Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-02-18
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
FRIDAY EVEN'G, FEB. Is, 1881
Effects of Alcohol on the Liver.

Effects of Alcohol 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.
Undiluted spirits are much more in
furious than when mixed with water,
and produce greater irritation. Al
cohol consumed as wine or beer, is
far less destructive to the liver than
when taken in the form OF ardent
spirits. A hot climate intensifes all
the vicious effects of alcohol. The
symptoms OF cirrhosis of the liver
are in the early stages often obscure,
but later they are sufficiently we'll
marked. At first the liver gets
slightly enlarged, and the patient
suffers from pain in the right side,
indisposition. wind, and costive bow
els. He is occasionally feverish, 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 max
ing q change in his habits is forced
1pon his attention, and for q week
or two ne is under the doctors Or
ders, 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 symp-
toms are relieved, he fancies himself
we'll again, and quickly returns to
his old habits. Gradually, however,
he notices that he is getting thinner
aud weaker, and occasionally he has
. good deal of pain in the side. He
is nervous and out of sorts. He
has no longer the pluck he used to
have, first his friends notice it, and
then he gradually becomes aware of
It himself. He finds that he is not
/" fit for business" and he is afraid
to see people. The patient has oc-
casional attacks of diarrhea, his ap-
petite fails, and the emaciation and
debility increase. He tries all kinds
of treatment, but never. sticks to one
for long at time. He would give
MP 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 incapable of giving
mp the dangerous fascination. He
will take On oath to-day that he will
never touch another drop of spirit,
and will probably break 1t to-mor-
row. 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. At
ter q 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 mischief is done, the liver
is in a state of cirrhosis, and no
medicine can restore it to it natural
condition. Is there any remedy
for this horrible complaint? Yes,
one, teetotaiism-absolute absti-
nence from alcoholic liquor 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. If
he does this he will recover: but if
he goes on in his old plan an early
and painful death is the inevitable
consequence.
The journal we quote, is endorsed
in this statement by the Scientific
american, whose opinions are based
upon unusual facilities for thor
ough understanding of the subject.
Mn. Swan, our autocratic Commits