Alcoholism and its treatment / by J.E. Usher.

  • Usher, J. E.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Alcoholism and its treatment / by J.E. Usher. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    ally tasted tea. Writing home to his mother, he informed her that he had taken to the custom of drinking tea, but had acquired the habit of taking it at a very inconvenient hour—twelve o'clock at night. She replied, telling him that he had come honestly by his liking, for his father and grandfather had had exactly the same habit. Previous to the reception of this letter he had never heard of the peculiarity of his father and grandfather.' There is no escape from this singular evidence as to heredity being causative of mental conditions not incompatible with health. On the other hand, there are a vast number of instances in which transmis- sibility of neuroses is entirely absent. Again, in a family some members may seem to be healthy in every way ; and, on the other hand, most pronounced mania may be developed by the others. Compensation for the non-exhibition of mental changes is often seen in the degeneration of the special organs of the body—as the lungs, liver, or kidneys. And diseases of any of these parts may come to light should the vitality of the person affected become lowered in any way from overwork, improper nourishment, defective hygienic surroundings, or other causes. There is little doubt but that transmitted mental and physical imperfections may be manifested in various ways without minimising very seriously any special talent or faculty. And it is not difficult to understand how a person having a neurotic tendency may exhibit eccentricities which call forth ridicule and condemnation. Are the vagaries of genius to be explained in this way? Should insane symptoms appearing in such people surprise us ? Remarkable