RISKS OF CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM.

Evening Star, Issue 12764, 17 March 1906, Page 2

RISKS OF CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM.

Dr W. Fold Robertson, at Edinburgh, in the course of the final Morrison lecture on ? The Pathology of General Paralysis of the Insane,' contended that the previous infection, of which general paralysis had been assumed to be a late result acted only as a strong predisposing cause, preparing the soil for the reception) of the diphtheroid bacillus. There were good reasons for beheving that to persons whose mucous membranes were in a healthy state these - alphtlieirodd baeflli were quite innoeuous. It was only in mucous •membranes that had been the seat of a longstanding inflammatory pocesg that the bacillus ooold begin to invade the tissues, and until there was 'such invasion, it'was probable that there was very lifcfc!© toxic action. There were many other predisposing causes which acted in a very similar way, but probably the most important were chronio alcoholism and the excessive use of foods, . The lecturer then summarised the evidence in support of the conclusion that generg.l paralysis was dependent upon invasion of the tissues by ihe bacillus of paralygis. Considering those diseases were to be combated, the lecturer said that it was obvious that" measures such as _ were used in ' the' case of other chronic infectious diseases should be taken to prevent susceptible persons becoming infected. As regarded treatment, there was some hope that ma anti-serum might be of use. The results of this form of treatment in other bacterial diseases had hitherto been; with a, few very disappointing. They -were, however,, at : least going to give this method' of combating funeral paralysis atrial.