Litchfield enquirer., 1833-05-30

" tH6us
How is that we determine what is poisonous and
what is not poisonous? Does not experience settle
every question Of this kind Who ever before thought
OfgOing TO the bible ascertain the quality of any
Article which may be drunk7 Who now
thinks Of appealing TO that book questions OF diet
and regimen, exceptn the Of" alcoholic drinks =?
The truth u.s. the book God was not written to de-
termne questions OF this 1t has no more concern
with MateriG Medica than with astronomy or politics.
1t leaves all arts and sciences precisely where it finds
chem. The language which it uses is grounded on the
ordinary conceptions Of plain men and all that con-
Germs medical economical improvement, is left 10
human ingenuity aud experience.
Ibelieve every part of the bible to be exactly true
and there is nothing delivered in it which will not
implicitly receive; but do not think that it intends
TO teach the human what they shall eat or what
they shall drink. IL it says any thing in favor Of
particular article offood drink simply takesi as
is, or as was at the iimo commonly esteemed among
men. Men can, in general, from their own expert
ence determine what agrees with their constitutions;
and physicians, in the last resort tell W hat is poi
son. Experience and medical science the only and
the safe guides these matters. In every question
corning Them, believers and unbelievers, christians
and hea.ens, Judge and decide, believe and act pre-
cisely alike, and may add, by the gnides-ex-
perience, observation, and medical skill. We believe
that bread is good for food, not apprehend because
it is often mentioned in the bible being but be-
experience, nearly universal, has determined
the fact beyond question. We settle the ques-
ton concerning the whole or unwholesome-
ness Of wine in The same manner, without impugning
the authority ofthe Creator because this point Of
Oh no ;.Ah loI
decision.
IT, Them experience be appealed to, what does II de-
eide respecting alcohol and those liquors with which
it il mixed Its decision IL, in the view OF all COM
pe.eo, judges, clearly prono"nced-,hat they are to
" persons in health, wholly unnecessary and cannot
be taken all without dele,erious effects. 1--we know
any thing, we know that person who uses them, or
my Them experiences Of body and Of mind,
tie frequent Of which unavorable the
soundness ofthe constitution and ultimately, desruc
tive ofliCe.
If we consult the most competent and most eminent
physicians, we find disagreement among them to
the quality Of alcohol. Long before the temperance
question came to be generally discussed, it set
down in the books Of highest medical authority
poison. 1t is believed that there few, if any
physicians of character who would class among
poisons. Accustomed, the profession are, TO OBJ
serve tue physiology Of animated beings, and to
mark the operation Of all substances upon them
constantly, as they are, making experiments Of the
effects Of every thing which can be taken into the
stomach, and having frequent opportunities. by
inations after DEATH 10 the theories which they
may form, they doubtless conclusive authority on
the question before II so, alcohol is, beyond all
controversy, A POISON. ME- PARolEoN.
ITO be continWed.)
The Erie Canal.-We gratified TO learn that
the breaches in the canal have been all repaired
that the entire line Of the Erie canal now navgabe
The packets arrive at and depart regularly from Sche
nsctady. Much credit 10 due to the auperintendants
ofrepairs for their activity in preventing and prompt
itude in repairing injuries by the late rain. Under
their supervision the amount Of damage to the canal,
compared with what might have been anticipated is
very trivial.-Albany Argus.
The Moryistosra MM de,s.-The New Jersey Pal
ladium states that Antoine le Blanc. the suspected
murderer Of Mr.. Sayre and family, has undergone a
thorough examination before the authorities, in the
presence ofseveral French gentlemen, who likewise
offciated interpreters. He still denies the horrid
deed, and adheres his former story, that his
dered when he pundered the house and escaped with
the booty, which, with the exception Of the gold
watch, probably not worth $50. The prisoners
vest and pantaoons, have since been found beneath
the bed which he usually slept, with stains of blood
on them.-N. Y. Ads. -4
ARRAY Oith the Chsrokees-The great scheme for
the benefit Of the Indians is going on. We learn
from Georgia newspaper published in the CherO-
kee county, that Sunday. 18th April last, battle
was fought near SHOULDERS, in Forsyth couny, be-
tween party Of Indians and party Of whites. con-
sstipg Of about 80 on each side. Their weapons Of
warfare consisted Of fists, sticks aud stones. There
no lives lost, but many black eye and broken
bone was the result Of the conflict II supposed
that the victory claimed by the withstand the
quarrel originated in dispute about the gold mines
at that place.
Temperance ia Albany-The Temperance Re-
corder sayss-By unanimous vote Of the corpora
ton Of the city Of Albany, the evening Of the 10Th
OfApri it was determined that licenses should be
granted for retailing ardent spirits, to be drank in
stores groceries the coming year.
ChoierG.-From the 18th to the 2lsi Of April there
had been ten deaths by cholera ofblacks, Matches
three Of which had been buried in the Bayou by negro