Smyrna times., 1856-10-15

NfNA
the bodies of those who use them! What is
the reasonable suppostion as to their effect
when we remember the materials of which they
are composed! Are they not poisonous! All
intoxicating drinks contain certain per cent. !
of alcohol. None deny this. What is the ma
ture of alcohol? What its effect upon the sJs-
tenn? Hear what Dubrunfant, one of the best
authorities upon distillation, says about it, I'll
quote from Thomas P. Hunters work, entitled,
" Death by MEASURE" page AZ:
"Pure alcohol coagulates all the fluids of AMI
NAL bodies, except one, and hardens the solid
parts; applied externally it instantly contracts
the extremties of the nerve it touches, and de-
prives them of sense and motion; by these
means easing them of pain, but at the same
time destroying their use. Hence, employing
spirituous liquors in lamentations, may some
times be attended with unhappy consequences
notwithstanding the speciouS titles of vivlfyng,
heating, &c., usually attributed to them. These
liquors received undiluted in the stomach pro-
duce the same effects, thickening the fluids, and
contracting all the solid parts they touch and
office; if the quantity be considerable. palsy
or apoplexy follows, which ends in death. -
Such is the testimony of Dubrunfant.
Hear now the testimony of Christisou, one OF
the greatest writers on posons. He says
i" Alcohol has gene rally been believed to act on
the brain through the nerves. 1t enters the
blood; the breath has a strong smell of spirits
for considerable time after they are swa.low-
ed. When injected into the cellular tissue, it
acts violent poison and il produces through
that channel the same effects as when taken
into the stomach. When injected into the
cavity of the chest, it acts with great rapidlty.
In ordinary cases If one form of poisoning BY
alcohol, death tax place in from twelve Ia
eighteen hours. In another form, the stumuch
becomes gangrrnuus over the whole viuus
coat the colon much inhaned, and the sinai;
htestnes red" Such is the testimony ol
Chrstison.
This is the poison properly belonging to all
intoxicating drinks This alone, from its effect,
upon the system, will eventually produce death.
But in addition to this we have to axe into the
{ account the udulteration Of pure alcoholic H.
I quors by the infusion of other poisonous sub
: stances. The mixing Of liquors Of different
3 qualities, give to them more effect. A glass o
: two different sorts of liquors viii affect more
: speedily and iujuriously than the same Quantity
o unmfxed. There are various and the stronges
kinds of poisons used in the adutcration OF Ii
i quors. Oil of turpentnc, oil of juniper vir
Il giniana, or sabine, oil of vitriol blue vitrio
# muratic, and other acids; also, acetate of lead
l. salts of tartar, &c. The first three are use
,r in making false gin; the Others in adulteratit
l. various spirits and wines. There has bee
ls found in one bottle of wine enough acetate
it lead to kill a man. Potash, peurlash, luna
ne caustic, .aquaforlis and white vitriol are ais
f. used for this purpose These caustic alkali,
is are powerfully itritant, and generally corroc
h. the coats OF the stomach. CreosOte is also Ell
ye ployed to give aduterated whisEey the a ppea
be ance OF age. This is one ofthe strongest kun,
at of poison. twill efieetually destroy The ner'
les with which it comes in contact, aud is used f
no this purpose by Dentists. When taxed Ia
IA the stomach il comes in contact with the entI
ere nervous system. Js =. ncl.afai II. -
of .1Whut is usually called the ergot, or spur
VI, rye, which grows on rye, hurley, oats and Gu
;e- "a very powerful and active poisOn---is one
raj the ingredients of the celebrated and boast
sed 4. Monougahela.'' Many of the veriest poIsc
ory on earth constitute the exceliency of cordla
.es- Take, for instance, rectifed, bruised cherri
lot with their stones, INFUSED into alcohol, boi
- and filtered favored when cold with spirits
are nayua, made by distilliug bitter apricots, pea
n il or almond nuts and mixing il with alcohol
ned Syrup of bay laurel and galanga also added
9 of Alcohol itself is potent poison. The art
aw. procured from, the cherry peach, almond
ned and apricot, is prussic acid. The galangt
,nce INC the plant the Indians use TO poison their ar
the poin. g.. The laurel tribe are far from being
,um- nocent. Yet all these enter into, and make
nfiu. a part, aud the exceIlency of cordals. '.i
con- But this is not all. Strychna, usually
,ly is tanned from nux vomica (or wolf 's-bone),
Neal lus indicus Cor fish berry,, and ST. igna
took bean, is also used in the liquors of our da
We Childs, a celebrated writer on brewing,
,eing that il is and must be used in ales," &c.
,tend induces violent nervous action without imI
that ing the sensibility. Hence, it is the most
rives n poison in its effects on the poor sufferer
Id re- causes death by a ft. The dose require
based prove fatal is exceedingly small Ihe
0 fea- chiefly affected is the spinal chord sonnet
ciples the heart. The attack commences with a
9sl iion and trembling, then with a starting
Stiffness of the limbs. These symptoms inc
,,er,v to fit Of violent generalspasna: IN whicl
head is bent back, the spine stiffened rbe
hy extended aud rigid, and the respiration CHI
A., by the fixing Of The chest. The fit is thei
tend ceeded py cai"'' uu'''s wn''" '"o sa'''
a ,bs, entire, and exceedingly aud unnaturully
or re-. Soon another spasm sets IL, and then an
u ,nro. and another, and another paroxysm; 'mi
,,v ,bis more violent, hurries, In ihexpressibls