The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-09-28

been discovered tnat IL IL much easier 10
abstain altogether from dangerous indul.
cence than to adhere strictly to modera-
ton, and temperance has boen surprised
by tetotalIsm; and would just add to
this, By way of corrollary, that it is easier
TO slide into bad habit than to get rid Of
il again. But to return to our theme
The effects produced by stimulants are all
agreeable for the moment. Wine and OPT
um raise men above earth and all its care;
and so long as the stimulant lasts, they sit
as it were at the supper of the gods. A
nacreon is then the only ballad monger,
and with him each is ready to sing,
Strew me a breathing bed of leaves,
Where lotus with the myrtle weavcs,
And while in luxurys dream sink,
Let me the balm of Baccus drink
In this delicious hour Of joy.
Young Love shall be nv gobet-boy;
Folding his little golden vest.
With cinctures round his snowy breast.
Hims elf shall hover by my side,
And minister the racy tidel
But when the influence of the spell is
over, Immediately they sink down as much
below the level of ordinary mortals, as they
were raised above it. For delightful ex-
filtration of body and mind, they now ex.
perience sad reverse, in which they find
much more pleasing music in the prudent
advice Of the apothecary than in all the
Odes of Anacreon. Tho cry is not then,
Let us drain the nectar's bowl,
Let US raise the songo soul--&c.
But,
Let US drain the saline dose,
Let's expel three humors gross.
Now, though poets have favored us with
many canto on the raptures inspired by
flowing bowls and sparkling goblets, they
have rarely copdescended to give us one
tune, if it were only by way Of note, on
the estate of the stomach" on the morning
after one of those "nights and suppers of
the gods" Such detail indeed was ncv-
er intended for the divine art of poesy.-
1t is job not all calculated for the lover
hears little on the subject. Those after
reckonings are nevertheless serious, though
unpalatable things. Pleasure here acts
much like tavern host, who remembers
most accurately all the good things he pro-
vides, though his guests are both apt and
willing to forget them. Every item is
carefully put down, and must be paid for,
shall only say, that fortunate is he who
takes warning in time. L might morallze
on this theme in good sc: phrase, but the
ground has been so well and SO frequently
beaten by others, that forbear. With
respect to such articles as opium and spirits
the "spirit of the age" as l have already
intimated, runs quite in an opposite dlrec
tion to that indulgence; and it is wisely
considered that as those who can be tom
pcrate in the use of such ticklish commod
ties must owe great deal to happy tenn
perament Of constitution, and be few il
number, whilst the greater part Of man
kind are not so felicitously moulded, th'
rule Of teetotalism, viz, entire abstinence
is on the whole tn, safest and best. Blu
there is one article in our pharmacopeia
, stimulants, upon which there seems to b
some difference Of opinion, and with regar
to which, / should wish to record my hum
, bic opinion. allude to the nicotian lea
tobacco.
. Now, regret to cay that a long and al
tentivo study Of the subject compels me I
|. pronounce an unfavorable sentence on tn
' article. Whatever value it may possess 4
: medicine-and that, in our present stat
o of knowledge, is not much-I must SO
= that, as an instrument Of luxury in ordlns
l. nv use, it is unwholesome and Injurious
: To the physician it may be satisfactory
= ascertain in what way, precisely the injur
d GUS effect is produced; but it may suffi'
d Others to learn from experience and obse
i vation what is the actual result, 1t Is o
g vious that tobacco causes an excitement
:. the nervous system, and thus disturbs Il
course Of nature; but nature never is, nj
never can be, disturbed with impunity.-
To apply stimulus to the system for whi
% there is no natural demand, is to cause
d waste of nervous enurgy, Of which natul
s. has need for her own Legitimate purpos
% and therefore to inAict an injury upon h,
Of greater or less according to the amount
s. that uncalled-for expenditure. To Ike
is such an unnatural stimulus in constant acti
ID is tantamount TO the creation Of a constii
to tional arrangement Of the functions, or t
IL introduction of an actual disease into t
N body; and nobody will pretend to say ii
in this is not injurious. To my simple app,
US heusion, il is anti hygeuian practice with
on vengeance. / am no physician, but
ne love this 10 be the true theory Of our s,
n jcct, regarded in a physiological point
'p- view, and il is decisive against the nicot
Iot habit, however small the quantity Of
Die article used may be. People are rather
to disposed 10 believe that an agreeable" 9
He sation can be an "unwholesome" ono;
nd unfortunately for poor humanity, and
III. popularity Of us sages, nothing in natur
more certain than the possibility OF sue
"a coujecture. Il is not only certain, but,
'nu a las commonly known by experience, Z
sS ss an agreeable thing may be unwholesol
~. -. and pleasant sensation anything at oil
~" q symptom Of hesltbful action. =, "a.
Again, people are apt 70 suppose that
md injury is done to their health, because q
no are not sensible Of the wound st the '