The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-05-17
Shall wa have the Maine Lawl

Is it right to prohibit tho safe OF a poison
Gus substance. which has been the cause of the
death oe 10000 people every year, and three
quarters of oil the crime in the country: But
il is not poisonous say some. How shall we
know poison when there is any dispute about
il, The surest way is by its effect Then al
cohol is the most monstrous poison that has ev-
or existed. 1t deadens. and maddens, and ir-
furiates itsyvictim, and then destroys him. 1t
takes hope, and peace, and gladness from his
family. Look at that thin, pale, and yet beau
tful and intellectual woman, at the midnight
hour. watching for her drunken husband
IIark, he comes: hear that blow, and that heavy
fall. He has struck her to, tho ground. Is it
not poison! But hear what phyicians say
A number of years ago somc forty five ply
sicians, Of the city OF Cincinnati recorded the
following testimony :--"Ardent spirits is not
only unnecessary, hut absolutely injurious in a
healthy state ofthe system, Itprodnces many,
and aggravates most of the diseases to which
the human frame is liable. 1t is equal pois-
onous with arsenic. operating sometimes more
slowly. but with equal certainty
Again: Seventy five physicians of Boston
give similar testimony. in tho following Ian
guage:-"Men in health are never benefited
by the use ofardent spirits; on the contrary, the
use of it is frequent cause of disease and death;
other causes more difficult of cure, and more
fatal in tho tcrmination."
The fact is this point has been established
long since by the highest testimony; and were
it not that many who will probably read these
articles have never seen or read that testimony,
it would be entirely unnecessary to refer TO it
again. If the question be proposed "lIow can
these things beT We answer. by quoting a
short extract from an excellent writer:--
"Wc have seen (says the writer, after giving
detailed statement of the effects ofliquor up
on the SYSTEM how il treats the stomach, swell
ling its ten thousand little blood vessels TO
many times their proper size, inflamitg, thick
ening. and ulcernting its coats and changing
its delicate reddish hue into blackness.-
When carried into the blood, it goes to ono
group OF vessels. and they reject ito another
and they reject it. If they can prevent it, III
ey will not suffer it even to stop. tbs hurried
on from organ to organ, marking its course
with irregularity of action, and disturbance OF
function, till, having passed around the body,
it has been rejected by all. Nor is this all;
while they fight against it, 1t impedes their
progress, or goads them on to madness. Eav-
ing to labor amidst the fire and fumes of an
irritating poisonous foe, they become irritatcd
and poisoned; their sensibilities are buntcd,
their energies crippled, and cannot do their
proper work. Those of the body which are
dedendent on them for support are not suppl
ed, and.ihey complain The organs retort; the
harmony of the system is Interrupted; sympa-
thy between tho parts is weakened, and then
destroyed; confusion ensoes, and every evil
work. In their blind intoxicating phrenzy they
bite and devour one another, and so are con-
sumed one Of another