HOME REMEDIES FOR COMMON DISEASES 751 



ways. It transmits an appetite for strong drink to 

 children, and these are likely to have that form of 

 drunkenness which may be termed paroxysmal; that 

 is, they will go for a considerable period without in- 

 dulging, placing restraints upon themselves, but at last 

 all the barriers of self-control give way, they yield 

 to the irresistible appetite, and then their indulgence 

 is extreme. The drunkard by inheritance is a more 

 helpless slave than his progenitor, and the children 

 that he begets are more helpless still, unless on the 

 mother's side there is engrafted upon them untainted 

 stock. But its hereditary influence is not confined to 

 the proi3agation of drunkards. It produces insanity, 

 idiocy, epilepsy, and other affections of the brain and 

 nervous system, not only in the transgressor himself, 

 but in his children, and these will transmit predisposi- 

 tion to any of these diseases." 



Effects of Alcohol upon the Character.— The 

 ultimate effects of alcohol upon the character are well 

 shown by its immediate effects. As the cerebrum is 

 gradually brought under the influence of the drug, the 

 will becomes dormant and the leading characteristics 

 of the mind become predominant. A man under the 

 influence of liquor shows out his real character. The 

 restraining influences of culture and education are lost, 

 and those tendencies and properties which have been 

 held in check by force of will, assert their sway, and 

 all that is low and beastly in the individual comes to 

 the surface. It is this that causes individuals to com- 

 mit, under the influence of drink, crimes which they 

 would never have perpetrated in their sober moments. 

 It is rare indeed that a premeditated murder is com- 

 mitted without the murderer being under the influence 

 of drink. He feels the need of something to paralyze 



44 , < . 



