Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-09-06
Deferred Articles.
A Word About Beer Drinking.
10 lie Touh Of jefferson County

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TheIe a'e few notions more commonly en-
tertaincl among the ignorant than that Ale,
Lager, and the whole family Of Beers are harm
less or even wholesome drinks. With occa-
sioual exceptions Of persons being temporari
ly benefited Jas with opium or other drugs
which even as medical agents oftener do harm
than good the tdcis are all the other way
In England whore Ale is The national drink,
this ignorance is most common, and we arc
told to see how John Bull grows hearty upon
ale But though from the dampness Of that
climate III comparison with ours more stmu-
lauts can be endured, yet even there it is as
ccrtainoi that tie national beverage is the
curse Of the national health.
The following article is from Sir Henry
Thomson, who stands at the head of the medi-
cal profession in England. 1t may add to its
force in some minds Though it ought mott to
know that he is Of the skeptical school in re-
/ gion, and believes in the Church as being
most useful but only as Temperance Socie-
ty, or a Medical Society, or Dorcas Society.
His article, in the form of letter to the Arch
bishop Of Canterbury, who has become a lead
er in the Temperance Reformation, is as fol-
lows:
Il have long had The conviction that there
is no greater cause Of evil, moral and physical
/ iu this country than the use of alcoholic bev-
orases. l DO not mean by this that extreme
indulgence which produces drunkenness. The
haOtual use Of lermeuted liquors to an extent
far short Of What IS necessary to produce tha,
condition, and such as is quite common in all
ranks Of society, Injuries tue body aud dinia-
ishcs the mental power to an extent which
think few people are aware of. Such, at all
events, is the result Of observation during more
than twenty years Of professional life devoted
to hospital practice, aud to private practice in
every rank above it. Thus, I have no hesita-
ton in attrbuiing very large proportion of
some Of the most painful and dangerous mala-
dies which come under my notice, as well as
those which every medical man has TO treat.
TO the ordinary and daily use Of fermented
drink. taken in the quantity which is conven-
tionally deemed moderate Whatever may be
said in regard 10 It's evil influence on the men
tai and moral faculties rs 70 the fact above
stated feel that have a right to speak with
authority, aud do so solely because it APP
pears TO me duty, especially at this moment,
not 10 be silent on a matter of such extreme
importance ! know full well how unpalata-
DE is such truth, aud how such declaration
brings me into painful conflict, had almost
said with the national sentiments and the time
houored aud prescnptivc usages Of our race
Cherishing such convictions | rejoice toobserve
an endeavor 10 organize on a large scale in the
National Church special and systematic plan
for promoting temperance, and ! cannot but re-
gard this as an event Of the highest signii-
canoe ! believe that no association In this
country Las means to influence society in a Ia
vorable direction at all comparable to that ex-
listing in the English Church, aud the example
aud teaching Of its clergy may do moro than
any of the other associations which have long
laborcd with the same object to diminish the
national ignorance, on this subject, and the
consequent national vice. Ny main object is
to express my opinion rs professional, man 10
relation to the habitual employment Of fer
mented liquor as a beverage. But if / ven
tured one step further it would be to express a
belief that there is no single habit in this couu-
try which so much tends to deterorate the
qualities Of the race, and 50 much disqualifes
it for endurance in that competition which in
the nature Of things must exist, and ih which
struggle the prize Of q superiority must fall to
the best and to the strongest"
Now If this be true Ia the water-soakcd air
Of England, how much more in the dry, cleo
tric atmosphere of America, where far less
stimulous can be endured Inducing the /.
alcoholic disease which is commonly incurable. 1
We are told, think by Dr.. Carpenter, that
cases are common among the heavy English
Ale-drinkers, Of the smallest wounds proving
fatal-the scratch of pin is sometimes iucu-
rabe
But in this country Stimulauts are not only .
far more hazardous, but do their fatal work .
even when not intensified with poisons in a
much shorter time Professor Tyndal tells Us
that certain experiments cannot be performed
at all in England which are easily performed
here on account Of the highly electric state Of
our atmosphere-where (whatfew Englishmen
could be induced to belieyeD a woman has been
known again and again, after sliding rapidly
,,ey g., Garnet IA ligbt tho ras with her fnger /