Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-03-04
Spirit Drinking.

The most fr, qusnt caus, Of liver complaint is
spirit drinking, When a!cJhol is introduced
into the stomach in the ordinary way, it nearly
all passes through the liver. Uodiluted spirits
| are much more itj furious than when mixed with
water, and pvaduco greater irritation. Alcohol
consumed as wine or beer is far less destructive
10 the liver than when taken in the form of ar
den spirits. hot climate intensl6es all the
vicious eff c:s Of alcohol.
The symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver are in
the enry stages often obscure, but later thew
sse sufficiently We'll marked. At first the liver
gets slightly enlarged, ard the patient suffers
fro;n ps,n 10 the rignt side, Indigestion, wind
ard co:i.iVs bowels. HI is ccossionsly fevsrish,
his skit is hoe and dry, and he has q peculiar
unhealthy sslloW look, which be probably fails
| to noico, but which is sufficiently obvious 10
his trieuds.
The necessity for makiog change in his
habits is Forced upon his attention, aud for
week or two he is under tho doctors orders,
and, not feeling able to driok apy more, he
consents to follow restricted diet and to take
d Course OF purgatives Soon the most proui
Hent symptoms are relieved, he fsuoes hi
self We'll agslo, and quickly returns to his old
habits. Gracually, however. he notices that
hels getting thinner and weaker, and occasion-
ally be has good deal of pain 10 the sde. He
is nervous and out Of sJrts. He has no longer
the pluck be used to have; first his frisbds
notice il, and then he gradually becomes aware
OF II himself. He finds he is not fit for busi-
Dess, ard he is afraid to Sc pyople. The
patient has occasional attacks of disrrte,, bis
appetite talla, aud the emacistiou and debility
Increase. ii, trl,s all kiods of treatment, but
never sticks 10 oae lung at time. He cour
suits every physician of any note, but derives
little, if any, benefit from their advic,. He
would give up the drink if be could, but he
can't His self reliance is gone, the acohol
has stolen away his will, and he is utterly
incapable ofgiven up the dangerous fascination,
He will take do oa, h to day that he will never
touch drop OF spirit, aod hs will probably
break it tomorrow.
Sometimes he wishes thst souae one would
lGck hlm up IN an ,sy!um, or that by some
chance or other ne could have six months i'm
prisonmens, but he never feels able to put him.
self under restraint. After time the liver gets
| smaller, and this instead of being good sign is
bad one. for it is contrt citing. He would
willingly enough consent to knock off drink
now, but 1t is too lste the mischief is done tho
liver Is 10 state of cirrhosis, and no medicine
can restore 1t 10 its natural condition.
Is there any remedy for this horrible COM
pialni! Yes. one, teatotalism-sbsolute absti-
nence from alcoholic liquors of all kinds. This
remedy must be applied eiry. If he waits till
ms liver has undergone Serious organic change.
1t Is toe late. N half measures will suffice: he
must give up drink of all kinds. If he does thi
ne viii! recover, but if he goes on in his old plan
an early and painful death is the inevitable con-
enthusiastically Physician.