Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-07-21
temperance among Soldiers.

II was one time generally believed that the
use Of alcoholic liquors was positively necps-
sary and beneficial to all men, and especially
10 soldiers and sailors on active duty. Physi-
clans recommended such beverages, and regu-
lar daily Tations Of run were provided in all
armies and navies. These notions are still
entertained by many persons, and very gener-
ally there lie a want Of correct information on
the subject. L is very common for soldiers Of
all classes TO indulge in the use Of alcoholic
beverages and we witness daily their preVa-
lent ard injurious use among the volunteers in
our city. A few words Of advice on this topic
nav be of great benefit to them.
By close observation and many experiments,
it has been found that the Tissues and the
blood Of ~6ruBksrds, as well as those who con-
tinually tippIe in beer and whisky, but do not
get drunk, ara generally in a state Of degene-
ration. Alcohol passes into the blood and re-
tards the elimination Of waste and injurious
matter from the bsoV, and thus tends to pro-
duce disease, espec ally fever. French phy-i-
clans have determined that the blood Of a man
who drinks a pint Of brandy per day is never
free from alcohol, and they assert that its
presence in the blood exerts a most preiudicial
effect upon nutrition. A man in ordinary
health, requires no alcohol /; it is only useful
in a medicinal sense. taken in moderate doses.
It was long supposed by the British pbysi-
clans that spirituous liquors impaired to SOL
disTs in India a power to resist the depressing
Influence of = tropical climate; hence it was a
regular practice to provide each soldier with a
ratio Of spirituous liquor before partaking Of
breakfast. This custom led to the demoraIiza-
ton Of the army, by a~fOrding a temptation TO
general drunkenness, which led to the increase
OF crime and disease. Thisha resulted in the
abolition Of the spirit ratiOns in the entire
Indian army, with a manifest Improvement
in the health and morals of the sol Ter
An experienced Indian medical Offices states
that the use OF spirits in warm climates
tends to make men furious and produce dehri-
I'm tremens, and lie recommends the total alb
sence Of wines and spirits in the army. Col.
Dawes, Of The Bengal artillery, states that
his experience in India has lei him to see into
the terrible evils Of the use Of spirituous liquors
among soldiers, even in moderate quantities.
He has witnessed the best men become useless
from an indulgence Of liquor while, on the
other hand, be has seen men Of bad characters
converted into able-bodied, Woodworking,
courageous soldiers by abstaining from drink
ing spirits. When the thirteenth regiment
Of light infantry was beleagured in
JellaIabsd for i've months, during which
they gould obtain no spirituous liquors, they
were remarkably healthy and cheerful, and
behaved with great courage and good temper.
After the garrison was relieved, they then OBJ
tanned plenty of liquor, and the result was
much insubordination and disease. MAJOR
General Wylie, Of the Bombay army, testi6es
that when the soldiers were quarteTed in dis
tricts where no spiTituous liquor could be OBJ
tanned, no crimes were committed, their health
was good aad discipline admirable: but when
ever they obtained and were supplied wi b a
great deal OF spirits, i'll conduct and disease
prevailed to a frightful extent.-Sctentifc
American.