Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-07-31
WHOLE NUMBER, LXVl

seal of reprobation has been put upon the
medical use of ardent spirits, by numbers
! of the most eminent of the medical facuI.
ty; and it is confidently believed that this
spirit will spread itself more widely and
extensively, until every physician shall! be
brought under its influence, and shall en-
gage heart and soul in the determination
of this foul monster who is dyed in human
gore, and stepped in widows and orphans
tears.
The enlightened physician is we'll quail
Ihed to ascertain and judge of the with
Iering and blasting influence of ntemper-
ance. He knows that vast number of
cases OF disease, far greater perhaps, than
is generally imagined, are occasioned by
the excessive use of ardent spirits; and
perhaps not smaller number by temper
ate drinking, for it is not the sot only who
suffers from the use of spirits, but the reg.
uIar and daily dram drinker, who feels
the effects of this slow but unrelenting
Ppison-and it is said that distinguished
medical gentleman, whose opportunities
OF Judging have been ample, has given it
as his decided opinion, that the regular
AID respectable use of ardent spirits. de-
stoys more men than even drunkenness
itself
1t is said to be now about 600 wears
since the discovery of alcohol 600 years
since the demon of intemperance began
to ravage and lay waste mans fair herit-
age-and in that time he has DESTROYED
more lives, has blasted more bright hopes
OF happiness. has caused the expenditure
and waste of more money, has been more
prolific Of vice, in every form and of every
de-has made more mothers widows.
more children fatherless, than al the wars
and all the plaques with which heaven
has sconrged the human race, within that
period. Is it not high time then, that his
progress was arrested, and his desolations
stayed? And may we not hope, that the
grand, the glorious era will soon come,
when the motto of every physician, eve
ry christian, every patriot, every friend
of humanity, in relation 10 this fell de.
stroyer, will be, tive will not use it, we
will not sell it, we will not make it,
And here permit me to remark, that all
past experience proves, that to be eff
ciently useful, our efforts must be direct
ed principally to the temperate and sober,
to preserve them from temptation and to
prevent and arrest the first germs of this
destructive habit of intemperance, for, of
the confirmed drunkard, there is butsmall
hope; his march is onward; deaf to the
voice of friendship and reason, unawed
by the devastation around him, unappal-
led by the fearful destiny which awaits
him, he PUSHES madly forward, he still
clings to his idol, although he knows
- 'sThe dead
Are in her house; her guests down in the depths of
hell;
She weaves the winding sheet of souls, and lays
Them IN the urn of everlasting DEATH
Still he drinks and drinks until
On her altar, he has sacrificed ease, peace,
Truth, faith, integrity, good conscience, friends,
Love, charity, benevolence, and all
The sweet and tender sympathies of life.
And to complete the horrid, murderous rite,
And signalize his folly, offers up
His soul, and an eternity of bliss,
To gain him-what! An hour of dreaming ioy:
feverIsh hour, that hastens to be done,
And leaves him in the bitterness of woe.