Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-11-21
HOW LIQUOR DESTROYS.

The Family Physician tells us tina
when alcohol is introduced into the stom
ach in the ordinary way it nearly all pas
ses through the liver. Undiluted spirits
are much more injurious than when mix
ed with water. and produce greater irri
tation. Alcohol consumed as wine OF
beer is far less destructive to the liver
than when taken in the form OF ardent
spirits. A hot climate intensiies 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 well marked
At first the liver gets slightly enlarged.
and the patient suffers from pain in the
right side, indigestion, wind and costive
bowels. He is occasionally feverish, his
skin is hot and dry. and he has a pecul-
lar unhealthy, sallow look, which he
probably fails to notice. but which is suf-
ficiently obvious TO his friends. The ne
cessity for making a change in his hab.
its is forced upon his attention. and for
week or two he is under the doctors ord
ers, and not feeling able to drink any
more, he consents to follow restricted
diet, and to take course Of purgatives.
Soon the most prominent symptoms
are relieved, and he fancies himself well
again and quickly returns to his old hab-
its. Gradually, however, he notices that
he is getting thinner and weaker, and oc-
casionally has 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, then he gradually
becomes aware of it himself He finds
he is not " fit for business" and he is
afraid to see his people. The patient
has occasional fits of diarrhGa, his appe-
tite fails, and the emacia,ion and debil-
ity increase.
He tries all kinds of treatment, but
never sticks to one for long at time.
He consul,s every doctor Of any note in
the city, and derives little if any benefit
from their advice. He would give up
the driuk if he could, bu, he cannot. His
seli-reliance is gone, the alcohol has stol.
en- away his will, and he is utterly inca
pable of giving up the dangerous fsscina.
ton. He will take an oath to-day that
he will never touch another drop of spir-
its, and will probably break it 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 Imprisonment, but he
never feels able to put himself under re-
straint
After time the liver gets smaller, and
this. instead Of being good sign, is
Dad one, for it is contracting. He would
willingly enough consent to knock off
drinking now, but it is too late the mis-
chief is done. the liver is in a state of
cirrhosis, and no medicine can restore it
10 its natural condition. Is there any
remedy for this horrible complaint: Yes,
one: teetotalism, absolute abstinence from
alcoholic liquors of all kinds This rem
edy must be applied early. II he waits
until his liver has undergone a 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 in
evitable consequence.