Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-12-16
The disturbing Power Of Alcohol.

We take the following from Dr. Mum
roe's Physiological Action of Alcohol. -
| knew, many years ago, very clever,
industrious, and talented young man, who
told me that whenever he had been drink
ing, he could hardly Withstand the tempta-
tion of stealing anything that came in his
way; but these feelings never troubled him
at other times. One afternoon, after he
had been indulging with his fellow-work
men in drink, his will unfortunately was
overpowered and he took from the man
sion where he was working some articles
of worth, for which he was accused, and
afterward sentenced to a term of imprison
ment When set at liberty he had the
good fortune to be placed among some
kind hearted persons, vulgarly called tee
Otdtiers; and, from conscientious motives,
signed the PLEDGE, now above twenty
years ago. From that time to the present
moment he has never experienced the
over-mastering desire which so often beset
him in his drinking days-to take that
which was not his own. Moreover no
pretext could now entice him to taste of
any liquor containing alcohol, feeling that,
under its influence, he might again fall its
victim. He holds an influential position
inthe town where he resides.
have known some ladies of good posi-
ton in society who, after a dinner or sup
per party, and after having taken sundry
glasses of wine, could not Withstand the
temptation of taking home any little arti-
Gle rot their own, when the opportunity
offered and who, in their sober moments,
have returned them as if taken by mistake.
We have many instances recorded in our
police reports of gentlemen of position,
under the influence of drink, committing
theftsof the most paltry articles, afterward
returned to their owners by their friends,
which can only be accounted for, psyche
logically, by the fact that the loW had been
for the time overpowered by the influence
of alcohol.
That alcohol, whether taken in large or
small doses, Immediately disturbs the nat
ural functions of the mind and body, is
now conceded by the most eminent physi-
clans. DR.. Brinton says;
"Mental acuteness, accuracy of percep-
tion and delicacy of the senses are all so far
opposed by the action of alcohol, as that
the maximum efforts of each are iRc0nl-
pdtj6Le with the ingestion of any moderate
quantity of fermented liquid. Indeed,
there is scarcely any calling which de-
mands skillful and exact efforts of mind
and body, or which requires the balanced
exercise of many faculties, that does net
illustrate this rule. The mathematician,
the gambler, the metaphysician, the bill
lard player, the author, the artist, the
physician, would, if they could analyze
their experience Alright, generally concur
in the statement, that single glass IeiH Of
ten suffice to take, so to speak, the edge off
both mind and body and to reduce their Ca
pacity to something below what is rela-
tivelv their perfection of work"
OF ~ rai rai vuaQ Irtx
carelessly into one of the principal London
stations, running into another train killing,
by the collision, six or seven persons and
iniuring many others. From the evidence
at the inquest it appeared that the guard
was reckoned sober, only he had tt0O glasses
Of ale with friend at previous station.
Now, reasoning psycologically, these two
glasses of beer had probably been instru-
mental in taking off tie edge from his per-
ceptions and prudence, and producing a
carelessness or boldness of action which
would not have occurred under the cooling,
temperate influence of beverage free from
alcohol. Many persons have admitted to
me that they were not the same after tax
| ing even one glass of ale or wine that they
were before; and could not thoroughly
trust themselves after one glass.
/ Evidently, then, alcohol causes person
| to commit certain acts in spite of himself
| and in the face of his better judgement
/ Professors Lallemand and Perrin, in their
remarkable researches, have proved that
alcohol, introduced into the system, pro.
duces in aH persons an intoxieation that
is marked by progressive series of func
tional disturbances and alterations, the in
tensity OF which corresponds with the
quantity of alcohol taken. Alcohol is NJ
respecter Of persons If taken it will as GER
tainly operate on the queen upon the
throne, as the beggar in squalid misery
on the minister of Gods holy word, as the
vilest reprobate; on the judge upon the
bench, as the criminal at the bar; on The
soldier who fights for his country, as OF
the humblest member of the peace society
None-who partakes of it can withstand
its esseRtidL influences, though he may eX
emplify its power by varying actions anC
behavior.