The New Zealand Herald AUCKLAND, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1866.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 903, 5 October 1866, Page 3

The New Zealand Herald

AUCKLAND, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1866.

SPECTEMDK AGENDO. 11 Give every man thine eari but few thy voice : Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. This above all,—To thine own self be true And it must follow, an the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."

In spite of acts of Parliament and Total Abstincnec Societies the vicc of drunkenness increases, and so it will be to the end of the chapter, until the disease, for a disease it is, comes to bo regarded in its proper light, and treated accordingly. The term dypsomania has been given by medical men to that craving for alcoholic liquors which characterises the actual drunkard, and which more or less is common to all, yet is in some so slight as to be easily kept within moderate bounds, or, as in the case of total abstainers, altogether repressed. The conduct of most men who indulge in excessive drinking is inexplicable, unless it be regarded as caused by a diseased state of the system. Neither the desire to produce in the mind the peculiarly happy sensation, or devil-may-care feeling, winch is the effect of alcol:" ]. nor yet the actual gratification afforded • y the taste of the spirit or wine used, will i' .inisli a sufficient reason for conduct, w 1 : eh none better than the drunkard himse!;' knows, is hurrying him swiftly to cjegradation misery, and death. Were the ignorant, the uneducated, and the brutal alone drawn within the fatal vortex, we could believe that a want of strength of will, of reasoning power, or the love of anything bettor thau tho most selfish indulgence, was the impelling power, but when we find amongst the list of drunkards, the most gifted and talented of tho age, when we find that neither education, wealth, position, nor the enjoyment of all that follows their possession has a retarding influence, and that men so gifted and placed, with their eyes open to the consequences, risk their own happiness and that of all those depending upou them, by their indulgence in the use of alcoholic drinks—then, indeed, we are bound to admit that the evil is deeper seated than it has too generally boen supposed to be, and utterly beyond the reach of the means hitherto taken to arrest it. In America habitual drunkenness has come to be regarded by a largo portion of the medical profession as the consequence of a disease, and for that disease there has been prescribed a regular treatment. One of the largest hospitals in that country is the American Inebriate Asylum at Binghampton, au institution incorporated by a State Charter which was granted in answer to a petition signodby 1300 physicians, including the most eminent medical practitioners in the country. Patients are received for not less than one year, though some require a two and three years' course to effect a cure, and some prove, of course, incurable. As far as has been yet proved, at least seventy per cent, have been radically cured. During the seven years this institution has been in existence, there have been 7,245 applications for admission. Of these, 520 were opiumeaters. Of the whole number, 39 were clergymen, 8 judges, 197 lawyers, 226 physicians, 340 merchants, 1380 mechanics, 4G6 farmers, 2-40 gentlemen, and 805 women. For the following analysis of the position in society of tho patients and tho description of the foundation of the institution, we are indebted to the Church of England Temperance Magazine, and have somewhat digressed from the matter before us in order to show, from the information therein afforded, that tlie theory that habitual drunkenness is the result of disease is no new one; and that, as we have stated above, neither intellect, position, nor wealth can always enable a man, when stricken by this disease, successfully to resist it. That, however, which led us to take up our pen upon the matter was the appearance in the Melbourne Argus, of a late date, of a letter from a Dr. W. Crooke, headed, " Drunkenness and its Cure," which has, we believe, thrown out some valuable hints and suggestions as to the cure for drunkenness in confirmed inebriates, and a trial of which needs no residence in a special institution, but mfiy bo resorted to and persevered in quietly at home by any man who feels himself gradually yielding to the craving for strong drink, The writer of this letter, which will be found in another column, bases his arguments on the theory that this disease, which creates a craving for alcohol, is caused by a condition of the blood producecl from the want of animal heat-producing material in the general diet of the'people—that wedonot consume a sufficiency of oil, butter, fat, and sugar, and that, as a consequence, wines, beers, and spirits, which supply this want, are naturally resorted to, and eventually create such a state of the system that the person using them loses all taste for the simpler, more natural, and more wholesome means of producing the animal heat necessary for existence. 1 he writer points to the fact that drunkenness is not tho vice either of the Jewish nation, or of the Chinese, the members of both of which nations use large quantities of oil in tho culinary preparation of their food, " their blood," lie says, " being " with an adequate supply of heai> " producing material from a non-stimulating " source, does not excite the brain to obtain " the same elements from alcoholic drinks." The letter 1b well worthy of perusal. It L ax. do no harm : it may do mush. good.

Everything that can be brought to bear tc stem the spread of this desolating vice v rx f our .£ oa,f3 > a country like XSew Zealand, is the cause, not only of two thirds of the crime committed, but even of a larger proportion of the destitution which exists, is worthy of notice and discussion, and of practical trial and experiment. Waiibmck please call at tho Herald Oilice tins day. The 1-iisTOEY of a Watch.—A man was arrentea yesterday for having in his possession a watch-and chain, value £20, which had been lost by tho owner since tlie2(jtiiof September, and was suspected by the police to have been stolen. The watch belonged to a gentleman residing at lipsom. The prisoner was subsequently discharged from custody. It appears that on tho night of the 2(>th ult. the man " kicked " against something in Queen-street, and observing that it was shining, he picked it up and put it in liis pocket. It was a valuable watch and chain. He became " liard-up " and pawned the chain for 30s. He says that seeing the watch vras a valuable one, he expected a reward to be offered for its recovery, and tlierefore retained it. We may state for the benefit ot finders, that are liable to bo prosecuted for larceny if they retain and pawn property found. It is thf finder's business to give information to the police,. and if required he ought to leave the property found, in their charge. Police Court.—Two drunkards were disposed of in the usual manner, at the Police Court, yesterday ; and Thomas Wilson alias <■ aid wood, and Patrick Byrne, two deserters, were ordered to be handed over to the Military authorities.' Penny Headings.—One of these amusements took place last evening in the school-room, Wel-lesley-street, Mr. J Herepath in the cliair. The followii.g is tho programme:—"Old New Zealand' (selection), Mr. F. Battley; "Excelsior" and "Psalm of Life," Mr. Fry; "The Pilgrim Fathers," Tlios. Wood ; " Twa Dogs" (Burns), Mr. G-. M. Main; "The Haven" (Poe), Mr. Aicken; song by the choir; a chapter from Pickwick,A pleasant day's sport with an unpleasant termination," Mr. Oughton; " The Three Warnings," Mr. Welsman. Yestebday • evening an artilleryman was thrown from his horse in Symonds-street, and received several severe bruises. We are glad to hear that the results are not serious. Cattle Sale, Hendebson's Mill.—Mr. A. Bitcklnnd will sell to-day, at this place, 20 yearlings aud 4 dairy cows, Photog-uaphb of the Fleet have been taken by Messrs. Bartletfc and Co.. which are really beautifully executed, and are for sale. Mr. Weaver invites tenders at the Public Works Office, until Tuesday next, for the shingling of Mount Kden Stockade. ihe jS r ATivj; Compensation ' Court will sit at Ngaruawahia on tho 7th and I4th January and following days. Horse Stock.—A meeting of gentlemen took place yesterday at the Junction Hotel, .Newmarket, for the purpose of allowing intending exhibitors for the priaes given by the late Mr. B. Newell for the best colt or filly offspring of his imported horses. There was a very thin attendance, and nothing was decided. The matter is in this position. The late Mr. Newell offered three prizes—silver cups, value £20 10s. —for the best yeailing foals begotten by his horses. Major, froii Duke.and Black Prince. Tho Junction Yards were named as the place where the exhibition was to be held. It seems, however, to bo thought that, as there is to be a cattle show at Otaliuhu, an exhibition of young horse stock would be an additional attraction, as well as showing the quality of the rising stock in respect to breed, &o. Owing to tho paucity of attendance nothing positive was determined ; but tho feeling seeins to be to exhibit this stock at the forthcoming show, together with any other stock that may be selected. Of course Mr. Ncwell's prises will in any caso bo solely for tlio progeny of his own horses. JJesident Mat,isrbates' Court.—Tho proleedings at this Court j'estei'day occupied from 10'30 iu the forenoon until past 4 in the afternoon. Some of the cases possessed more than usual interest, and excited considerable attention among the "habitues" of what is sometimes facetiously termed—"Mr. Beckham's levee." A full report will be found elsewhere. The most alarming and destructive fire that has taken place in Glasgow for a considerable time broke out on the forenoon of July 13th, about a quarter to 11, in the stores of Messrs. Wm. Walls and Co., spermaceti refiners audiiil merchants, North Fredoricli-strcet. The building was'three stories, had been but recently built, and extended a considerable distance back. As the stores contained a large quantity of different oils, the fire spread with such great rapidity that in about 10 minutes after there was not the slightest hope either of saving the building or the valuable stock stored up within. Whilstpouring water on the burning mass the brigade directed their efforts to save the adjoining houses, and much need was there that they should so exert themselves, for the flames stretched out to a great distance around, threatening tho Asylum for the Houseless, and some dwelling-houses in Margaret-street, the offices of the Messrs. Wall's, and St. l'avid's K. U. Church. About noon, when the flames were at their height, tho front wall of the oil stores fell with a crash into Frederick-street. As to the roof, it had given way at an early stage of the fire. hortly after that hour the flames abated, and all danger to the neighbouring buildings ceased. The loss must be enormous. Messrs. Hidings and Perston will sell today a quantity of boots, draDery, watches, flowering plants, &c, M E9SRS. A kthuu and Son will sell to-day a quantity of household furniture, and utensils suited to a boarding house.