I Break Out In Spots

A good friend Dick C. tells us he is allergic to alcohol and whenever he consumed it he broke out in spots… like Phoenix, Los Angeles, Paris, you get the idea!

How many of us enjoy telling others that consuming alcohol caused them to break out in handcuffs? I bet we have thousands of similar sayings.

From Dr. Silkworth;

Alcoholism as a Manifestation of Allergy

“Alcoholism is considered by many physicians a chronic condition that gradually unfolds itself to a dismal end. They feel that it is a state of mind and advise these patients that it is up to them to discontinue their accustomed drug, which it is assumed they can do by merely making up their minds to do so. Proper attention is not given to the psychological problem as well as the physical condition of these people.”

Gradually?

State of Mind? Discontinue by merely making up their minds to do so?

Drug?

Somebody’s jerkin’ someone around eh?

“It is our purpose to show that there is a type of alcoholism characterized by a definite symptomatology and a fixed diagnosis indicative of a constant and specific pathology; in short, that true alcoholism is a manifestation of allergy. If the arguments adduced appear to upset traditional ideas on the subject, it is because the major points of diagnostic importance as well as the fundamental basis of the physical and mental alterations that occur in the victims, have not heretofore been correlated or analyzed with the same interest that attaches to other conditions that are no more serious but elicit more sympathy. As the result of observations of numerous cases at Towns Hospital, New York City, over a period of years, clinical constants have been derived and data have been accumulated which indicate that the subject must be considered from the constitutional and serological point of view.”

A manifestation of allergy?

Upset traditional ideas? (break out the violins)

Other conditions that are no more serious but elicit more sympathy? Say What?

“We may set it down as a fundamental proposition that alcoholism is not a habit. Second, drunkenness and alcoholism are not synonymous. Intoxication with alcohol, as commonly observed, is a purely superficial manifestation of no diagnostic importance whatever in itself; nor is the desire to take a drink, which is common to many.”

Now, isn’t that damn well interesting? Drunkenness and alcoholism are not synonymous?

Shucks… I’m still powerless.