The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-02-24
Feb. 9, 1912
ADDRESS.

LEWIS DYER,
ADDRESS.
MIR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
Inc Executive Commute of this society
have requested mo TO address you to. night up
on tho subject Of Temperance and il is in
accordance with that request, that sppear
before you as it's humble advocate. But in
conserving to do 80, it is not in expectation
that shall be able 70 shed any new light upon
The subject, or Otherwise 10 throw around it
much interest All Ihope to do is, 10 presen.
old facts and old arguments 10 such form, as,
'ha', under present auspices, some benefit 10
the cause may result. la the attainment of
this object, shall fad an ample reward
for all my pains.
Without designing to be very me,hodical.
lpropOse briefly to call your attention to the
agency OF Alcoholic drinks, in producing and
aggravatiRg both Physical and Intellectu"
al disease; and as | proceed, such re-
Elections will bs made, as The subject may sug-
gest: Every enc, is presumed TO be- aC-
quaInted with the fact, that certain liauids
when freely drunk produce intoxicatlon.
These liquids constitute an extensive list.
ranging from spirits Of wine or the alcohol Of
- commerce. dnInn A~ l~---~Al .;A.- nkav
all contain alnohol, and upon the presence Of
this principle alone, depends their capabilily
OF producing iDtoxica!ion. The old doctrine,
that alcohol can only be produced by distilla.
ton, is exploded. The doctrine is not only
not true, but positively false, conveying to the
mind an untruh; for it is not the product of
dlstlIaton at all no is il possible 10 produce il
IN this way. Alcohol is the product of fermen-
taton, and fermentation only. The science of
chemistry has unfoded no other method, by
which it can be produced, nor is it presumed
it ever will. Before liquids are subjected 10
the operation Of distilaiiou, it is we'll known,
that they are placed in large tubs or vats, and
there allowed 10 remain, until they have uu-
dergone what is called vinous fermentation.
1t ls during this Process, that the alcoholic
principle is envolvec or produced. The sole
purpose for which these fermen,ed liquids are
now distilled, is TO separate the alcohol or spr.
it's. from the superabundant water and other
fluids, with which it had been previously com.
blned. So then, it appears, that not only dis
titled liquors, but all others, which have un-
dergone the process of vinous fermentation,
contain Alcohol; and are capable when freely
drunk Of producing intOxication.
Chemistry has demonstrated, that Alcohol
in its purity, consists of one equivalent of
oxygen, two Of carbon, and three Of hydro>
gen. When taken into the stomach, its imme.
date action is that of an irrtant, or poiso
In larger quantities, it is capable of producing
Immediate death, under phenomeHs; similar
TO those exhibited by other posons. In mod
crate quantities however, it operates as a
sumulaut, exciting the heart to increased ac-
ton, causing it to propeI the blood with great.
er force through the circulating systsm. The
brain too, as well as the nervous system gen.
orally, is thrown into a sta.C Of excitement,
forcing the intellectual faculties, as we'll 40
the various functions of the body, for the time
being, into a condition Of exaltation. Now
this state of excitement is obviously incom-
patbe with health; and were it to continue,
it could not fail sooner or later, to derange
the machinery of the system, inducing dis.
ease, and premature DEATH This truth might
perhaps be illustrated, by reference to an ex-
pertinent in chemistry, SHOWING the effects Of
oxygen gas on animal life. If you collect ia
glass jar, quantity of oxygen gas, and
place mouse in that jar, The animal will ex-
bloIt evidences Of the most pieasureabe ex~
element twill hop and skip about, as if in
the greatest glee; but suddenly il will anguish
and die The trouble was, while il lived, il
lived too fast. So wou d il be, were the effects
OF alcohol permanent: on the human system
an individual would live RAPIDLY while he did
live, but the vital principle would soon ex-
haust ITSELF and as IN the experiment above
detailed, he too, would soon !aBguish and die
But the imme diaie effects Of stcohol areo
NOT permanent. The slate IOf excitement
have d esctibed, lie succeede with unerring Get.
tanety, by state of physical and mental ext-
hausIIon, aud this stale Of exhaustion is.eqpal.
y incompatible with health as ;hat Of excie-
nent 10 an Individual then addicted 10 the use
Of alchOlic drinks, We discover circle Of