INEBRIATE MANIACS. 113 



so damaged as to prevent healthy, consistent, uniform brain-action. A 

 certain range of thought and action may seem sane, but an ever-in- 

 creasing undercurrent of disease carries them further from normal 

 brain-health. These cases excite the wonderment of the hour, and 

 to moralists are phases of human depravity ; but to the psycholo- 

 gist are explosions of masked diseases almost unknown and undis- 

 covered. 



It will be apparent to all that the most unfortunate treatment with 

 miscarriage of justice is meted out to these cases. Thus, the inebriate 

 maniac in delirium who commits murder and assault is not a criminal 

 to be cured by punishment. His brain has broken down and needs the 

 most careful restorative treatment. He is physically sick, and can 

 never recover except by the use of well-directed remedies and along 

 the line of exact laws and forces. 



In the second class, the profound failure of the present methods 

 of management should direct attention to the real means of cure. 

 Science shows, beyond all doubt, that a system of work-house hos- 

 pitals, where all these cases can come under exact physical care and 

 restraint, and be organized into self-supporting quarantine stations, 

 will not only protect the community and tax-payer, but put the 

 victim in the best condition for permanent recovery. Here he can 

 be made a producer, and taken from the ranks of consumers and 

 parasites of society. If he is an incurable, he can be made self- 

 supporting, and society and the world can be protected from his 

 influence. 



In the third class, when public opinion recognizes that the occa- 

 sional or continuous use of alcohol or other narcotics is dangerous 

 and likely to produce grave mental disturbance, these alterations of 

 character and conduct will be no mystery. Such men will be recog- 

 nized as diseased, and come under medical care and recover. Medi- 

 cal and scientific men must teach the world the nature and charac- 

 ter of alcohol, and the diseases which are likely to come from its use. 

 This moralists, clergymen, and reformed inebriates, can never do. To- 

 day these inebriate maniacs appeal for recognition and sympathy from 

 many homes and firesides. They call for help. They ask for bread. 

 We are deaf to their entreaties — we give them stones. In language 

 that can not be mistaken, they tell us of unstable brain-force, of tot- 

 tering reason, of marked, insidious disease. We call it vice, and treat 

 them as of sound mind and body. They ask for help for the brain,. 

 6tarved, disorganized, and growing feebler. We give them the pledge 

 and prayer, and taunt them as vile, and willful, and wretched sinners. 

 What wonder that the glimmerings of reason and the lights of a 

 higher manhood should disappear in the darkness of total insanity 

 under such treatment ? In the delirium of criminal assault, or the im- 

 becilities of the low drunkard, or the strange acts and changes of 

 VOL. xxx. — 8 



