Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-09-03
THE USE AND ABUSE OF
ALCOHOL,

ture. 1t can only be produced by |
the change of elements which exist |
in the vegetable kingdom. 1t is not
a part of the human body, either flu
id or solid. Though to a chemist it
has parts in common with some of
the foods used, and aids in the COM
position of the human Organization
such as the starchy foods of different
grades of saccharine compounds, yet
it cannot be digested or asslmilated
like the nutritive elements of food.
1t mingles with food and is taken
into the system, but it loses none of
its properties or its identity.
Food becomes rapidly changed,
and, as it passes on, the different OF
gans gather from it its peculiar nouI-
ishment. until the whole structure is
fed from its life giving source-the
blood.
Where is the alcohol, meanwhile?
1t passes along as an unwelcomed
guest. 1t may be found in the Sc
cretions intact for it loses none of
its being by yielding to any organ or
group of organs. 1t cannot yield nu-
riment, for in its composition there is
no particle of nutriment. If it has
been produced from the choicest ce-
reals, all its nutritive parts have been
destroyed by the process of ferment-
alton. After this, when the nutri-
tive elements have been destroyed
and nature is dead, the alcohol steps
in at the last obsequies, as its spirit.
1t is said that alcohol was discov-
cred by an Arabian chemist about
ten and half centuries ago, while
he was attempting to discover a min
eral solvent, by which the metals
could be transmitted into gold.
Water is necessity to all life; it
is prominent part of every organic
ed being, from the protoplasmic life
through all the gradations of animal
OF vegetable life. Hence constant
supply of this fluid Is necessary to
support the vital functions. Three
fourths of the tissues, muscles,
nerves aye of the brain, are water.
Without mastication and digestion,
absorption and assimilation, nutrition
would certainly be of no avail.
Hence we conclude that the God of
Nature designed water as our daily
drink. While alcohol was locked up
so carefully as to be unknown fol
centuries, water bubbled forth from
innumerablc fountains, ran in crystal
streams and distilled from the pass.
ing clouds, always to bless and cheer
Had it been the intention of the Gre
ator to supply man with alcohol, i
would not have been hidden in secret
places, but would have been as free
as the air-as water.
Science reveals its ravages upol
, the human system by its Initiative &C
ton upon the mucous membrane, ant
the unnatural excitement it produce
, throughout the body. In the stom
aeh we find first, inflammation, the
softening. The liver suffers chang
throughout its entire structure, at
fecting the secretions of bile.
During the action of the stimulan
upon the body, there is a correspond
ing stage of excitement Throughout
:. the whole system, which is followe
f by corresponding condition of dc
q preston. Alcohol has strong affir
: ity for oxygen and rapidly unite
V with it in the lungs, thereby Robin
6 tie blood of this vital element, so es
n sential to life.
O Of the uses of alcohol, it may /
) affirmed that it is necessary to til
# druggist, the chemist, the artist an
n manufacturer. Hitherto no sui
e+opoo hoe ham I;coo,,oroI IN fol
. it's place, and [ am willing to unde
n take to prove that it is useful as
i medicine. There are certain cond
If lions of the system, in disease
:. conyalescence, in which the peculi
10 stimulus of alcohol, is, in some forI
W beneficial, and cannot be effectual
rs met by any other known means.
,e believe lives are saved by its use,
If almost every physician of experien
IS will testify. Hence at certain tim
" it becomes duty to administer
ne Yet alcohol should not be prescrib
he for every disease. 1t is betwe
r. these extremes, which are equal
unsafe, that the physician STAND
He should handle alcohol as he do
calomel, strychnine, opium, arser
nt or other poisons, and when thus us
r,f no harm will come to individual. s
as ciety OF state.
.is Of it's abuse, we have daily ill
Of trations in its use as a beveras
r, Men drink it as they drink wa
10 when there is no demand of the S,
,r tenn which alcohol can supply. I
consumption of this poison is trl
: Ell ormous. 1t is sold in the highw;
:, [ sold at hotels, sold in drug stores
sold wherever wicked men find
81 2 ortunity to peddle it out drank
= tt e home; drank by the high and
49, low, the rich and the poor, drank
- thousands. 1t is retailed under
No guis;e of patent nostrums, fiavo
II WITH spices, buchu, bark etc.
luded persons are giving thousal
of ,LaCtin1ODiafS in DraiSa of ri