Litchfield enquirer., 1833-06-27
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
 TEMPERANCE, No. VI.

IS nothing m tbe ecrIptufe sO snOw uat wane ls not poison nor any thing that does at all sanction the use of it. think that the considerations whch have been brought to view. will have established this posi- ton to ,he satsfacGiOn Of every candid mind. But since in the reasOnings Of who discuss this sub ject, there is often betrayed indefniteness of con- ception, which prevents their seeing the true state of the case and muss, Of necessity, Fender them incom- peten, decide ,he question, shall, in the present Numher; endeavor to place it in clear sht and briefly to show what suppose constitutes poison- III succeed ih this atempt, every person once decide respecting the qualities oiinoxicang liquors. The technical deanit;O Uison, ns it weud pfob- ably bs given all scientific medical men, so far as it relates the sujec. before us amounts this: Poi son is any sa6stdpce sosc taken :o he ssomach pro- daces disorder in the system. This disorder may be either bodily Ineaial or beth; and bodily disorder may affect either the whole body, only some part oft. But in any ofthese rases medical writers, is believed, woold generally if not universally agree in declaring the substance taken poison On this prin- ciple they have declared that alcohol one, since it fully answers the conditions of the dsGaition.
 But some may not be satisfied ~iib the decision of the doctors thinking, perhaps, that t is the result of theory and technical habiis rather han plain com. mon sense. They have not, in commOs life, beea ac- cusomed 10 call ardent spirit poison, and befoFe they will assent so iss being called 90, may require it to e shown, on principles of common sense and tn accord ance with the common way ofspeaking that poison is it's proper shall not, at present. deny the rea condolences oi this demand; and beepe &ha, csD be fully met. '-<
 k will be agreed by all that poison, whatever n be, fa Aivdad nort;ona axnnfls svhon vn;v ed with healthy ssbs,ances to produce little or no n- mediate sensible disorder ot the sys.em This is true sf tn powerful poisons that have yet been dis covered; they actually used medicine, in par ,icuar diseases. l then this fact exists in regard to ardent spirit, is than true of every poison
 On the other hand, the most healthy substances, if taken ia excessive quan,isy, will disorder the system There is limit in quantity, beyond which cannot go in taking wholesome and aecessary food, without suffering disorder bosh of body aad fmind. This well knowa fact however, does not induce 10 class such food among the poisons. No one thinks that well made bread, and pure water, have any noxious qualties; though all aware thu they may be tak- in such amount to produce serious injury to the conslitusioa. In such ease. wetsa eeainana ana- tained, to the individual who saaians t; and call hs condsrt, gluttOny or excess.
 Notwithstanding. then, ,e fact that poiscns may be divided into portions small as to produce little present sensible injury; and wholesome food and drink may be taken in quantities large, pro- duco very destructive effects; the disiinction be- tween poisonous substances and healthy substances is universally recognized; and person who should speak or write in such manner to coniound this distinction, would be guii,y of nsng dangerous spe- cies of metaphysics. ....-.-.
 apprehend that ,he definition of poison which may be correct and universally in,elgibls and practical is something like the followng-P -Poisoh is<ltat ,OAich healthy persOn heuing suspicion that s not harm- Jess substance, and taking t the qmay s sokich, sOithout any such smspicion he naturally might and sooutd fake I.sOM disorder hs sstsm producing ia- furious elects he body, or ths mind, or 6oth few cases will show that this is a safe cri,eriea.
 The common fruit of the summer season, when fully ripe, and decayed in any degree, is wholesome, and the most inexperienced child may eat much ol it healthy appetite craves. without injury But il he proceeds with the want of caution, as if not cautioned, he naturally will do, certain herbs oi a pleasant taste, which found in the fields, serious disorder, and perhaps loss of life, will be the result. This is asfar asappears proper criterion HOE WC Vbt0u pOsoV"cu" W"ys A nO S"'"o may be said of drinks child may take cold water or milk as much he will, and suffer no inconven
 fence from il ; but let him get phaI oflaudanum, and drnk freely ot it, and what would be the consequence
 The answer need not be given.
 Let the principle be applied to any thing, which a child or person, having knowledge of the poison ous qualities of shings might eat; and weshaIl have a practical test Of poisons.
 Now apply this alcoisol. IEit be taken in high
 y rec,ied sate any considerable quantity. ii will be the not of children ony but of grown persons also. Let ardent spirit be sweetened to make i, paatabe flor naturally loves it in its raw s,ae, and let child have free access to it, and drink it at his pleasure, and the result would be dso:
 der, ofa serious nature. The aboriginal i0habiiaa,s of,his continent were probably at ther discovery by Europeans as we'll quaifed 'ojudge of the naiare ol
 liquors in ihis~ew any persons for they had and now have, far more accurate knowledge of the getale poibons than our people generally hass From the history of the discovery of different paris of te continent it appears that in several insiancss bsa srong ,oatsr was first given to them, they, judging by i,s effects at once took it to be poison; though like other people, when they became accustomed to the poison, they were exravaganty fond Cf 1t. Let any person be supposed to be perfectly ignorant of ahe qualities o ardsnt spirits ls, hi the effects che ! O...