Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-10-11
Origiual puqfra,
EXTRACTS FROM AN ADDRESS
Delivered before TAeophiLOs Division, No
81, at MuJTees6OrO', July 4, 1880.
By REV JOEL W. TUCKER.

By REV. JOEL W. TUCKER.
HfN
How appropriate the occasion for the citi-
zens Of this place, and the members of The
ophilos Division, No. 81, to make public
decIaration Of their determination to free
themselves from the slavery and bondage of
intemperance In order TO influence you
thus 70 act, we will proceed TO call your at
tentiOn to the extent of this evil and then
point out the Remedy.
tits physical evil. That intemperance
is physical evil is evident from the fact,
that alcohol is known and acknowledged to
be a strong and powerful narcotic poison,
and consequently its habitual use as bev-
erage must have very deleterious infu-
ence upon mans physical system. Man
has no natural appetite for it either as an ar
ticle Of food, or as a beverage, but in every
instance the appetite for it IS acquired by
habit.
The ingredient in fermented and distilled
liquors which is the cause Of intoxication, is
not the product of creation. 1t is not to be
found either in the animal, vegetable or min
eral hngdoms of our globe. Those sub
stances however which contain or will pro-
duce sugar, after they are dead, and become
subject to laws which operate on inanimated
matter, undergo process which chemists call
vieaous fermentation and by this process
new substance is formed called alcohol
ItiscompOsed Of hydrogen, carbon and OF.
ygen, and is in its nature, as manifested BY
It's effects, powerful and diffnsiye poison
The elsments by the combination Of which
this substance Is formed, existed before, bu
the substance itself, which that combination
forms, did not before exist. It is the pro
duct solely Of Vienous fermentation, and i
as really different from what existed befort
in the fruits or grains as the poisonous mias
ma Is fromthe vegetables from the decompC
sitiOn and decay Of which it springs. Their
isno power in man that can digest this sui
stance 50 as to draw from it any nourishmen
for the wasting system. There is in it n
element that can be transmitted into chylt
blood, flesh or bones. But it enters the sy
tenn alcohol, passes through it alcohol, and
cast of alcohol, unchanged and unaltered
in any Of its essential elements. Ithas bee
found by Anatomists in the stomach, IL
heart and the brain, while feted perspiratiC
and breath. clearly shows, that It eirculat
through every vein, artery, nerve and pore
the system. 1t diseases the stomach, live
heart, lungs and brain, and causes gout, V,
tigo, ulcers, madness and death. That t
use Of alcohol as a beverage is a physiC
evil, is evident from the testimony Of ply
clans. Seventy-6ve physicians in Bost
have given the following testimony "Tl
men in health are never benefited by the !
of ardent spirits, but on the contrary 1
use Of it is the frequent cause of disease a
death" FOrty-6ve physicians in Cincin
have stated as follows: Z" Ardent spirits
not only unnecessary, but absolutely in
rious to healthy state of the system.
produces many and aggravates most Of
diseases to which the human frame is liaI
1t is equally poisonous with arsenic, op,
ting sometimes more slowly, but with eu
certainty" The Massachusetts, medical
ciety states that the constant use Of ard
spirits is productive Of weakness and disc,
The New York medical society states
the habitual use Of alcoholic stimulants
productive Of many diseases, and have
solved to use their influence to prevent t
use. The WarreRtown medical society st
that the use Of ardent spirits is an alarm
source Of disease To these we could
the names Of the most distinguished me
medical scienee-such as Kirk, Da
Chyne and others in Europe, and Rush
Seawel and Warren and others in our
country. We receive thetestimony Of t
men upon all other subjects connected
their profession, as unquestiOnable autho
and We are bound by all the laws Of
dence 10 receive their opinions upon
subject, as authority from which there
be no appeal But it is not mere asse
in which these men indulge. They !
pen the body to our inspection, and il
us to the examination Of proposition
eeptible Of occular demonstration.
lntemperance is a physical evil,
cause It predisposes man to diseas
This is evident from the testimon
medical men. Fifteen phyicians in
York, state that the habitual use Of
holic stimulants predisposes the sy
to epidemic disease. DR.. L. Be
says. It is to be remarked amons
worst class Of melting causes Of epi
ic, and pestilential disease. Dr. "a
states, tbst no fact'is more evident
- that those who use spirituous Ii,