The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-09-08
Opinions from the Profession.

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state of our bodies in which the func-
tions of it 60 on without our notice
or observation, and in which exist
ence is felt to be pleasure, in which
it is JOY TO see, to hear, to feel, to
touch, and to live. That is health !
Now, let me tell you, that it is state
that cannot be benefited by alcohol
in any degree. Indeed, it is state
which, nine times out of ten, is great
ly injured by alcohol. 1t is state
which often bears alcohol without
any sensible injury: but, | repeat to
you, it is not one which can in any
way be benfitted by alcohol. 1t can
bear it sometimes without obvious
injury, but be benefited by it, never !
And venture to tell you that there
is certain JOY of existence, sense
in which one feels what pleasure it
is to look, for instance, upon green
fields, to hear pleasant sounds, to
touch pleasant hands, to know that
life is a satisfaction, This is state
in which a sort of little discord is
is produced by it. This is state in
which, sooner or later, the music gets
out of tune under its continuous in
huence. AS regards its influence
upon our health, our bodies, our COM
plexions Perfectly good health will
in my opinion always be injured by
even the smallest quantities of alco-
hol imbibed-injured in the sense of
its perfection and loneliness. Per-
feet health is the loveliest thing in
this world. But alcohol will, even
in small doses, SOM take this feeling
away, injure the perfection of lowell
ness of health, mentally, morally,
and physically"
James Startin, Surgeon to St.
Johns Hospital, London, says :-"I
myself never drink spirits under any
consideration neither do l RECON-
mend them to my patients, except
under the most exceptional circum
stances, and have not for three years.
/ could not have believed what a
difference 1t has made to my health
and strength; l think better, l work
better, I am physically stronger, and
my patients, both in private and hos
pital practice, express gratitude TO
me for my recommending absolute
abstinence from alcohol to them"
Science declares now that alcohol
is in no sense of the word q food.
If it contains any nourishing proper
ties (Which remains to be proved) the
resolute seeker after food would be
hopelessly intoxicated over and over
over again before he came in sight of
respectable meal. Alcohol is not
heat giver: on the contrary; it robs
us of our vital heat, and makes it ex-
ceedingly hot for us by heating the
surface of our bodies, during the alb
straction of this very necessary prop
erty of life. Alcohol does not fur.
nish us with supplies adequate to re-
pair the three-fold loss of substance,
heat, and moisture, without which
renewed health cannot be, these
drinks are not necessity of health
full life. Science further deposes
that intoxicating liquors owe at once
their potency and their charms to ar
irritant and narcotic poison, -alco-
hol-that in its effects, vitiates the
blood, inflames the stomach, over.
taxes the heart, destroys the kidneys,
softens the brain, hardens the liver,
and destroys the complexion. 1,
dims the intelligence, it darkens the
judgement, and paralyses the will
1t is indeed mocker. 1t promise:
us strength and mocks us with weak
ness, it promises us endurance and
mocks us with faintness, it promises
us substance and mocks us with shad
! ow, it promises heat and mocks u.
|with cold, it promises US life anc
mocks us with premature death, j
promises us intelligence and wi
and mocks us with confusion, 1t daz
zles us with visions of happiness, anc
plunges us into the depths Of dispai
nay, worse; by the operations of thu
laws of heredity, alcohol transmit