The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-10-07
WOMANS TEMPERANCE COL.
UMN.
1t Keeps Out the Cold.


This is one Of the most prevalent Of tho
fallacics concerning alcohol. Teamsters,
soldiers, sailoTs, travellers and all sorts Of
people believe this very largely, and
practice accordingly. Many a pledge
has been broken, many an appetite formed,
many drunkard made in this way; for
the alcohol produces its legitimate effects
just as surely when used for this purpose
as for any other.
The results of The use Of alcohol for
this purpose give an excellent illustration
of its deccitful effect on tho nerves. The
rapidity Of the circulation is increased,
and She temperature at the surface rises
slightly, perhaps halfa degree. But this
is in consequence Of throwing out and
wasting the vital forces and not from any
increase Of vital heat. The truth is that
a thermometer properly placed, after
little denotes q decrease in temperature
of one, two, three, or more degrees, ac
cording to the amount of vitality wasted
down even 10 death itself; and that
requires but few degrees Of reduction.
But now observe the sensations through
the nerves. They report the first slight
rise in temperature with some correctness;
hence the feeling that alcohol"warms up"
the system, Almost simultaneously with
this they are bonumbed by the alcohol,
and their function suspended to such a
degree that they do not report correctly
the subsequent condition Of the system.
and tho man cannot tell by his feelings
how cold the system is. Besides this it
destroys the equilibrium of the circula.
ton, and makes him moro liable to freeze
than he would be without it.
This is fair specimen Of the deceits
Of alcohol. 1t is a nerve poison, and that
fact accounts for many oi the erroneous
opinions about its effects. Ii explains
why the popular impression which leads
people TO drink, conflicts with the results
Of careful scientific experiments and OBJ
seryations. The latter are but little
known to the people. The results of
some of the latest We have given above,
in the indications Of tho thermometer.
The observations and records Of scientific
men extend over long period Sir John
Ross, in his expeditions to the Arctic re.
gions. where its use was considered indis.
pensable. became so well satisfied that it
was injurious that he proposed to his men
to give up the use Of alcohol, which they
did with great advantage. DR.. Aiken
ascribes the failure of several unsuccess-
ful Northern expeditions to the use OF
alcoholic liquors, while those who drank
pothing but water had better health, and
were more successful. lie tells OF
Danish crew Of sixty men, well provision
ed and supplied with spirits, which at.
tempted to spend the winter in Hudson'a
Bay, and all but tHo ofthem died ; while
en- English crew Of twenty-five, doing Che
same without spirits, all lived but two.
In another case eight Euglishmen withoW
spirits all survived, while four Russians,
left in Spitzbergen without provisions or
spirits, all lived for six years, and were
eventually restored to their homes. 4
large proportion of whaling and exploring
expeditions are now fitted out without
spirit rations.
Three or four years ago n company Of
twcnty-six Americans, travelling on
western plain, were obliged to camp out
without a fire in very cold weather. They
had good supplies of all sorts, ard an
abundance OF whiskcy. One Of their
number, somewhat read up On the sub
ject, cautioned them strongly against the
ssv Ut tho lafior 1'~o Of Thorn hccael
his words, ard with himself dranl; no
Whi.key. They were cold, but did not
suffer severely, nor freeze. They all
wrapped up, and clustered together in
groups as well as they could. Three
others drank little, and suffered much,
but did not freeze. Seven others. who
drank more, had their toes aud fingers
frosted. Six drank much, and were 50
badly frozen that they never fully recoy
cred. -Four drank to booziness, and were
so much injured that they died in three
or four weeks afterwards while tho
remaining three who drank themselves
dead drunk, were frozen stiif in the morn.
ing. They were ali men in the prime OF
life, and were all equally well provided
with blankets and clothing. The expert
ment was as near conclusive as 1t could
well be made, the greatest difference being
in the quantity Of liquor used. The sui-
fering vas, apparently, in exact proper
ton % the quantity drank. The details
of the case were published at the iiuc 10
a Cincinnati medical journal, being conf
municated by this member Of the panty
who warned his associates againrl the
poison. If We had such Intelligent uca
everywhere, 10 notice facts and lo,uIts.
and press them upon the attention C. 'A.
people, VIC would soon get rid OF this
fallacy, and strike heavy blow at tho
vitals Of King Alcohol.