The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-02-26
Medical Authority for Total Abstinence
PROFESSOR nAros's REMARKS.

4 sketch Of Professor Eaton's opening
remarks, on iaking the chair AS President, At
the afternoon exercises of the late County
Temperance meeting, has been solicited
from him, and is furnished to the Register a-
having bearing upon some fundamental
topics essential to The Reform, which are re-
garled as timely and pertinent to the pres
ent position of the cause. BY such rc-sur-
vcv, the ground heretofore fairly won may
be held secure, and it is well TO make it un
der 50 intelligent auspices as those of Prof.
EATON. c.
Ladies, and Ccailcmcn Of Tie Convention:
The object which we have assembled to
promote, although its prosecution as an en-
torprise may have lost its novelty, is yet one
which has not lost, and never can lose, It's
high importance. Il is no less than the al
yancement Of temperance principles and
practice among ourselves and our felow-men.
In estimating the importance Of this OBJ
lect. so far at least as it relates to our phys
zeal wcll-being it would appear obviously
proper that as in other cases, We should pay
due Difference to the conclusions OF those
pared them to express an opinion on the sub
ject in question. Ard who under his view,
can be so well prepared 10 express deer
sive and guiding opinion upon the effects oi
Intoxicating drinks on the human con-iitu-
ton, and the Importance OF atsiaining f ON
their usc, rs physicians The effects OF
l
and other organs, and upon the system gen
orally, are, with them, special Subjects Of
their attention and investigation. And the
result il that in this country. and in other
countries where special attention ami inqui.
~ have been turned to the effects Of inioXi-
eating drinks upon the health and consntu-
iion the aro-i uniform declaration Of the
profession has been, that these effects are IN
juliou4, di,ot4rizins and Destructive !
lave said ,he almost uniio. VI declaration ha-
been 20 this eject, because there have been
sone exceptions Al least some have either
withhold any expression Of opinion upon the
subject; or ii 'hey have spoken At all, have
spoken doubl.uly aAd inGcci,vely. Such
exceptions are to be fond either among those
whom tie unfortunate bias os an appetite,
already too strongly and uncquiyocaly de-
veloped, has disqualified for forming a fair
and impartial jud! d!ment in the cast or among
those Of such peculiar mental organ'zalion,-
| those whose pr,judces are eally 50 fixed and
,ossli1ed, that no new truth Is capable
Of making any impression upon them. 1t
would he doing an injustice 10 assert that IL!
the exceptions are to be found in tho class
frst named but | must cardilly confess
myself unable TO assign to those who do not
properly beon. to the first class, any other
! place than in The last Go where we will,
and search where we may,-and we shall
hnd that in the estimation OF all candid and
judicions men, the exceptions will invaris-
Lly be regarded ss b,lon-in Q one class 0;
cases. or the other.
These exceptions, however, let it be un-
derslood are, after all, but .te'o The no
blest and best-the most learned and relia-
he Of the profession and long and biieh'
array OF names coAld here If need'ul, be
presented in confirmation OF the statement
nave generally gwen their concurrent clear
and decisive testimony TO the truth th"t tie
use Of Intoxicating drinks moi only is not nee
essary in health and rarely necessary in dis
case but on the con'FSr! tents 10 undermine
the constitution, 10 impair heA''h' anu snort
en- nc.
True IT Is that here and there we find, ap-
parently, solitary exception to this gener-
al statement OF the injurious ELECTS OF a'co-
holic drinks. But they do not Inva'da'e the
main truth Among those doomed 10 labor
in mines OF the poisonous mineras--such as
Arsenic ana Mercufy-~e are informed that
while the average leng'h OF l'ie 4 those
thus employed doss not exceed two years
there Is yet now and then one who lives on
IN this deadly occupation Tor long series Oh
years, until ii begins 'oscem rs i he carried
about with him charmed LIFE, o. possessed
a constitution over which poison lad no
powe? And in like manner we here aud
there observe one who INDUCES freely in the
intoxicating rup, living on TO an advanced
age with health comparatively un'mr"red
But let us not forget how rare these eases
are in comparison with the numbers Of those,
companions Of that drunkarc's early re'e!s
who went to the grave in the prime Of man