is
instructive from this point of view:

A young girl of good position married a man of weak and vulgar
character. Both were rather fond of drink. When she became
pregnant the wife took large quantities of wine, by the doctor's
orders, and this led her to inebriety. The friends and
acquaintances of the husband found this amusing, and began to
flirt with her to such an extent that she fell a victim to their
sexual appetites, in her continual state of semi-intoxication.
The husband at first had not the courage to put an end to this
and did not wish to divorce her, for pecuniary reasons; for the
wife had the money. He finally decided to send her to an asylum
which I superintended, to cure her alcoholism.

From the antecedents of the patient, I expected to see a cynical
and erotic woman; but she was nothing of the kind. Although
hardly sober, this woman was modest and well-behaved. What
struck me most was her extreme of modesty, which at first made
it difficult for me to investigate her psychological state. Her
conduct was exemplary the whole time, and she eventually
confided to me that it was not so much sexual desire as the
profound indifference and feebleness developed by inebriety
which had caused her to give way. Before leaving the asylum she
joined a total abstinence society, returned to her husband and
succeeded in converting him also to total abstinence. She kept
to her pledge and lived afterwards in conjugal peace and
happiness, without ever relapsing into her old infidelity. I saw
her several years afterwards with her husband, happy and
flourishing.

I have mentioned this case to show that, even in women, sexual excess
does not necessarily destroy the character, the sentiments of modesty,
nor the will. It all depends on their cause. If there is congenital
weakness of character, the evil is irreparable; but if it is only due
to external forces which can be eliminated in time, its effect may
often be permanently suppressed. Some female inebriates are sexually
cold and repulse men; but others are erotic and even nymphomaniacs.

Whosoever has the welfare of humanity at heart, and takes the trouble
to reflect on the ravages caused by alcohol in human society, should
have the courage to make a slight effort and renounce all alcoholic
drink--say for six months at first, as an experiment--in order to
combat the s