DIPSOMANIA.
[CosratnucATEß as a Medical Man.] Within the last few jears the word " Dipso mania," a Greek word (meaning thirst and madneßs), has been revived, to eipregj that craving for intoxicating liquors, which according to some physiciane, partakco of the character of insanity. Now, although a* fit of intoxication is Ua . doubtedly an attack of temporary mania, ret it appeare a highly unphilosophical yievr (and one, too, which ie f raujjht with the greatest danger to society) to regard a dipsomaniac sg an irresponsible being j to look upon him Jβ fact, as an individual affected by some recoe. nised form of lunacy. b " Hard drinking is a degrading vice, one! like many other vices, the more freely it i| indulged in the more difficult becomes its dij. continuance. It ie a cause of insanity and 5 cause of crime, though 1 believe its influence in these respects has boon much overrated Lord Shafteebury eaya :—" From my own ex! perienco as a Commissioner of Lunacy for tha fast twenty years, and as chairman of the Commission during sixteen years, fortified by inquiries in America, I find that fully gij. tenths of all the cases of insanity to bo found in these realms and in America, ariso from no other cause than habits of intemperance," She drunkard ie artful and untruthful; ho breaks every promiee ho makes, and he is perfectly rogardlees of the feelings and happiness of others.
