Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-08-07
For TIE VINO.
TO THE PEOPLE OF RICHMOND.

FOR THE w ZIG.
TO THE PEOPLE OF RICHMOND.
have seen with deep regret, that the Beard OF
Health of this city, in recommending abstinence
from spirtuous liquors. make an exception in favor
of good old Madeira Wine, and weak Brandy
Grog, with dinner, by those whose dobilitated sto-
nachs require them. This was not intended, per-
haps, as Positiue recommendation of their use;
but rather as restraint upon those who in the
habit of aiding their digestive organs by stimuants.
But it is at least admission by those who are
supposed to be competent Judges, that the moderate
of spirits is, in certain useful in prevent
ing attack of the Cholera, il will have the
practical influence positive recommendation to
| uso them. There is reason to believe, that very
many will indulge in tho use of these stmulants,
under the sanction of such authority, and thus not
only fall victims TO the pestence themselves, but
| endanger the lives of their neighbors. Such, it
| is well known, the effect OF a recommends
ton in New York, TO drink less than usual. Every
one is the judge of the amount of aid which his
stomach requires, and of the kind of spirit which
suits it best. The great body of drinkers very
justly argue, that good old Irish or Scotch whis-
key is hes. tor them, just as good old Madeira or
French brandy is for an Alderman.
have been not little amused i'm compareing
the recommendations of the Boards Of Health in
different cities in our Union, to see how the judg-
ment of wise mer is influenced by their habits and
appetites. In Boston, they recommend fresh fish;
in New York, all shell fish denounced, except
CLAIMS, and to this exception, Alderman Smith is
supposed to have fallen a victim; while in Rich
mond old Madeira and French brandy, which have
fed the Cholera in its whole progress, and bcets,
| which very few in the soundesi health eat with
| impunity, are the favorite articles
But to return to the main point before us. The
whole history of the Cholera, shows most clearly
that the Of spirits in any quantity, and at any
time, is not only useless in avertng the disease,
mitigating its violence, but highly injurious, and
| exceedingly dangerous. DIR. Sewa of Washing
ton, who has given his attention particularly to the
| subject, says, .The habitual of ardent spirit,
in tho smallest quantity, seldom fails to n.itc the
Cholera, and renders it incurable when it takes
place." and he recommends as of the first import
anCe "t0td abstinence from all fermented and spi-
| rtuous liquors" The truth of this statement, and
the propreiy of this recommendation, are sustain.
cd by aM tho facts which have been published, re
| speeding its progress
! Out Of three hundred and fifty members of the
Temperance Society in Montreal, rot one, or al
most, only one died. They did not find it neces.
sary to forty their debilitatod stsmachs against
the Cholera, by little good old Madeira, or weak
brandy grog. But temperate drinkers fell in great
numbers. In view of this fact il was well remark.
ed by distinguished physician, who had observed
its progress there that Cholera had plead the cause
OF Temperance most cloquently, and with tremen-
dous effect. The Clergy in that city, about thirty
in number, were spared to man, without the use
of Madeira or brandy grog, although they were
constantly exposed to the disease in It's most awful
forms. The paupers of the Hospitals, and the cart
ers engaged in transporting the sick and the dead
n service in which no drinkcr dare engage, were
| all spared. One large Society of Christians i'm tn,
centre of its ravages in Quebec, with very larg,
| Sunday School attached to it, lost not ,
single adult, and only two children. CONNER
cial paper lost but one subscriber in that city GU
! of three hundred and sixty.
| DIR. Howard of New York stated, that of 90
patients, which included all that had then been ad
mitted into the Park Hospital in that city, only 81,
were temperate persons. These sic recovered while
122 of the others died. DIR. Sewall ascertained
that the other hospitals there gave nearly the same
results VI Ssrty new cases in one day in the CT
ty, 43 were IN one ward among persons of notori-
ously bad habits; and most of the remainder were
of such MISUNDERSTANDING very few for the virtu-
GUS and temperate After more than one thousa nd
persons had died, the Pastors there large congre
cations were heard to say, that their societies had
not lost member. And it was the opinion OF
well informed persons in Newly ork, that many o.
the Religious Societies there had been favored in
nearly equal degree In looking over the list
of buryas i'm that city, during the prevalence of tn,
cholera, we find that the number not greatly in
crossed, except in t,Do places, and these are 81
PatrckS, and the POHers Field; and this fact shows
beyond all controversy, to those acquainted in New
York that no great mortality has prevailed there
except in some particular classes of people.
Facts like these abound in the history of the
cholera, not only in this country, but in Europe
and wherever it has prevailed And while they
speak with voice of thunder to every temperate,
as well incorporate drinker. they show most
clearly that those who abgtain from all stimulants
and are otherwise vrtuous and prudent in their ha-
bits, and give themselves TO the fearless discharge
of duty, are in no great danger from the Chol-
era. Among such the mortality in New York and
Canada, has been far less than in this city and
many other places from the scarlet fever, i'm pro-
portion to the population 1t hears no proportion
to the ordinary mortality from the use of good old
Madeira and brandy grog. All the facts attending
the progress of this wonderful disease, warrant
the conclusion, that although some who practice
entire abstinence from spirits and from vice. fall
before it's power, yet such in general in less
danger Of death in the mids. of it's ravages than
temperate wine and brandy drinkers are, in tho
heathicst part of our country. How absurd and
dangerous then, to recommend even by inpiica-
ton, the Of these articles antidoo to the
Cholera.
One word to the Board Of Health. II is stated
on good authority that the recommendation admis-
sion, whatever else it ought To- he named, on
which have animadyeTted, is opposed to the judg.
ment Of the majority of the Board, and never
would havo passed in full meeting. Is this the
factl If it is, would ask why do not the MAORI
" come out and disavow that part of the report7
II is duty they owe TO the public, well "a, to
10 themselves. 1t has already encouraged the EN-.
emics Of temperance, and excited fresh opposition
10 the measures of that Society.
A CITIZEN.
By REauEsT.l
THOMAS RITCUIE, ESQ.