The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-03-17
[Scientific American

| Enect OF StfOnS Drlnk on the Liver.
The Family Physician tells us that
when alcohol is introduced into the
stomach in the ordinary way, it nearly
all passes through the liver. Undi-
luted spirits are much more injurious
! than when mixed with water, and pro-
duce greater irritation. Alcohol con-
sumed as wine or beer is far less de-
structive to the liver than when taken
in the form Of ardent spirits. A hot
climate intensifes all the vicious ef-
fects Of alcohol. The symptoms Of
cirrhosis Of the liver are in the early
stages often obscure, but later they
are sufficiently well marked. At first
the liver gets slightly enlarged, and
the patient suffers from pain in the
right side, indigestion, wind, and cos
tive bowels. He is occasionally fever
ish, his skin is hot and dry, and he has
peculiar, unhealthy, sallow look,
which he probably fails to notice, but
which is sufficiently obvious to his
friends. The necessity for making
change in his habits is forced upon
his attention, and for week or two
he is under the doctors orders, and
not feeling able to drink any more, he
consents to follow a restricted diet.
and to take course of purgatives.
Soon the most prominent symptoms
are relieved, he fancies himself we'll
again, and quickly returns to his old
habits. Gradually, however, he no
tices that he is getting thinner and
weaker, and occasionally he has a good
deal of pain in the side. He is ner-
vous and out of sorts. He has no
longer the pluck he used to have; first
his friends notice it, and then he grad
ually becomes aware of it himself. He
finds that he is not "fit for business"
and he is afraid to see people. The
patient has occasional attacks of diar-
rhea, his appetite fails, and the enact
alton and debility increase. He tries
all kinds of treatment, but never sticks
to one for long at time. He con-
suits every one of any note in London,
but derives little If any benefit from
their advice. He would give up the
drink if he could, but he can't. His
self-reliance is gone, the alcohol has
stolen away his will, and he is utterly
LHCdpdule OI giving uP oIO uduSeIouS
fascination. He will take an oath to-
day that he will never touch another
drop Of spirit, and will probably break
it tomorrow. Sometimes he wishes
that some one would lock him up in
an asylum, or that by some chance or
other he could have six months i'm
prisonment, but he never feels able to
put himself under restraint. After a
time the liver gets smaller, and this,
instead of being a good sign, is bad
one, for it is contracting. He would
willingly enough consent to knock off
drink now, but it is too late; the mis-
chief is done, the liver is in state of
cirrhosis, and no medicine can restore
it to it's natural condition. Is there
any remedy for this horrible COM
plant? Yes, one, teetotalism-abso-
lutte abstinence from alcoholic liquors
of all kinds. This remedy must be ap-
piled early. If he waits till his liver
has undergone serious organic change,
it is too late. No half measures will
suffice; he must give up drink of all
kinds. lie he does this he will recover;
but if he goes on in his old plan an
early and painful death is the inevita-
BILE consequence.