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THE AFTERMATH OF REVELRY igg
liquor be good, and not swallowed too quickly.
But, although these may "come up smiling " next
day, on making their first public appearance,
the collapse, the downfall is only postponed.
Without being able to explain these things
medically, it is certain that Alcohol—which is,
as previously explained, the Devil in Solution—
will destroy in the end, if you abuse her, although
her methods of destruction may differ, according
to the capacity, or constitution, of her victims.
And let not the over-estimator expect any
sympathy from the world, or any part of it,
whilst he is experiencing _the "rernorse of
conscience " stage. Katzenjammer patients are
sternly and forcibly refused admission to any
public hospitals, even if in extrejids •,
for mercy,
charity, and the medical faculty have refused
hitherto to recognize the fact that alcoholism is
a disease. And he who is "jumpy " and nervous
of a morning has just as much chance of obtain
ing condolence from friends or relatives as has
the casual sufferer from gout. Both disorders
are, in fact, excellent provocatives of badinage
and laughter.
I remember hearing of an accountant in
Cape Town, a hardened and determined night
bird," a frequenter of hostelries, a boon com
panion—in short, a sot. He was called as a
witness in an intricate case in the High Court,
one morning, whilst suffering terribly from
nerves.
It was heart-rending to watch his
agony. His features twitched, his eyes rolled,
and his hands shook as though afflicted with
palsy on the higher scale. The ledgers which