New-York tribune., 1874-05-05
Tile ADDRESS.

presidency OF the
congratulate the auspicous awakening INTO NE
which the Society has exhibited. With roll OF mem
hers which in numbers and eminence would be worthy
Of any society in the country 1t enters upon the self
appointed task of studying science OF medicine in
all its relations TO the nervous system.
INCREASING LIABILITY TO NERVOUS DISEASES.
II there is any higher scientific labor than this for
physician perform do not know what 1t is, and It's
importance augmeuts daily with the advance OF civza-
refinement, those great factors which do not
stop at promoting mans intellectual and physical
development. bat which, ms every good
thing must have its attendant evil, render
him more liable 10 class OF diseases
before which all others are OF secondary rank. The
thought which statesman the scientist Celebrates
his BRAIN and which may be Of momentous weight
the affairs OF mankind often leaves him who gave 1t
birth with weakened perverted mind, or the prey OF
some painful affection which OF Itself makes life bur
den The youth who by ambition the constant spur
rng his teachers is induced to make nordinate men,
tai efforts to attain distinction. breaks down mentally
physically in the attempt, or else gains his object
at TO his system which is dear price for
my possible emlnence he may thereafter reach. Not
long ago cut from daily newspaper an advertisement
OF school near this city, in which II set forth
sole nducemen to parents 10 send their sons to the
institution in question that at it "boys were walked up
and agoing" thought them and often think now.
Of the anguish in store for Of the " dull BOYS"
the teacher, doubtless with the best intentions
may set agoing" The nervous irrtabilty, the head
aches the seeplessness the confusion of ideas the
fcebled body, the premature old age the early death
not perhaps before the Intervention Of some organic
disease OF the brain other part Of the nervous
izatiOn-which forcing system is apt TO produce,
but poor return for the doubtful honor Of being
walked up and set agoing"-to say nothing OF the
lamentabe failures attendant upon the process.
THE USE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
The propriety Of the use Of alcoholic liquors as bever
ages has been subject of discussion for many
a. I.,1
attention Few, however, who have participated in II
have considered this matter in its true light and this is
especially of tho advocates OF total prohibition who
have generally INDUCED in invecton instead Of arGu-
meut. and whose facts based mainly upon the i'm
moderate use OF the agents in question No one can
deny that alcoholic liquors. when mbbed in excessive
amount are not only injurious the individual who
takes them but also in the highest degree runous TO
society. We further and admit that there
are certain alcoholic cOmpounds-such as the distilled
liquors, brandy, whisky, rum. &c.-which. when taken
habtualy in moderation by healthy persons, exert
less injurious effect. varying according to the
quantity mbbed and the constitution and temperament
Of the Individual 1t is also undoubtedly true that even
fcrmented lquorsae, wine. porter. &c.when used in
excess, lead results in which are decidedly
abnormal character. And II is not to be questioned
that the habits and mode of life of great many persons
are such that not only is stimulant OF an alcoholic
character requisite but such stimuant even when
taken very small quantity acts in manner prejudi-
cial to the wel-beng Of the organism.
But Is illogical argue from the excessive use OF
tpruOu liquors by all persons 70 the moderate use OF
persons and shall endeavOr TO point out In what
the difference consists for that alcoholic liquors not
only beneficial to- but actually required by certain
classes Of individuals is not, think matter for doubt
The experiments Of Dr. Percy have been often
brought forward as proving something IN regard TO
alcohol which not true Of any other substance.
This observer injected strong alcohol into the stOmachs
Of dogs. The quantity ranged from two to six
fbp iOpd
and brain for alcohol, 1t was always found. The
presence OF alcohol in the blood ana brain, to
those who look specifically or gnOrantly at
the matter has rather horrible aspect but
when we know that there is no substance capable
Of being absorbed by the stomach and ntestines which
cannot also by proper be detected In the blood
and vscera the subject loses much OF its striking char
aeter Percy used alcohol of $50 specific gravity,
which represents mixture containing about so per
cent Of absolute alcohol. As the strongest brandy
tans about per cent OF alcohol the concentrated
character Of the liquor by Dr. Percy
IL one case six injected into the stomach Of
dog-a quantity amply sufficient to cause death ia an
adult man. The amount Of essential oil present in
is far less In proportion than the quantity OF al
cohol contained in the mdest wines, aud
eat without this oil passing into the blood and
impregnatng the air exhaed in respiration with its
REGULAR odor. Doubtless the brain of person who had
cined heartily onions would exhale the character
5sjic odor OF the vegetable.
Use OF ALCOHOL IN DELAYING THE DESTRUCTION OF
TISSUE.
We know that certain amount OF tissue decOmposed
With every functional action OF the organ TO which IL
belongs. just steam results from the combustion
fuel thought from the combustion of gray
tissue, motion from the combustion OF muscle and
the force TO seerete bile from the combustion
stance OF the hyer. We know well II fresh
fuei is not supplied TO the engine from time time |
steam ceases 10 be formed the machine set I'm mo-
tOn by no longer works Tue IKE Is true OF the body
and 1t for the formative processes which
continually going on whereby new material derived
from the force is deposited take the place Of that
which is consumed death would very soon result 1t
must be distinctly understood however that ordinary
food does inherent in the
body but that IL first be converted into flesh and
brain heart. etc, from the destruction OF which
organs force peculiar each Is evolved. The pro-
by which food is converted into tissue is called pro
converted Into force Is called regressye meta.
Dorphosis ,,-,,. ,,,-,.~ A., ,...,
Of tissue without the time essenng the force
which would otherwise be derived from Its full connu
snce or II may be necessary TO obtain great amount
of force from individual in limited period In aco
agent which, when tudiciousy used, en-
nbes TO accomplish both these ends together with
Others scarcely mpOrtant which Will be alluded TO
more at length hereafter The action Of alcohol in linn
iDg the destructive metanorphosls OF tissue VIII be
hest illustrated by an example. Let us suppose that
workman lsborng twelve hours day upon diet con-
Ioses weight at the rate OF ounce day Now IN
order preserve his health and perhaps even his fe
lessen the waste Of his tissues. Meat and
bread are expensive, and be h1ds 1t
bic the quantity that he is much he has any
appetite for digest The alternative presented TO
him IA 10 work less II be IL his master this would
H an excellent way OF getting rid OF the difficulty. He
the period OF his labor 70 ten hours and
or perhaps gain an ounce day But 10 be hatthis
aernatyeis is open 20 him-he must work IL hours
DAY In tb condition Of affairs he takes mug OF porter
q Of wine. Or, what would DC worse dram Of !