Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-02
when used as a something additional to

when used as a something additional to
mans ordinary wants, a dainty and de-
lightful to the senses .Exhilarating at the
6rst, and pleasurable to the intellectual as
we'll as to the animal sense, nevertheless it
tends to pervert, and deteriorate, and de-
stroy what man would most wish to cherish
and retain. After time, too, the amount
taken must be increased to produce even
the first, and best effect; and then the sub
sequent sinister tendency becomes the more
and more intensified. a state ofmind and
body is consequently induced, which Graves
not only continuance, but still further in
crease of the stimulant. And after every
! exhilaration there comes depression; the
reaction constant, and often great. Who
SO melancholy and moping, in his inter
yals--who SO sad in his sobriety-as the
man who depends for mirth and gladness
on this deceitful help! Forced hilarity
turns out sorry affair in the long run
go and see Grinaldi,' said Abernathy to
. hopeless hypochondriac. Alas said
The poor patient, am the man. -
'What brings rcliefi Again be it no.
ted, in letters of fire-for here is the great
danger-the drug itself, and nothing else,
at the time. The man is bitten, and he
knows it is for his life; but he is fascina-
ted, and mast turn to the bitter again
This is the terrible pecaliarity Of alchohol
and opium. Their pleasure is followed by
pain; and to relieve that pain, a morbid
instinct, all but irresistibly leads them to
repeat its cause. Relief lis felt-transitory
and delusiye-followed by reaction and re-
lapse. And in sad consequence the alter.
nation goes-wiM no nautraL check to Its
| progress"
| In the second part of the work DR.. Mil
Ter treats of the poaCer of alcohol under nu
merous heads; its power as poison, as 9
| medicine, as food, as condiment, as a lux
/ ury, as support of the body and mind il
/ labor, as a support in enduring cold ane
heat, as q means of averting or producing
disease, of cherishing old age and prolong
ing life, as affecting the mind, and as al
j instrument Of vice, as special opponent Q
! moral reformation, as clinging to its victim
j All the specious claims of venders AM
drinkers and all the common errors in re
: gard to ardent spirits, are subjected to tn
tests of science, experience and commo
!, sense, and he concludes in the followin
earnest and eloquent words:
i Let men learn its power, and act Wisel
E on that learning. Let them know and re
S memb er that it has vast power as a poiso1
t to be dreaded by all who would live an
$ let live; great power too as medicine
!; small quantities, aud skillfully employed
: much power as a luxury, but of a mo
e perilous kind no power as. food save Of
r ly in occasional emergencies ; no power
e sustain or even refresh a man under eith'
, bodily or mental labor-and let them abo
IS ish the term refreshments in its ordinal
It alcoholic sense, as a most foul and fall
e cious misnomer; no power to afford COZ
g tinued and systematic protection again
= extremes of either cold or heat; no pow
@ to avert disease, but power almost infni
IS to produce it; no power to cherish old ag
but only to cripple and confound it /
,el power to prolong life, but power to bot
hasten and embitter its ending; no pow
il to strengthen the morals or the mind, b
srI power to debase, if not destroy the one, al
i weaken and peryert the other; power
j. produce crime and minister to vice,
d[ yond what pen can write or tongue CT
vi tell-'sensual, devilish.' . Central Chr
tan Herald.