Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-04-01
For the Oxford Democrat.
Do zee need Liquor agencies?


the oldest and most valuable articles in
the Materia Medica The immortal Sy-
denham once remarked, if he could be
allowed only two weapons with which To
combat disease in its various forms, opium
would be his first choice. So. on the
other hand. the evils growing out OF its
abuse, surpass in magnitude, perma-
neney aud extent, those of all other me-
Gieinal agents combined. unless il be that
ofardent spirits" DR.. Jackson writes: Il
resort TO its use with gveatunwillingness."
In this County we ATE able to conline
the sale of opium To the shop of The
apothecary. We have known one city at
least. where it was obtained only by n
medical prescription. Is it not time ri
cohol was confined to that also?
But there is another poison-arsen
/ ic-which doctor Jackson says. is rs
mild and gentle in its effects on the hu-
man body as almost any efficient medicine
ever employed by us" Like alcohol,
/ il claims TO make the food flourish
the body; not stimulating the action Of
/ the stomach, but the absorben,s below :;
so certain is it in small doses TO produce
that effect. that it is used not only to pre-.
vent the waste oithe system 10y disease, but
it is used by ladies to fatten themselves
and thus improve the beauty ofcomplcNiou
and foim. 1t is given also rs n tonic;
i, exhilaratcS the system. Thus.
like alcohol increasing its activity and
yiEor. 1t is said 10 have good effect on
the human lungs. i, is used 10 Improve
the wind in horses, it improves their
spirit. and the beauty of their coat The
hotsc likes it, and seems improved in con.
dilion by its use; but when it is no long
CT given. he falls away and never after
ward has health or strength. Ii Is stated
10y Or. Tschudi, that in the mountainous
regions of Hungary, the peasants use it
Systematically with their food. Aner the
use of it i confirmed. they suffer cNccs-
siycly If they leave it of, and rs the Sys.
tenn becomes more and more susceptible
to mineral poi>ons; small dose pro
duces after time the effect larger one
produced ut first, and death is the almost
certain result oi It's continued use.
How like in It's results, TO alcohol? Ar
scnic also Is kept only on the shelf of The
apothccary il we buy, we should cx-
pcct it TO be labeled in large letters
poi,on,-is it not time that it, kindred,
Alcohol, was also confined TO the apothc-
cary and sold only with the label in large
Icticr>-poiSon. that no terrible accident
may happen from it, lying round2
Which of the two poi>ons would YOU
prefer to stimulate the organs Of nutrition
tor the benefit of the system, arsenic, or
alcohol We do not learn that arsenic de-
GRADES the moral nature, like alcohol il
simply Kills the physical man; that is so
much in favor Of arsenic. Alcohol does
both; it is 50 fascinating, so cunning in
is nature. that the victim is almost lost
before he suspects any danger. Suppose
We had some weaker solutions of arsenic
less cunningy contriyed than alcoholic
stimulants, to seem rs if lit was good for
food and 10 Toe desired 10 make one wiSe?"
Wouldn't the world be the gainer2
Would = craving for arsenic. also a De.
PRAYED constitution descend from parent
to child. visiting the sins of the fathers
upon the children TO the third and fourth
E,uerIu3n2~ That DR. T>chudi does not
tell Us. We never consider the actual
use of these various poisonS, mineral and
vegetable, in medicine, without feeling
that if they were MI sunk in the sea, the
world would be the gamer; especially Al
cohol and opium. Calomcl has long been
the great specific Cor diseases OF the liver;
vet, much aS our northern soldiers suffer.
ed from these diseases in the southern
climate, is use was finally forbidden 10y
the authorities. ~ being used So un-
sparingly. that it did more harm than
GOOD Yet calomel does not depraye the
moral nature; it only depraves the body;
alcohol does both Why should it not
also be forbidden TO put rs medicine, IAN
enemy into the Tie mouth 10 steal away
the brains p The Scriptulal writer's knew
nothing OF disabling; their strong drink
was mixed wine. of which opium is sup
posed to have been IN ingredient; but
they knew what serpents were. and that
their bite WAS deadly they knew that il
was unsafe, even TO look at them. Tor they
fascinated their victim with their glitter
ing ewes, gently waving their raised heads.
and they made a Proverb.-'Look not
upon the wiHe when it is red, when it Civ
eth his color in the cup; CHS color an
allusion 10 its masculine power TO desiroy)
when it movcth itself Alright. At the
last 1t biteth like serpent, and stingeth
like an adder"
Do people who use alcoholic prepare
tons suppose they get anything but
drugged liquors? Listen to the statement
of unqueStioned authorities. Wines and
spirits are almost universally adulterated
10 some extent; many that are sold, are
entirely made up of ingredients wholly
foreign to the country which produces
the genuine wine. Both copper and lead
Citharge) are used with view to pre-
serving them. In England, the favorite