Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-03-31
ANIMAL s%TIMULANTS.

ANIMAL SllMULAN1S
Psychologists, we believe, pretty generally
agree, that human nature requires, for Its full
corporal and Intellectual developement, "some-
thing more than the elements that supply the
waste of the blood, which is perpetually exhaus-
ted. Of certain principles by nutri tive secretion
and the function of respiration. Hence, there is
implanted in the physical system, a desire for
stimulants, as well as a desire for food and wa
ter" But the great mistake has been, that alcO-
hole drinks has been resorted to and recommen-
ded by medical men, as the stimulant necessary
for the constitution of man. Nature always pro-
vides the means to supply its own designs, and
if alcoholic stimulants were necessary for man,
they would have been produced by nature-but
no where in the vast creation of God can alcohol
be found in a natural state. That Such stimu-
lants are not required, is attested by the expert
ence of thousands who have attained full bodily
and mental vigor without ever once having used
them; and DR.. Daniel Drake, of Cincinnati, who
is the author of one of the ablest and most lucid
medical works ever published-entitled "The
Principa; Diseases of the Interior Valley of North
America'-says "it has been established beyond
possibility of a doubt or cayil, that such drinks
are unnecessary The natural stimulants Of
the human system, says DIR, D., care common
salt, an element of the blood not less than a slim
illus: the various aromatic and acrid substance:
which man has sought out and instimctirely min
gled with his food and drinks, under the, name
of condiments; and lastly, tea and coffee. Ihes
are the physical stimulants which his system de
mards for its full perfection, and all that are
necessary to satisfy his desires when kept un
perverted"
DR.. D. combats the doctrine that there ar
circumstances under which alcoholic drinks ar
specially benefcially, by declaring that in orde
for them to be thus beneficial, the system mus
be unaccustomed to themI Hence, the regula
morning bitters do not ward off The autumna
feyers so common in the Southern and Wester
States, such as chills, ague and bilious fevers.-
The victims of yellow fever are chiefly thos
who drink freely. The use of alcoholic stimulan'
are servicable almost only to those not IN tn
: habit of using them, in cases Of attack by chol'
!, "a. They have not the power to ward off plel
risy, pneumonia, rheumatism and other wintt
infammations, and those who drink most, al
most likely to die when attacked. In cases
: exposure to extreme heat, cold or the vicissitud
e of the weather, experience is against the do
trine that the system requires alcoholic slim
lants and he declares emphatically--"th
neither the habitual nor the occasional use
alcoholic drinks is necessary or beneficial"
Here, then, we have the testimony Of one
# the ablest medical men of our country, that t
d use of spirits, wine or beer, is not only not "nC
II essary or beneficial" to the physical well-bei
of man, but that their medical qualities are
! tually nullifed by the indulgence in them
regular or occasional beverages. And he
clares that they are peculiarly pernicious to t
constitutions of the young. every few you
men, (says DR.. Drake) with habits of excess
drinking, reach the meridian of life; being
off by diseases rendered incurabEe BIZ their al
hOkic cachery." The knowledge and exporter
of nine-tenths of the medical men of the VOL
will sustain DR.. Drake in thpease. affaeGtii2ns g
. bic facts and arguments to lay before our rea
ers, in the hope that we may induce those w
peruse them, to abandon q custom SO iniurio
and ruinous as that of using alcoholic beverag