The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-05-05
Modern Stlmulants.

Modern StimulantS.
Recently statistics were printed in
an English magazine showing an ass
tonishing increase in the amount Of
opium cons sn,d in Great Britain
SINCE the temperance reformation COM
menced, and opinions were given by
experienced physicians to the effect
that this opium has been substituted
for spirituous liquors The same in
crease in the use Of opium III This
country is shown by the custom house
statistics In 1910, The first cost OF
the opium imported was S40,S7l
From that time the importation has
largely increased, and in the year
ending with June, 1862, we imported
S932,6 worth This is the whole
sale cost in gold. The cost to the
consumers was nearly four times that
amount 1t Is true that opium is
largely used as a medicine, but the
physicians say that not one fourth the
amount imported is required for that
purpose; the balance, some three mil
lions dollars worth every year, is con-
sumed as stimulant. The amount is
enormous, and the mischief must be
conespondingly great for there can
be no doubt that its effects on body
and mind are worse than those Of
intoxicating liquors.
The increased use OF liquors is
greately to be deplored, and the evil
is much aggravated by the adultcra-
ton Of liquors. The high duties and
taxes on liquors arc contemplation
to the manufacturer OF spurious liquors,
and science and skill have made the
counterfeits SO perfect, that it is next
to impossible to distinguish them from
the genuine while in fact they are
full of 1irnlcnt poisons, which act
with fearful power on the system
This is the reason why wo haye no
life long drnnkards now tbcy are
killed OIL rapidly, almost before their
friends know that they have passed
beyond the limits Of moderate drink
ing
These arc lut few OF the facts
that go to show the need Of re,i-
sion Of this whole subject &c stnna-
lants by those learned in medicine
ana physiology IT. as some Of the
best authorities say, the appetite for
shmulants is natural and viii have
satisfaction in some way; if driven
from one source Of supply it will in
evitably seek others; then science
should be able to tell us what arc in
nocent and useful stimulants and how
We may obtain these and protect our
selves against those that are injurious
to the system Or if the idea that
stimulants are necessary is a delusion,
let us have the fact demonstrated, SO
that we may wage war upon them in
telhgently and with some prospect Of
success. The admitted fact that there
is a strong tendency to excess in their
use does not cover the whole ground.
The same thing is true Of many other
things needful to life on contributing
to its innocent enioyments. Our
grandfatheIs who had New England
rum and cider for steady drinks, and
smoked and chewed the weed al iibi-
tim, were healthier and longer lived
than their descendants who take 20
mixed liquors and opium. This does
not prove that rum and cider are bet
ter than water or tea and coffee; but
if il is human destiny to stimulate in
some way, let us at least show some
sense in the selections of means
to that end. Shall we have scientific
commission on stimulants, and see If
we can establish a theory that will
stand the test both Of logic and ex-
perience