Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-01-02
Holiday Beverages.


be as to the respective merits of the temper
ate use of liquors and total abstinence there
from, there is at least no dispute of the prop
osition that excess is harmful. Nor is it pos
sible TO put Temperance in the same category
with excesses of diet and put it on par with
mere glnttony. Course and profuse gratiflca-
tion of the palate at the expense of the stom-
ach is undoubtedly the prolific source of NOR
bid disturbance of organic functions and i'm
pairrnent of health, but in its worst excesses
gluttony has not the potent mental and moral
effects of intemperance. The last number of
the Popular Science Review contains an inter
esting article by DIR. j. Miner Fothergill.
which was read before the Social Science
Congress at Liverpool, in which the subject of
effects of Alcoholic Excess on Character" is
treated from physicians standpoint. 1t is
pointed out tlzzt the first tseffects of alcohol are
felt in the higher or controlling portions Uf
the brain. In this connection, reference is
made to the elaborate exposition of this action
of alcohol made in paper read before the
Medical Society of London by Dr. Landor
Erunton, F. r. s., to which was awarded the
society's medal. The consequence of this ef-
feet of alcoholic indulgence is that the lower
or animal impulses manifest themselves free
from the control to which they are ordinarily
subject. Next the motor centres are affected,
and the ordinary movements of the body aie
made with difficulty and unsteadiness. AT a
further stage of alcoholiZation the lower por-
tions of The brain are involved, and insensl-
bility results, respiration and circulation alone
remaining in action, while still further intoxi-
cation may arrest every function of7the or
ganism and death result. 1t is not a piece of
Temperance rhetoric to say that drunkenness
degrades a. man TO the level of the brute; it is
simply the statement Of a ply ysiological effect,
The effects of alcoholic indulgence upon the
higher centres ofthe brain is the physiolog-;
ical explanation of the deterioration OF char
acter which is the worst effect of intemper-
cance, s, It is that which converts the sensible,
well balanced man INTO the foolish, arrogant
braggart; or fills him with pugnacity and iras-
cibilty and sends him ltosmake a-hell of his
home, One may note the degrading effects
+ of habituaI potations even in those who still
maintain respectable standing, IN their callous
sense of honor in regard to borrowed money
and the perIinacity with which they levy
upon scquaintanees. The final outcome of
the process is the. dirty, squalid, shameless,
lying drunkard, dead TO any sense of moral
degradation. These effects upon character
are brought about during the primary stages
of intoxication. 2, In fact, the completer in
toxication which induces insensibility is less
harmful, A man is then a log instead of a
wild brute yl.s5 81 ...-''-' .i.. 80 8. $ ~
Ii In view of such facts as these it is not me-
cesssry that one should be a believer in total
abstinence to-perceive the danger of the free
supply to guests Of liquors during the holiday
season. At such time as this, when it is the
custom to make numerous calls, a little taken
at each place soon amounts to a sufficient
! quantity to disturb the control of the intellec-
Ftnal faculties. Even if the influence is mani
tested no more strongly than in the tlippant,
boisterous and disrespectful manner and in the
loud and insane laugh, yet the man is lowered.
But too often the day begun in innocent
hilarity ends in drukenness and disgrace. The
custom gorging with food and drink on
Christmas and New ears day comes down
to US from barbarous, times, Hospitality
can be displayed as effectively and more iu-
diciously without the use of intoxicating bev.
erages The lady who hands glass OF wine
to friend may be a Circe pressing upon him
the malign potion that changes men into
beasts. The stimulating coffee, the fragrant
| tea, the appetizing chocolate-let these fl
the hospitable cup that cheers but not inebri-
| ate-let these be the Christmas beverages =
! BALTIC. American.