Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1860-12-14
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

1t has been observed by Professor John
stone in his Chemistry of Common
Life, that every race above the condition
of brutes use stimulants in some form.
Alcoholic beverages in the form of wines,
beer, and malt liquors. coffee and tea,
and opium mixtures are in common use
Some of these stimulants are harmless,
and some are even beneficial, when taken
in moderation but all of them are dam
gerous when taken in excess 1t would
be well for poor human nature if the
most mild and safe stimulants only were
taken but although dreadful consequences
are known to result from an immoderate
participation in ardent spirits and opiates,
yet there are thousands, and many of
these are well educated and highly intel
lectual persons, who recklessly indulge in
their use. The historian, Allison, has
stated that drunkenness is the vice of cold
climates, and in this opinion he may be
correct; but warm climates have their
vices also from the immoderate use of
stimulants all of which are injurious.
The Chinese indulges in his opium, and
his I" waking dreams become luxuiant
with fantastic scenery and incidents. The
Hindoo takes his Indian hemp extract,
and at once the chirp of cricket sounds
like the crack of rifle cannon; the fall
ling of stream of water appears like a
shower of rainbows; minutes seem like
years. and the whole senses become fear
fully and historically active. A new
stimulant has been recently coming into
pernicious prevalence among the artists
and literary men of France. This is
absinthine, the bitter principle of worm
wood, which is soluble in alcoholic liquors
and is said to be very fascinating in its
influence upon those engaged in exhaust
ing mental pursuits. Like opium, it
imparts Temporary stimulus to the brain,
but its after effects are of a very pros
trating nature. Several distinguished
men in France are said to have fallen
victims to it's use, and the highest medical
authorities in that country have denounced
it, and yet its consumption is rapidly on
the increase We hope it may never
come into use as stimulant among our
people 1t has been asserted by some
writers that the sensation and instincts
are guides that should be followed. With
out qualification this is dangerous teach
ing. AS regards stimulants, the sensations
are frequently of the most delusive
character. Science in its very highest
sense teaches us that the cravings of the
appetite for stimulants in human beings
should, in general, be resisted not fol-
lowd. Reason should control the sensa-
tions by guiding the will to resist the
cravings of the appetite for many things.
The practice of opium eating is becoming
more prevalent in America; but asscience
and experience teach us that the use Of it is
dangerous vice, any craving for such a
stimulant should be resisted We hope
that indulgence in the new French drug
absinthine, will not be added to the grow
ing and dangerous evil Of opium eating.
Those who are forewarned against it, are
armed to resist it. Its use for a short
period is very fascinating but he who
persists in it ultimately becomes drivel-
Ter and mental paralytic.
Americnn. il .sf