Grappling with the Monster; Or, the Curse and the Cure of Strong Drink
The Project Gutenberg eBook, Grappling with the Monster, by T. S. Arthur
IN THE MONSTER'S CLUTCHES Body and Brain on Fire
AUTHOR OF TEN NIGHTS IN A BAR-ROOM, THREE YEARS IN A MAN-TRAP, CAST ADRIFT, DANGER, ETC.
In preparing this, his latest volume, the author found himself embarrassed from the beginning, because of the large amount of material which came into his hands, and the consequent difficulty of selection and condensation. There is not a chapter which might not have been extended to twice its present length, nor a fact stated, or argument used, which might not have been supplemented by many equally pertinent and conclusive. The extent to which alcohol curses the whole people cannot be shown in a few pages: the sad and terrible history would fill hundreds of volumes. And the same may be said of the curse which this poisonous substance lays upon the souls and bodies of men. Fearful as is the record which will be found in the chapters devoted to the curse of drink, let the reader bear in mind that a thousandth part has not been told.
In treating of the means of reformation, prevention and cure, our effort has been to give to each agency the largest possible credit for what it is doing. There is no movement, organization or work, however broad or limited in its sphere, which has for its object the cure of drunkenness in the individual, or the suppression of the liquor traffic in the State, that is not contributing its measure of service to the great cause every true temperance advocate has at heart; and what we largely need is, toleration for those who do not see with us, nor act with us in our special methods. Let us never forget the Divine admonition— Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Patience, toleration and self-repression are of vital importance in any good cause. If we cannot see with another, let us be careful that, by opposition, we do not cripple him in his work. If we can assist him by friendly counsel to clearer seeing, or, by a careful study of his methods, gain a large efficiency for our own, far more good will be done than by hard antagonism, which rarely helps, and too surely blinds and hinders.
T. S. Arthur
---
GRAPPLING WITH THE MONSTER
OR
THE CURSE AND THE CURE OF STRONG DRINK
T.S. ARTHUR
INTRODUCTION
CONTENTS
THE MONSTER, STRONG DRINK.
ALCOHOL AN ENEMY.
PLACE AND POWER IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
FREEDOM OF THE NATION;
ENORMOUS CONSUMPTION.
POVERTY AND DESTITUTION
LOSS TO LABOR.
TAXATION.
CURSING THE POOR.
CRIME AND PAUPERISM.
THE BLIGHT EVERYWHERE.
IT CURSES THE BODY.
ALCOHOL NOT A FOOD AND OF DOUBTFUL USE AS A MEDICINE.
DIGESTION.
ALCOHOL RETARDS DIGESTION.
ON THE MINUTE CIRCULATION.
PARALYZES THE MINUTE BLOOD-VESSELS.
HEART DISTURBANCE.
EFFECT ON THE BRAIN.
THE SPINAL CORD AND NERVES.
IT CURSES THE BODY.—CONTINUED.
EFFECT ON THE MEMBRANES.
MEMBRANOUS DETERIORATIONS.
ACTION OF ALCOHOL ON THE STOMACH.
TIC-DOULOUREUX AND SCIATICA.
HOW THE KIDNEYS SUFFER.
CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS.
ORGANIC DETERIORATIONS OF THE HEART.
EPILEPSY AND PARALYSIS.
IT CURSES THE SOUL.
HEAVENLY ORDER IN THE BODY.
MENTAL DISTURBANCES.
INSANITY.
NO SUBSTANCE AFFECTS THE BRAIN LIKE ALCOHOL.
INHERITED LATENT EVIL FORCES.
MENTAL AND MORAL CHANGES OF A DISASTROUS CHARACTER
"BECOMES THE HELPLESS SUBJECT OF THE FORCES OF EVIL,
HOMICIDAL MANIA.
KLEPTOMANIA.
LOSS OF MENTAL CLEARNESS.
IMPAIRMENT OF MEMORY.
MENTAL AND MORAL DISEASES.
RELATION BETWEEN INSANITY AND DRUNKENNESS.
"GREAT SIMILARITY BETWEEN INEBRIETY AND INSANITY.
"ALCOHOL SELLS THE REASONING POWERS,
IT EXCITES MAN'S WORST PASSIONS.
A SAD AND TERRIBLE PICTURE.
"VOLUNTARY EXTINCTION OF REASON.
NOT A FOOD, AND VERY LIMITED IN ITS RANGE AS A MEDICINE.
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS,
ALCOHOL NOT A PRODUCER OF HEAT.
ALCOHOL REDUCES THE TEMPERATURE OF THE BODY,
"NOT KNOWN TO BE IN ANY SENSE AN ORIGINATOR OF VITAL FORCE;
"ALCOHOL ACTS AS A DISTURBING ELEMENT
WHAT IS ITS VALUE AS A MEDICINE?
TYPHOID FEVER.
ACCUMULATIVE TESTIMONY.
THE GROWTH AND POWER OF APPETITE.
NO MAN SAFE WHO DRINKS.
A DANGEROUS DELUSION.
A MOST EXEMPLARY NUN
INHERITED PREDISPOSITION TO DRINK,
EXTINGUISHMENT OF FAMILIES!
"MORE READILY BECOME DRUNKARDS,
INHERITED NERVOUS SUSCEPTIBILITY
A REMARKABLE CASE.
LOCK HIMSELF IN HIS ROOM FOR DAYS
MEANS OF CURE.
HOPEFUL SIGNS.
FRUITS OF TEMPERANCE WORK.
REDUCTION OF POVERTY, PAUPERISM AND CRIME,
JUDGES ON THE BENCH
THE WORK OF HEALING AND SAVING.
A TRUER, PURER, NOBLER MAN,
INEBRIATE ASYLUMS.
ABSOLUTE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL INTOXICANTS FROM THE PATIENT,
TOBACCO.
REMOVAL FROM TEMPTATION.
"THE HYGIENIC AND SANITARY MEASURES
THE BINGHAMPTON ASYLUM.
SAVING AND REFORMING INFLUENCES.
TREATMENT.
DEEPLY INTERESTING CASES.
THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF DRUNKARDS.
LEGISLATIVE CONTROL.
REFORMATORY HOMES.
WASHINGTONIAN HOME AT BOSTON,
BENEFICIAL RESULTS.
TESTIMONY OF THE REFORMED.
HOW I WAS TREATED IN THE HOME.
A RELIGIOUS HOME.
WHO ARE RECEIVED INTO "THE FRANKLIN HOME."
USE OF TOBACCO DISCOURAGED.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
WOMAN'S WORK IN THE HOME.
TOUCHING INCIDENTS.
THE TESTIMONY OF INMATES.
AFTER FIVE YEARS.
DANGERS THAT BESET THE REFORMED INEBRIATE.
TOBACCO AS AN INCITANT TO THE USE OF ALCOHOLIC STIMULANTS, AND AN OBSTACLE IN THE WAY OF A PERMANENT REFORMATION.
ASSOCIATED WITH THE HABIT OF DRINKING.
DERANGEMENT OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS
FELT A DESIRE FOR A LITTLE WHISKY AFTER A SMOKE,
TEN TIMES AS DIFFICULT TO CONQUER AS THAT OF WHISKY-DRINKING.
ONE OF THE GREAT CURSES OF THE RISING GENERATION
THE WOMAN'S CRUSADE.
BEGINNING OF THE CRUSADE.
HOW THE CRUSADERS WERE TREATED.
DECLINE OF THE CRUSADING SPIRIT.
THE WOMAN'S NATIONAL CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.
ORGANIZATION.
FIRST YEAR'S WORK.
THE SECOND YEAR'S WORK.
A WORKING ORGANIZATION.
THE WORK OF REFORM AND RESCUE.
KEEPING ALIVE A SENTIMENT ADVERSE TO THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
INFLUENCE ON THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
ACTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS.
REFORM CLUBS.
FORMATION OF CLUBS.
FRANCIS MURPHY.
GOSPEL TEMPERANCE.
THE VALUE OF PRAYER AND FAITH ALONE.
PRAYER SUPPLEMENTED BY ORGANIZED WORK.
THE APPETITE FOR DRINK NOT TAKEN AWAY IN A MOMENT.
HOW MANY ARE REALLY SAVED.
THE TRIAL AND THE TEST,
THE DIVINE GRACE THAT SAVES.
TEMPERANCE COFFEE-HOUSES AND FRIENDLY INNS.
THE EXPERIMENT IN PHILADELPHIA.
CROWDED FROM THE FIRST.
THE GOOD DONE.
FRIENDLY INNS.
TEMPERANCE LITERATURE.
NATIONAL TEMPERANCE SOCIETY AND PUBLICATION HOUSE,
FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED.
REMARKABLE GROWTH OF TEMPERANCE LITERATURE.
LICENSE A FAILURE AND A DISGRACE.
HISTORY OF LICENSE IN MASSACHUSETTS.
THE EVIL STILL INCREASING.
WORSE AND WORSE.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN ADAMS.
OPENING A WIDER DOOR.
THE LIQUOR POWER IN THE ASCENDANT AGAIN.
SUBMITTING AGAIN TO THE YOKE.
PROHIBITION.
NO REMEDY BUT PROHIBITION.
PROHIBITION NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
CAN PROHIBITORY LAWS BE ENFORCED?
THE MAINE LAW—ITS COMPLETE VINDICATION.
TESTIMONY OF HON. NEAL DOW.