk of alcohol, when presented to the stomach in 
 different states of combination, adds another striking and 
 instructive illustration to those already enumerated in the course 
 of this work, of the extraordinary powers of chemical combina- 
 tion in modifying the activity of substances upon the living 
 system. In the present instance, the alcohol is so combined 
 with the extractive “matter of the wine, that it is probably 
 incapable of exerting its full specific effects upon the stomach, 
 before it becomes altered in its properties, or, in other words, 
 digested ; and this view of the subject may be fairly urged in 
 explanation of the reason why the intoxicating effects of the 
 same wine are so liable to vary, in degree, in the same indi- 
 
207 
 
 vidual, from the peculiar state of his digestive organs at the” 
 time of his potation. Hitherto we have only spoken of pure 
 wine, but it is essential to state, that the stronger wines. of 
 Spain, Portugal, and Sicily, are rendered remarkable in this 
 country by the addition of brandy, and must consequently 
 contain uncombined alcohol, the proportion of which, however, 
 will not necessarily bear a ratio to the quantity added, because, 
 
 _ at the period of its admixture, a renewed fermentation is pro- 
 
 duced by the scientific vintner, which will assimilate and com- 
 
 _bine a certain portion of the foreign spirit with the wine: this 
 
 manipulation, in technical language, is called fretting-in. The 
 free alcohol may, according to the experiments of Fabbroni, be 
 immediately separated by saturating the vinous fluid with sub-car- 
 bonate of potass, while the combined portion will remain undis- 
 turbed: in ascertaining the fabrication and salubrity of a wine, 
 this circumstance ought always to constitute a leading feature in 
 the inquiry ; and the tables of Mr. Brande would have been 
 greatly enhanced in practical value, had the relative proportions of 
 uncombined spirit been appreciated in his experiments, since it 
 is to this, and not to the combined alcohol, that the injurious 
 effects of wine are to be attributed. ‘ It is well known,’ 
 
 ‘observes Dr. Macculloch, ‘ that diseases of the liver are the 
 
 most common, and the most formidable of those produced by the 
 use of ardent spirits; it is equally certain that no such disorders 
 follow the intemperate use of pwre wine, however long indulged 
 in: to the concealed and unwitting consumption of spirit, there- 
 fore, as contained in the wines commonly drunk in this country, 
 
 -is. to be attributed the excessive prevalence of those hepatic 
 
 affections, which are comparatively little known to our conti- 
 nental neighbours.” Thus much is certain, that their ordinary 
 wines contain no alcohol but what is disarmed of its virulence by 
 the prophylactic energies of combination.”” 
 
208 
 No. II. 
 Mr. Brande’s Table of the Alcoholic Strength of Liquors. 
 
 Proportion of pure Spirit 
 per Cent. by Measure. 
 YT. Vitasa, 3... ccesecedepdecouases Gain eeees teaeeiieee ene eer ae 
 Di6b0, 9:00 saawnss verte a gvuddisels bea eevee eee teen eats Woeres 
 A Verdges esi. cevasdscnusnbianhe cnacstneemiadth 
 D... Raisin Wine,.cacnesssmin 9 +n piaaptae da Mela bach, aie vali 26.40 
 
 DittOys cccaces as dheceQesteseecaeeeaen ment seater i aiuurerre en 
 AVELABe, vectsecccscassveccvscssbvssuseeon Le 
 
 $.: Marsala,, ss scscesceacus ane benks opineveneeey anon aen 
 Ditto. a, casnacurent o tombe egepapend= Samia aeeeen & 
 AVETAZC 00 cc cere snares ones peaccgcnmesegen le 
 H.. Waleira, ss vcccseess feas¥acesateeee mee 0 pene ayes Neg: fag ty 
 Dittepee ee se bbe dente Oe soabldvdeevetedese Coron 
 Ditto, (Sireial,) .<s sade ayensdse ccauied ewasanenein SO 
 Litt, «+ ssecns theses 8ho0¥pacpeaiiaeneeee nas deame ann 
 . AVCLaSe, .arncerecetencsesteassasnean pees ei 
 5. Currant wine,........% oisaeeaneratte Me sdebeaereeen cate 
 6: Sherry, ..<scesececs.svev ess duaeceswreoee eles tania seen Sree 
 Ditto venrarssecas i a1giwsldie anlga’s Aio\n pole laic oldata'e weds es 
 D)ittOy2+.9 4s 20000 dasineslnnd gent esl eeenentas sale nmenmnanoan 
 fT eee ebay ries <aonanene sada SHAN Sa 
 
 7%. Teneriffe,..... PR aS! Be Sieaeke anne 19.'79 
 8.) Colanesjic. tess kes one weed bhisPeabekin oh tase eaeee eae: 
 9. Lachryma Christi, ..... gree cin sansyantomapeonndesina alge 
 10. Constantia, (white,)....... sb vatgs ealapice' se aoe eeene 
 11. Ditto, (red,)..... seseed sig pds naededeens ang anentc ee 
 12% “Lisbon; .dciie.s. sa cnseus vedudea vaceerereneUat etek ocea ate 
 13. Malaga, (1666,).. sice«dnuisteotseeabeekenaaseeevaa Mia am 
 14, Bucellas,..... Ss estadinnshnaden orien vient caiman salons Canaan 
 
 Average, ssccedes tpreger sevecsseacaeeese Osc 
 16. Cape Muschat,..dscevsvereieere vii degrevetesmrereeOLOege 
 
17. 
 
 18. 
 19. 
 
 20. 
 21. 
 22. 
 23. 
 24, 
 
 25. 
 
 26.. 
 
 27. 
 28. 
 29. 
 30. 
 31. 
 
 32. 
 
 33. 
 34. 
 35. 
 36. 
 
 Cae Madeira, vscccssacascacacecdatusyaccgurwseneei 22.94 
 eat ainn 6h 4a sins vensds homtteyte as 0ayaedh i. 20.50 
 fat Ghdicane¢ssceses er rte eee ACOCEC 18.11 
 
 ANGTIEGs ase crsne ones cya $Hetsdet ber ZO. FL 
 
 RR IC ans nanan yo seacsavasassccybteercd vain yo POubE 
 
 Calcavella, .....0.00: Pe elk SRE aP aE egéehies 19.20 
 DEA ceed sce ckas¢ ares FSEREIN Vile esas casece’ 18.10 
 
 DOV EP Aa sa cs oncancces vc sence dewerc ieee 18.65 
 
 OE Cah tana taccanncaceacse iclanees wseebed Se aan 19.25 
 
 Neder od. So caeccanycgsaccxdas¥eovhbautesernl 1.26 
 
 Malaga,..... Ke anicie Perey ee eee hasaeeveaasel' 20 
 
 White Hermitage, ccveeisccchsisaecsenenertesesseee 1 7.43 
 
 Rousilion,.......- Ap Le a ag las sas uee pack se caeeen 19.00 
 Wie cateessesesases ebhce petsries soviet #etedale 17.26 
 
 AVeTage,.corsecssuvects weined ties «8 18.13 
 
 Clarets Gaccks. PRET eee bab enteaenalsuathde 17.11 
 Ll Oa vaieye'a ob pair dee <nanees 4 «aeaee) GOR 
 TAO. ah en ee ee ik hese cacuieahcapat «14.08 
 Dee oe onset aes asacremnece reac ee rere Beret 12.91 
 
 AVeragesrecredesva sieberes dob eaveadeves 15.10 
 
 Malmsey Madeira, .......seesessees Bath dss < deiiad dee. 16.40 
 
 Lunal,......+ dean care Bronncanse4 CRIMES Gis sevens ob ves 15.52 
 
 MUILAZ 4s on sn0 A OE eS seAsnaiienas se pbagdedetoames 15.52 
 
 DYTACUSCyenccccceccncccronesss ddidedh sedans iocsesecee] 0.28 
 
 RUAUGC IMCs cos csihiccdcaseundeew teatidedeecdatwvansneneel 4,20 
 
 Pans tpaccarsensscrgssoarecsvarcesevacctguasnt? O60 
 pt ee ee RAPE oe are Lins nnponde ate 4315.22 
 VTTOd c.dseessssce Ro hee Cor ecertn cee oaek seseraesv 4.09 
 Deities vais eyliseesas 5 alae BOWE. & diusoosd 1206 
 
 Average, ..orec0s Sede rhvecealen anedaya 14.57 
 
 RPE Sohcicg aes cehcasvees cee piseeeyeuatesacneors 14.37 
 ue lei nea aaa eh peices ie 8 he AON BAL 
 Ditto, (old in ask ,) enced Renae ce ddasapoaus fend .. 8.88 
 
 DIVCLRUC, de nocven sick sean impannses sveee ber OG 
 
 DRC Ey ia desea nskex SUA abn gitiaa bs CPresbaeatin teen ees 14.63 
 
 MPEP GM IN sce on putdi.ce dens aentoet ss ean enirte Wasen eas 13.86 
 
 EME ce tavc peed sds Ca vnieshs castes enewtutievers SR eRe 13.30 
 
 Champaign, (still,)....... AE SERS Iepiba e P sone 19.80 
 Ditto, (sparkling,)..... Biiviaswavdarecesusss becOO 
 
 K 2 
 
310. 
 
 Champaign, (red,)...sscresccconsesesseecsceceveesse] 2006 
 Ditto, - .- (ditto, }-sissssveqseneusnsazsasadeetseees L L.g0 
 AVEraGe,ccscvessscsecscsecscccoseseves lL 2.61 
 Red Hermitage,......scescsurscccsooncessesccssesss laos = 
 
 Vin de-Gravesicctecsecsen ccocsccdecdddéeeaete meneeboeod: 
 
 Diitt0, «0 v0 0 ie ve'c's'avre’sGie'ce'c seks CU uhh a Reb ante semen amr 
 Average, ssisaieccvierscers cdohaerttst 013.37 
 
 » Frontignac,.....+.. Jceneegapeidaes Ur tasks sasae canoe batet Oe 
 ° Cote Rotie;..scosdvccsesvencdenddvsedens eevnre ies evel eros 
 
 Gooseberry -wine, cae cahosh bedae a itsaas steer eae tal diese 
 Orange wine,—average of six samples made 
 by a London manufacturer, .......+++. ieechevond Lee 
 
 ° Tokay, ecervcesceses eeosetee PROP oeetH OSS a HE Fos onedetnes 9.88 
 e Elder wine, POKCC CHEE SOHTSFEHRELS HH EE OTHHOEHESHOOE EOE 9.87 
 . Cider, highest AVETAQE,ssercccccersccvsrscceccvecses 9.87 
 
 Ditto, lowest average, ..tecsseees wevccrodsesabs Ose 
 Perry, average of four samples, ......ssee:eeseveae 7226 
 
 e Mead, eetetoeteoetes eCeovetveeaeese ePeteoeoeteteoeseesereeosen ioe 
 o> Ale, Burton, )isessetesees oadepaasdaasdary eee etttas coeeS 
 
 Ditto, (Edinburghy) si «iastietvetelscceansass sae nee 
 Ditto, (Dorchester, ).sissscowits vee tuseadssdoviwen OnOp 
 AVETAQC, se cvseccverensectsPeaisccusieca OsOw 
 
 # Brown Stout, ..iscevscasesssvesevuetevvveebenseoree eee) 
 - London Porter, average, .s.scccccsecscsrecsesssseee 4,20 
 - London Small Beer, average, ..ss.sseeeceseeserees 1,28 
 o° Brandy, <os6s3 soesccscesccsseassvaasyetineneeryyeereaeOoaee 
 
 ° Rum, eoevetes aiveuns soeuéinazs 6 8saa RUtReee eRe oe Oe 
 
 Gin, e@oeeeeeor eoerecessecesaoss sAsbECApLETEaA Ss Oeoeess 01.00 
 Scotch Whisky,.ssssscbsessssvsphens shubes ceweetens 54.32 i 
 
 * Irish ditto, sdsgce $s bes b dodeesvowaeeNemedeneses aban eeOeneu 
 
 PEP II PADILLA ILA LAOPL ADIL I LIODALA, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 Abbas the Great, his edict, . é i oe 176 
 Alcohol, the intoxicating principle of all mee Ae 57 
 veers it3 action differs from that of Opium, . 96 
 Alexander the Great, died of Drunkenness, ‘ } 19 
 Amurath IV. made Smoking a capital offence, : 76 
 Ardent Spirits, Drunkenness modified by, : : 57 
 Ci ett varieties of, . . : : - 24, 59 
 Armstrong, Dr., his Remarks on Disease of the Brain, 128 
 nwerrrnmverscrreacraretenvecscnvorrersoen Lelirium Tremens, 147 
 Arrack, a Spirituous Liquor long known in the East, 17 
 Bangue, possesses intoxicating properties, : : 89 
 Bardolph, his nose, , : a f ; : 132 
 Beer known to the Egyptians, . : : : 17 
 wwnvevereoserrr, in the interior of Africa, ; : : ib. 
 Belladonna, B . : : : : ; 91 
 Bitters, often.dangerous remedies, . ° : . 127 
 Bladder, State of, . 7 ;. ere : p 130 
 Bligh, Captain, his privations, ; : : 20] 
 Blood and Breath, State of, . : : ‘ ‘ 130 
 Bonosus, hanged himself in a fit of despair, : : 21 
 Brain, State of, : ; . E , - 128 
 Brande, Mr., his Table, “ . i: ‘ 208 
 Brandy, . : 17, 24, 59 
 
 Brodie, Mr., his opinion ae the Foose of Alcohol, 98 
 
 Camphor, possesses intoxicating properties, : ‘ 94, 
 ~ Carbonic Acid, possesses intoxicating properties, ° 95 
 Cardinal Santa Crocé introduced Tobacco into Italy, 75 
 
212 
 
 t 
 
 Catherine de Medicis, the inventor of Snuff, 
 
 Chardin, Extract from his Travels, : 
 Chewing, . . . . : 
 Claret, the most wholesome of Wines, 
 Clery, “ ; ° “ 
 
 Cocculus Indicus, > é . 
 Coke, Sir Edward, his judicial opinion, 
 Coleridge, Mr., his case, . 
 Combustion, Spontaneous, . : ; 
 Corpulency, k : : 
 
 Cornaro, Extract from, . 
 
 Darnel, 5 : : i : 
 
 Darwin, Dr., averse to blooding in Drunkenness, 
 
 wernnerencroverore Opposes the sudden discontinuance of 
 
 Liquors, . , : . . 
 Delirium. Tremens, = ‘ : ‘ 
 
 Demosthenes used Cold Water as a stimulus, 
 
 Digitalis, . . : : . ; 
 Don Gio Maria Bertholi, Case of, . : 
 Double Vision, Cause of, ‘ : 
 Dreams, . ‘ ‘ : : : 
 Drunkard, Choleric, . ; ‘ : 
 weeverervonerrrs Melancholy, 
 
 sorccenpronnrncess INCEVOUES tgs 4 : 
 poctoseprechion A AIROAIOD: oe 
 
 wrcowrdrcorennces FE hiegniaticy 
 
 wevevreecoorrere SANSUINCOUS, : : 
 coomoarebecsipjens SALTY 5 : : > ‘ 
 Drunkards, Sleep of, . . . : 
 wernrenvecrven Spontaneous Combustion of, 
 Advice to inveterate, « ; 
 
 
 
 151] 
 157 
 193 
 
213 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Drunkenness, Causes of, A - oe ae . 26 
 modified by Temperament, ’ : 48 
 
 weoreen MOdified by the arlpatie Agent, . 57 
 
 woranene Physiology of, : : : 101 
 Method of curing the fit of, : ; 110 
 
 Pathology of, . : : é : 121 
 
 wevearrrraenenenevors judicially considered, : : : 167 
 verreerrenenrcervonon Method of curing the habit of, . : 173 
 worn in Nurses, 4 : . . ; 198 
 
 ' Eason, Rebecca, Inquest on her body, . é . 73 
 Ears, Ringing in the, Cause of, . ys é 4 106 
 Edgeworth, Mr., his case, . P : é iis pe, ea 
 Elevation of Spirits, Cause of, : ° ; ° 106 
 Emaciation, : : 3 : ‘ : : 187 
 
 Epilepsy, . . : ‘ : - : : ‘ 136 
 Ethers, possess intoxicating properties, . i ‘ 95 
 Eyes, State of, . : > : : ‘ : 131 
 
 Fontenelle used Coffee as a stimulus, . . FS 31 
 Gin, EMRE Hie Aliel ts Pe Aah ¥ ld singly Déby 
 Gout, . < ; : ‘ ‘ ‘ 134 
 
 Grog, Origin of thie term, . : ; ; : 195 
 
 Hair, State a ‘ : F " ‘ 133 
 Hales, Sir Matthew, rejects the plea of Tas Crates 168 — 
 Haller used Cold Water asa stimulus, . ‘ P 31 
 Hammer, Von, Extract from his History of the Assassins, 92 
 Hannibal’s army ruined by intemperance, ° : 19 
 
 Heat and Flushing, Cause of, d . ° j 105 
 Heart, Palpitation of, . ° : F ° : 136 
 
214 
 
 Hemlock, . ; : 4 x P . 
 
 Hernandez de Toledo introduced Tobacco into Europe, 
 Hibiscus Saldarissa, ‘ : = : 5 B 
 Hobbes used Tobacco as a stimulus, ‘ ‘ 4 
 Hop, . ° . . ° eo 
 Hyoscyamus, : F , : j . . 
 Hysteria, . zi ee : 
 
 Innocent, Pope, renewed Pope Urban’s Bull, . : 
 James I., his “ Counterblaste to Tobacco,” _ . . 
 Johnson, Dr., used Tea as a stimulus, . f g 
 
 Kain, Dr., recommends tartar emetic for the cure of 
 
 habitual Drunkenness, . : ‘ ‘ 
 
 Kidneys, State of, : , ; , : 
 
 Kinninmouth, Patrick, tried for Stepioas and Adultery, 
 
 Langsberg, Matthew, his saying, . . : : 
 Leopard’s-bane, . oa me ; aN 
 
 Liquors, Cure of Drunkenness from, 3 F 
 wowenwens cannot always be discontinued with safety, . 
 woveneoe not always hurtful, . z ‘4 : . 
 Liver, State of, . ‘ ; * = 2 y 
 
 Mackenzie, Sir George, says that the plea of Drunken- ~ 
 ness is never received in extenuation of crime, . © 
 Madness, . : " : : 5 eu 
 
 Mahomet forbade Wine to his followers, . fs : 
 Malt Liquors, Drunkenness modified by,  ~ . : 
 
 Masurer, M., discovered the virtues of acetate of am- - 
 monia in Drunkenness, : - ‘ oe 
 
 20 
 
 136 
 
 188 
 129 
 170 
 
 21 
 89 
 110 
 174 
 201 © 
 122 © 
 
 168 
 142 
 18 
 68 
 
 abi? 
 
215 
 
 Mary Clues, Case of, . 3 ; , 
 
 * Mead, the favourite drink of the Saxons, . 
 Melancholy, : : ‘ 
 Mithridates, his body Saerfalty sbinial Bue 
 Montesquieu, -Quotations from, 
 
 Nepenthes, ; 
 Nervii, refused to drink ‘Wine, pa ‘ 
 Newton used Tobacco as a stimulus, 
 Nightmare, 
 
 Nitrous oxide, 
 
 Old Age, premature, ‘ 
 
 Opium, Drunkenness modified by, . 
 
 qoraroven used by the late Duchess of Gordon, 
 eveereven 1t8 action differs from that of Alcohol, 
 eovenneers Method of curing Drunkenness from, . 
 Opium-Eater, English, his Confessions, 
 
 Orfila, M., his Experiments, 
 
 Palm Wine, ; ; : : 
 Paris, Dr., Excerpt from his Pharmacologia, 
 Peganum Harmala, 
 
 Perspiration, State of, . 
 
 Pitcairn, Dr., and the Highland Chieftain, 
 Plugging, . 
 
 _ Porter, ° ; ‘ 
 Portland Powder, 
 Punch, e 
 
 PAGE 
 159 
 
 17 
 
 141 
 
 i 73 
 14, 66, 191 
 
 Raleigh, Sir Walter, introduced Tobacco into England, 4D 
 
 Run, : . 
 
 24, 59 
 
216 
 
 Sack of Shakspeare, supposed to have been Sherry, 
 Schubert, Extract from his Travels i in Sweden, 
 
 Saffron, : Pre el $ ‘ ° 
 Sleep-walking, . . . : ; 
 Smoking, . : : 5 etn eas ‘ 
 Snuffing, . : : sre 
 Spartans held Ebriety in ioe rence, : 
 Spirits, their adulteration,  . 0) 2 ee a 
 enenenenen their varieties, » : Fi i 
 
 ° 
 
 22 
 24, 59 
 
 Spurzheim’s opinion of the ie discontinuance of Liquors, 1'74 
 
 Staggering and Stammering, Causes of,  . : 
 Stanhope, Lord, his remarks on Snuffing, 
 Sterility, . . ; s : 3 , 
 Stomach, State of, : r . 
 
 Temperament, Drunkenness modified by, : 
 Tobacco, Drunkenness modified by, : : 
 weweeevenen Method of curing Drunkenness from, . 
 
 Tremors, . : ; : A 
 Trotter, Dr., his advice called in question, : 
 Ulcers, : x4 ; ’ ‘ 5 . 
 
 Urban VIII. excommunicated Snuffers, 
 
 Vertigo, Cause of, : : : , ‘ 
 Voltaire used Coffee as a stimulus, a 
 
 Whisky, . : : ; : ; - 
 
 Wines, their adulteration, ‘ " ‘ 
 wwe Drunkenness modified by, «+ ; . 
 Wolfsbane, ‘ ‘ : 
 
 CURLL & BELL, PRINTERS, 
 
 105 _ 
 
 78 
 137: 
 124 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 ot yes, get 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 
tad 2. 
 1} ip an 
 A 
 
 es 
 ts