Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-04-21

reasoning tnat he ~]ustltles its use here, it
can be justified in all cases and by the
same reasoning that he condemns it's use
III all other cases, | condemn it in these
He condemns its use by persons exposed to
cold, because there are other means bv
which the heat of the body may be kept
up; one of which is, the ingestion of solid
tissue-forming, and oleagenous food and
Justifes its uses in the cases lust mentioned,
because the system is at that time unable
to digest these foods in sufficient quantity.
Now were there no other way to warm up
such patients than by building artiicially
a fire in them, then there woald be seem
ingly some excuse for giving alcohol in
these cases; but when it is known that
persons may be kept warm by heat applied
outside, as well, and better than when
evolved inside, through the agency of pois-
o0Ous alcohol, the fallacious logic of DR..
Carpenter is sufficiently apparent. The
man exposed to severe cold is similarly
situate to one PROSTATE with Typhoid Fe-
yer. As regards his respiratory ability, he
Is verify as destitute of the h~eat-producing
material necessary to keep him warm; and
Will, like the starving man, surely die of
cotd, unless some means be provided for
the ~sustenance of the heat. But does not
every one know that if he can but get into
a warm room, he will ten times more GER
talnly get warm, than by eating oleaginous
foods, or drinking alcohol. But inasmuch
as it is impracticable to remain in a warm
room, and be out doors at one and the
same time, DR.. Carpenter thinks it best to
substitute o~leaginous food for the warm
room, and discard the use of alcohol. But
when it IS practicable to keep a man in a
warm room, with means at hand by which
warmth can be a~bundantly supplied, and
IN a natural way, then DR.. Carpenter
thinks it best to subject the man because
he is sick, suppose, of course) to IL scien-
tltic process of poisoning with alcohol,
merely to keep mp heat. Beautiful consis-
tency this, DIR. c., especially when it is con
sidered that you prove by DR.. Hooker that
"the ertrenaities are not warmed by it." the
very parts which grow cold first, and need
warming most, in Typhus and Typhoid Fe.
vers. The fact is, if it is right for persons
exposed to intense cold to reject alcoho'
because the warmth of their bodies NAV
be kept up by solid food, it is equally right
and proper for persons PROSTATE with Ty
plus to reject it, because their systems car
much more cassidy be kept warm by heat
-eeEvttfft sfetTFs 1 tGhi5aedduseRRff dipF ;5hh tie fmbfbftl66i
of alcohol.
But the absurdity of this theory of al
cohol being a respiratory food; is pa1pabls
apparent when we come to consider tn
evil Of its practical application. Surprising
as DR.. Carpenter contends, all the combus
tlble material Of the system has been ex
hausted in these cases, and that a s~uficien
amount of ~tarinaceous, ETC., matters canno
be digested to keep the body warm, wha
advantage can the drinking of alcohol be
1t Is evident that before it can get to tn
lungs, or even in the general circulation
to be burned off, it must pass through tn
stomach; and we have seen that if take
there when digestion is wont to take plac,
it will precipitate the pepsin of the gastri
juice, and thus prevent that process, til
very thing already deficient, and on a,
count of which the alcohol is prescribed
We have also seen that when it gets int
the circulation, it coagulates the album
nous constituent Of the blood, and theret
prevents its transformation into fbrin. witt
out which, the structures of the BODY ca
not be built up, which structures, for IL
purpose of being burned up as heat-prod
eng material, seems to be the great de.
cheney and excuse for using alcohol. VIII
then, can be the consistency of prescribir
and drinking it, merely to supply the sy
tenn with heat-producing material, when
actually prevents the very processes
which alone the structures of the body c
ever be built up, and enabled to norma
5 evolve heat?
:, But again just in the ratio that alcol
I Is used as a respiratory material, lit is
food) just in that degree does it rob t
, blood and tissues of the oxygen SO nee
: sary for their chemico-vital changes,
o upon which life itself depends. 1t is
oxygen that venus blood is changed to
o terlal; and it is through the circulation
this oxygenated blood upon the brain,
Is the MUD is enabled to manifest itself
we'll as by which the nervous inhuenc
generated, and without which no functi
al act, voluntary or involuntary, can t
Y. place. Audit is through the union of c
gen with the disintegrated and worn
tissue, that they are burned up, and t
residue cast off. How important t
lis must not oxygen be in the life operat
of the animal economy! And how ap
s. ling the evil which alcohol is capable O
r. ducing when taken into the vital don
or by robbing the system of the oxygen 4!
Al causes the living organism to literally
ecs itself out in self-defence, at the same
M that it prevents the rebuilding of the !
&C. thus worn out and d~isintegrated. 1t
At prevents the latter (worn out structl
rs from being burned up and cast off.
rn. Notwithstanding all these evils, and inl
.er: cradle others arising legitimately
in them, the would-be votaries of medica
at ence still continue to give it to their fe
ira men, merely to stimulate and keep
warm, at a time when the energies O
system are utterly incapable of all ma
reactions against it and thus they CT
not unfrequently, (f they do not SUI
in killing the patient outright) an app
! in which ever after makes their victim a
ia to alcohol.
by Philanthropists have gone into
ton houses, and the homes of drunkards