Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-06-23
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
For the Spirit of the Age.

Mr.. EDIroR: Notwithstanding the many
works that have been written upon Diet,
yet the people seem to be so little concern
ed that | am constrained to ask room in
your paper for few remarks on the sub
Ject. Many authors observe that temper
ance and exercise are two best physicians
IN the world and they might have added,
that If these were duly regarded there
would bc but little occasion for any other
Temperance may Justly he called the pa
rent o5 health; but numbers Of mankind .
act as If they thought disease and death
too slow in their progress, and therefore by .
intcmpcrance and dcbauchery desire to
hasten their approach.
The danger Of intcmperance appears
from the very construction of the human
body. Health depends on that state of the |
solids and fluids which fit them for the due |
performance Of vital functions and so long
as these 60 regularly on, we are sound
and we'll but whatever disturbs them, |
necessarily impairs health. Intemperance,
however, never fails to disorder the whole
animal economy; it hurts the digestion,
reaxes the nerves, renders the different
secretions irregular, vitiates the humor, and
occasions numberless diseases.
The analogy between the nourishment
of plants and animals, affords strong
proof of the danger of intemperance-
Moisture and rich soil greatly promote veg
citation, yet an over quantity Of either, will
entirely prevent it. The best thing be-
comes hurttul, nay, destructive, when car
ried to excess. Hence we learn that the
highest degree Of human wisdom consists
IN regulating our appetites and passions, so
as TO avoid all extremes. 1t is that alone,
that entities us to the character of ration
. Leips---The slave of appetite will ever
be fhe. disgrace of human nature. Men
are not contented with satisfying the SIM
pie calls Of nature; they create artificial
wants, and are perpetually in search OF
something that may CRAFTY them. But
imaginary wants never can be gratified.-
Nature IS content with little. Luxury
knows no bounds. Hence the epicure and
the drunkard seldom stop in their career
till their money or their constitution fails
Then, indeed, they generally see their er
ror when too latet
1t is impossible to lay down fixed rules
with regard to diet, on account of the diff
ferent constitutions of mankind. The mos
ignorant persons, however, know what i
meant by excess, and it is in the power Q
every one to avoid it if they choose. TIL
great rule of diet is to study simplicity
Nature delights in the most plain and sim
pie food, and every animal except man, fo
lows her dictates. Man alone riots atlarg,
and ransacks the whole creation in que'
Of luxuries to his own destruction. Ho
quickly does the immoderate pursuit
carnal pleasures, or the abuse Of intoxici
ting liquors, ruin the best constitutions
Indeed these vices generally go hand
hand.
Did men reflect on the painful diseases ar
premature deaths which are daily occaso
ed by intcmperance, it would be sufiicie
TO make them shrink back with horrorfro
the indulgence even of their darling plea
ures.
Intemperance does not hurt its votari
alone. The innocent too often feel Il
dirrful effects Of it. How many wretchr
orphans are to be seen in destitute circur
stances, whose parents, regardless Of Il
future, spent in rioting and debauchel
what might have served to bring up the
offspring in a decent manner. How oft
a do we see the miserable mother, with h
helpless infant pning in want, while t
cruel father is indulging his increasing a
petite Families are not only reduced
misery but even extirpated by means of
temperance. Nothing tends so much
prevent propagation, and to shorten t
lives OF children as the intemperance
parents. Even States and Empires feel t
influence Of intcmperance, and rise or
as ii prevails
Instead Of montiouingthe different kir
Of iutcmperance, and pointing out their
fueuces upon health, | shall only bv W
Of example, make few observations on
particular species Of that vice, viz:
abuse of intoxicating liquors. Every act
intoxication puts nature to the expense
fever, in order to discharge the poison
draught. When this is repeated aln
every day, II is easy to foresee the COZ
ducnccs. That constitution must be str,
indeed, which is able to hold out lonr
der a daily fever. But fevcrs occasio
by drinking do not always 90 off in a d
they frequently end in an inflammation
the breast, liver or BRAIN and produc,
tai effects.
Though the drunkard should not fal
- acute disease, he seldom escapes thos
a chronic kind. Intoxicating liquors "
used to excess, weaken the bowels
spoil the digestion; they destroy the |
or Of the nerves and occasion paralyti(
convusive disorders. They likewise
aud inAame the blood, destroy its balls
quality, render it unfit for circulation
the nourishment of the body. Hence