ii Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



In the general recognition of the fact of the disease basis and re- 

 medial possibilities respecting this baneful, morbid vice of man's 

 nervous system, we are hopeful of such an inestimable physical and 

 moral fruition as must ultimately result in marked national re-invigor- 

 ation, and in the postponement, at least, of national degeneracy im- 

 pending through this, as one of the causes of racial decline. 



We know now how to successfully scaffold and prop and steady the 

 tottering nervous structure of an inebriate neuropath, and sustain it in 

 fairly normal function pending its effectual reconstruction, and we 

 know how to permanently rebuild this damaged nervous system, 

 through the advances neurology has made during the life of the present 

 generation of physicians, though, alas, we cannot always remove the 

 baneful neuropathic entailments of chronic alcoholism upon the im- 

 mediately succeeding generations of the drunkard, whilje we may and 

 do, do much to ameliorate, modify and ward off the baneful neurotic 

 sequela. 



The unchecked degeneration of whole families through genera- 

 tions of neuropathic descent, such as Morel and others have presented, 

 as the frightful admonitions of scientific research against the fatal 

 neural and psychoneural degeneracy of alcoholic excess, are not possi- 

 ble under the skillful management of modern medical art as now 

 practiced, especially in the neurological department of medical work. 



It may profit us at this juncture to recur again (as mentally we 

 often do to similar personal observation) to one of Morel's typical tables 

 illustrative of the course of alcoholic neuropathic degeneration un- 

 assisted by our art, and I take this table from our classical and obser- 

 vant confrere across the ocean, Dr. Henry Maudsley, because the 

 interesting researches of Morel into the formation of degenerate or 

 morbid varieties of the human race have served to furnish to the 

 philosophical mind of this distinguished neurophysiologist, as it has 

 to you and me, a philosophical view of the chain of events by which 

 alcoholism as a cause of individual degeneracy continues its morbid 

 action through generations and finally issues, when unchecked by the 

 arts of our profession, in extinction of the family. 



First generation. — Immorality, alcoholic excess, brutal degrada- 

 tion. 



Second generation. — Hereditary drunkenness, maniacal attacks, 

 general paralysis. 



Third generation. — Sobriety, hypochondria, Lypemania, system- 

 atic mania, homicidal tendencies. 



Fourth generation. — Feeble intelligence, stupidity, first attack of 



