Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-10-09
WATER rcrsus ARDENT SPIRITS.


If" says Hoffman, a celebrated Ger
man physician, there is in nature rem
edy which deserves the name OF universal.
1t is, In my opinion, pure water. The
use of 1t is so general and SO necessary
to US all that wf can neither live, nor pre-
serve our bodies sound and healthy with.
aut it,"
Water is the natural drink of plants
and ANIMALS OF every description, and is
the only article wblch can iuIf those ends
Tor which the introduction of liquid into
the human system is demanded Its use
is equally adapted to every age and tenn
peraWent,--to every season and climate.
1t facilitates digestion, and, bv its fluidity
and mlldness, promotes that free and eQua-
BILE crehlatlon OF the blood and hunours
through al! the vessels of the body, upon
which the dne performance of every ami
NAL Junction depends.
Hence, III physical strength, in the ca
pability OF enduring lab rur and fatigue.
IN the viguur and cIearness ofthe inteilec.
tual powers, the individuals whose drink
is Confined entirely to water, far exceed
those who substitute for tine pure element
distilled or iermcu,ed liquors.
Their equal days
Feel not tn alternate fits Of ievcrish mirth
And sick detection
Bicst with Divine impunity from ails,
Long centuries they live their only fate
ils'ripc old age, and rather sleep than death"
Errors in regard to drink constitute one
OF the causes To which, in great mea-
sure, are to be attributed the increase Of
disease as society advances in refinement
and luxury. 1t has been computed. that
since the introduction Of ardent spirits in
to common use, more victims have fallen
'sY:'2 alone, than by the sword and pesti-
lence within the same period.
A belief is entertained by many that
there are certain circumstances, however.
which render the latter a preferable drink
to pure water. Ardent spirits are suppos-
ed useful to preserve the system from the
effects of cold aud dampness.-The very
contraryis The fact. Though an indivi-
dual, while under the immediate excite
ment of the Intoxicating draught NAV
perhaps expose himself with impunity to a
degree OF coldness and moisture, which
would be injurious under other circum-
stances, vet when1,he stimulating effects
Of the liquor have passed away, his system
is LETT III condition far more subject to
their deleterisus influence than rs that ri
-the,manha bituaiiy sober.
To. drink water during hot weather, OF
in warm climates, would, it is imagined,
lay the system open to the attacks Of dis
ease, while a coTRrary effect is ascriked to
the use OF ardent spirits. Experience has.
however, ,proved'that the latter augment,
instead OF diminishing the pernicious influ-
ence Of extreme beat. It" Rum" says DIR.
Bel, whether used hd6ituaty ,moderatc-
IN, or in cEesSsire. quantities, in the West
Indies, always diminishes the strength of
the body, and renders men more suscepti-
bic Of disease, and unfit for any service in
which yigour or activity is required"
Rushyvery aPtly remarks, that I've might as
well throw oil into house, the roof of
which wac on fire, in order to prevent the
flames from extending to its inside, as to
pour ardent spirits into the stomach TO
lessen the effects Of hot sun upon the
skin.
have known" says the same author,
many instances OF persons who have
followed the most laborious employments
for many years, nfbe open air, and in
warm and cold weather, who never drank
any thing but water and enjoyed unin-
terrupted good health" DIR. Mosely. who
resided many years in the West Indies,
confirms this remark. "I aver" says
the Doctor, " from my own knowledge
4 aud custom, as well as the custom and
observations of many other people, that
those who drink nothing S6t water, or