National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-10
8atiouaI @epnbIifan.
ALCOHOLISM
ITS DISASTROUS PHYs1oIooIcay. RE
SU-T.TS

ITS DISASTROUS PHYSIOLOGICAL RE-
/ SUITS.
| A writer in the Richmond Dispafeb. over thu
signature of ''Medicus," gives the following
brief summary of the deleterious effects of
aieoholic stimulants In plain English. They
are based upon experience and observation in
'he uisseeting room and chemical laboratory,
on'o'ned with an extended practice, and are
IpYen N ths lnfcrcs. os 10 Temperance society"
or "order," but solely IN behalf Of those who
take drinks habitually, not ssknowing whst
theyao:" r..
Ihe sum and conclusion Of close and ears
fui series OF examinations and inquiries are
| made up in these fearful words {. A1cohoi-
shortcns life" and the habtual use of IL s.costs
three years and a half of life," on an syersge.
| Of the habitual drinkers.
The unhealthy and fatal effects upon tbose
vital organs upon whose normal sction life de-
lends arc found to be after this wise, viz:
Alcoholic drinks Of every kind, both spirftuous
and malt, cause In the important organs-the
kidneys, flyer, spleen. lungs, hear. and brain
the depoeit Of oily or fatty matter. Hence you
hear Of the fat, pale hvers, and see the paid,
coloTiess consplexio1 Of many drinkers. The
development of ''taberele" (the matter of
which consumptiyes dis) promotes "suppura-
ton" and "prcvenis heahRg;" hence, when an
organ is tnfamed, it is so dificdlt or impossible
to promote the healing process. These ,lisas-
troes Influences are mostly upon the liver,
hear ard kidpeys.
The effect OF alcohol In proruCtine infamms-
ton AMI suppssation (n,afferiagt is especially
manifest on the lungs. Who ddss not know
ehat imnincnt danger threatens the patsen$
Gan habicaai dx1nkcr) when pneL,iotiis or
plcurisy or "heart d3sease' inyadcs his framcF
The'reason for this = the almost utter iiRpos-
sibilay of ar.esting Inflammation and prssent-
teriorsred, passing tbseugh these infsne6
lungs, nd ther1e through the entire system,.
leaves Unhealthy deposits throughout the en-
tire frarae, and fainfsaItd impairs every DOR
tion oft. Hence H0tches and boils, and red
noses and symptoms. The bsood, impoverished
and deteriosuted, fovS- sfugsishiy through it's
wonted chaItuels, and isreads at any moment
70 burst fOrt5 in alarming henfos4flaxes
But upon TIE nervousfystem. and especially
H5eu the braiIS the 'heaa' centSe,!' the most
OBVIOUS manifestations psofounes themselves.
Thgneryous, shaking, tr SfnBlinS kands; the
fee5aey tottering knees; fhe cross, irritable
tem5er> the fraetious, iraseibie ,dncruIous
disposition; the ffightful, eliminating sleliri.m
freneasr are warning illustrations of lie elect
Of ale 5Aof upon the system.
. ! avoid all tedious detail, and sufic ur the
facts iE these general declaratic Us, viz: MceaOl
assaults Hna saps the seat of Sason. fsiiDairx
and destcgys the functions of tle bfainc aitess
the Workings Of the entire machinery Of the
nervous system; induces disease of the hesst
and lungs, aud prevents their curS' {the Heal
Ing proeesssl yitiates the blood Sffeh Is the
life -every: drop of It, fnfames ard ulcesateo
The mucous, membrane (the liniI1 of the
fartem, enlarges and rdenSs tAo
liver; 1.-THE Nezch favorise fois (tis' goOee'S
nSerl Is fmnensely enlarged in growth by
noarishing tks goose ON wine and brzhdy:H
changes the structure of Tie kidneys md their
functions. In o word, from the croynioftbe-
head to the so1ss of the feet, pathohgeaiir
'peaking, It prod1ees ''bslses, won MS; anal
lzutrefyfng soresW
his horrible Indictment 3 not the fauky'se
'ksseh of enthusiastic teetotalfsm, but the oni.-
se1saily observed effects which the knife and.
ne horoscope detect in those dead of dihk..
akoholfsm Is disease superiDduced tJ the
se Of intoxicatiny,drfnks and when oncee-ins
lneeo - disease ssi1eHeris, rs real and Eae
F1fs0l as the smallpox or consumption A:
eng stride has been. made In the right dipoC>-
lon foF the relief oi1he inebriate by recognise
ng the fact that drunkeanessfs . selfindusedi
Disease, and that thia disease must be treated
y means we'll knowmtoand understood by tho
,sofession. "The inshsfate asylums" are the
NY hope and help Of the hopeless and helps
ess drunkard, for there alone can the propexr
treatment be carried ont.
Let each man who takes his regular drinks
ensember that every drink he takes Is but adj
ing fuel to an unqueashsble fame, and Is butr
Increasing the impossintiify of rescue from ..
lspeless degradation.