[ad. mod.L. alcoholismus; see under ALCOHOL 2, and -ISM.] The action of alcohol upon the human system; diseased condition produced by alcohol.
1852. M. Huss, Chron. Alkohols-Krank., Pref. Ich habe dieser Krankheit einen neuen Namen, nämlich Alcoholismus chronicus beigelegt.
1860. W. Marcet, Chron. Alc. Intox., Introd. The valuable publication on chronic alcoholism by Magnus Huss of Stockholm.
1869. Daily News, 8 Dec., 3/6. The deaths of 2 persons from alcoholism.
1879. trans. Busch’s Bismarck, II. 189. The doctors complain of the bad effects of alcoholism, which makes slight wounds serious.
1882. Med. Temp. Jrnl., No. 52. 160. The term alcoholism … denotes merely cases which come directly from the toxic action of alcohol.
