The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-06-20
The use of Alcoholic Liquors Affords
No Protection from disease.

No Protection from disease.
We shall now proceed to inquire how far
the experience both of individuals and of large
bodies of men, supports the idea, that absti-
nence from alcoholic stimulants, or at most
the very sparing use of them, is favorable to
the endurance of extreme heat, especially when
great bodily exertions is required. And we
Shall first cite the evidence of the late Mr.. Gar.
diner, well educated surgeon who spent sew.
eral years of most active exertion in the ex.
ploration of the Botany Of Brazil, into which
country he penetrated further than any scien-
tifc European had previously done. Dulinng
three years travelling in that climate. he tells
Us under constant fatigued and exposure to
yicissitudes of weather and irregularity OF lIv-
ing his only beverage besides water was tea, OF
which he had laid in large stock previously
to his departure from Pernambuco. He was
told when he arrived at Brazil, that he would
find it necessary to mix either wine or brandy
with the water which he drank; but very
short experience convinced him, not only that
thew are unnecessary, but that they are decl-
dedly hurtful to those whose occupations lead
them much into the sun. "Whnever drinks
stimulating liquors" he says. "and travels day
after day in the sun, will certainly suffer from
headache: and in countries where miasmata
prevail. he will he far more likely to be at
tackled by the diseases which are there endem-
ic"
Equally explicit testimony is borne by Sir
James Brooke, the enterprising and skillul col.
onizer Of Borneo; who speaks in his journal
of habitual abstinence from alcoholic liquors as
decidedly conductive to the maintenance Of
health, and Of the power OF sustained exertion
in the equatorial in which he had established
himself So again Mr.. Woterton, the well.
known traveller, speaks Of himself as conf
dent that the preservation Of his vigor during
manv wears of toll and exposure in tropical
climates, is mainly due to his total abstinence
from fermented liquors. And the writer has
been assured by DR.. Daniel, who was for
long time stationed as medical officer in the
equatorial portions of Western Africa, that he
found the use of the ordinary alcoholic liquors
decidedly nimica to the power of exertion;
the strongest beverage which can he habitual-
ly made use of without injury, being the palm
wine' of those countries, which is very little
if at all, more alcoholic than our ginger.beer
The following testimony given, by Doctor
Mosley in his work on Tropical Diseases may
be added to the foregoing: 81 have ever found"
he says, ''from my own knowledge and Gus.
tom, as well as from the custom and observa-
tion of others, that those who drink nothing
but water, or make it their PRINCIPAL drink, are
but little affected by the climate, and can under
10 the greatest fatigue without Inconvenience" !"
Many other individual testimonies might be
cited to the same effect; but as these are open
to the objection of pecularities of individual
constitution, it will be preferable to have re.
course 10 cases in which large bodies Of men
are included.
The following statement which the writer
has received from all officer in the regiment to
which it REFERS proves that our English SOL
diers in India not only do not suffer from, but
are absolutely benefited by, abstinence from
Alcoholic liquors during continuance OF un,
usual severe exertion. In the early part OF
the year ls47, the s4th Regiment marched by
wings from Madras to Secunderabad, a distance
of between four and FIVE hundred miles. They
were forty. seven days on the road, and during
this perod the men were, practically speaking,
tee,otalers. Previously to leaving Madras,
subscriptions were made among the men, and
coffee establishment was organized. Every
morning, when the tents were struck, pint OF
hot coffee and biscuit were ready for each
man. instead of the daily morning dram which
soldiers on the march in India almost inVarla-
bly take. Half way on the days march, the
regiment halted, and another pint of coffee was
ready for any man who wished it. The regi-
mental canteen was opened Only at ten and
Il. o., ht,f fhn MI
did not frequent it; and the daily consumption
of arrack for our wing was only two gallons
and few drains per diem, instead of twenty
seven gallons, which was the daily Government
allowance The commanding officer employed
the most iudicious precautions to prevent the
men from obtaining arrack in tie villages on
the route and his exertions were effectively
seconded by the Jealous co operation OF the
other officers, and by the admirable conduct
of the majority of the men, who were FULLY
persuaded of the obnoxious influence OF ar.
dent spirits during exercise in the sun. The
results Of this water.system were shortly these:
Although the road is proverbal for cholera
and dysentery, and passes through several un.
healthy and marshy districts, the men were
free from sickness to an extent absolutely un.
precedented in our marshes in India; they had
no cholera and no fever, and only two men
were lost by dysentery, both of whom were
old chronic cases taken out of the hospital at
Madras With these exceptions, there was
scarcely serious case Of sickness during the
whole march. The officers were surprised that
the men marched infinitely better, with less
fatigue and with fewer stragglers, than they
had before known; aRd it was noticed by eve
ry one that the men were unusually cheerful
and contented. During the whole march, the