Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-23
The Danger OF Steady Drinking.


While every one is willing to admit that the
haoitual drinking of spirituous liquors is detri-
mental to health, few persons can be made to
believe that except In cases of inordinate indul-
gence, ale and beer are Injurious. So general
Is the conviction that these beverages are HARM
less, that 1t Is not infrequently they are drunk
instead OF water as a safeguard to health In
View OF the character of the water furnished to
the inhabitants not only of this city, but to the
jewellers in other CLOSELY populated sections as
Wen, there would seem to be some excuse for
such course OF reasoning. This point is how
ever, open TO discussion, and before jumping to
any conclusion as to the advantages Of malt
liquors versus water 1t will be wise to
Cohsider tne opinions of medical men.
who have abundant opportunity to watch
The effects of each, and are presumably
qualified to judge of their respective
merits. Moreover, the man who drinks beer or
Die as sanitary measure can have no assurance
that Is not made with water originally even
more impure than that he seeks to avoid. and
further def1led BY drugs and herbs which are In
themselves prejudicial to health. OF the iniu-
Ilous effect Of malt liquors numerous English
physicians OF note have recently borne testi-
@ony- In lecture lately delivered BY Mr. VIM
Hargraye he referred to to opinions Of a few of
these professional experts. All of them agree
tnat the London draymen, who have unlim.
ateo privilege OF the brewery cellar, are the
worst patients in the Metropolitan Hospital
Though they are apparently models of health
and strength, vet if one Of them receives a
serious Injury it Is nearly always neces-
sary to amputate I'm order to give him
the reinotest chance of life. Sir Asley Cooper
Ands that even so slight an injury as q
SCRATCH on the hand from splinter Is quite suf-
fcient to frequently cause death TO the habitual
Deer drinker. DR. Gordon says that the moment
Deer drinkers are attacked with acute diseases
xhey are not able to bear depletion and die DIR.
GdWards thinks their diseases are always OF q
dangerous character: that in cases of accident
they can never undergo even the most triflinr
operation with the security of the temperate.
Other medical men Of no less note are of the
opinion that malt liquors render the blood shy
Ahd unnt Tor circulation-hence proceed OBJ
Etructions and lnfiammatiOns Of the lungs-and
That there are few great beer drinkers who ara
not phthisical, brought on by the glutinous and
40dtgestloie nature OF the ale and porter
These liquors infiame the blood and tear TO
pieces the tender vessels OF the lungs. The ex-
oerience OF these gentlemen teaches them that
pot alone are the brain and lungs affected
ycy even the moderate use Of beer but the
stomach 10 also made to pay It's share of the
penalty. The nerves Of the stomach are Injured.
causing dyspepsia, etc. and its mucous linIn0
becomes inffamed and covered with ulcerons
patches. In conclusion, they think that regu-
ar moderate drinking ID more Injurious than
periodical drunkenness, with intervals Of absti-
f1ence 1t Is. then, the daily tippng In which
NauECi uco Lie STOMACH Is SUD-
Iected to frequent stimulation and depression.
and the system has no time to overcome the
INJURY TO the poison which accumulates from
aat .o day, never ceasing In its work OF destruc-
zion. The conclusion reached by recently pre.
sented report of the committee Of the Haryeian
Society IN England relating to the mortality
due to alcohol may be of interest in this connec-
ZION. as there Is no reason to believe that the
death-rate from such causes in England and
America differs very widely. The report saws |:
There Is, upon the whole reason to think
that in the metropolis the mortality among any
considerable group Of Incorporate persons viii
differ from that generally prevailing among
adults in the following important particulars
namely: A folrfOld increase In the deaths from
diseases of the liver and chyiepoetic viscera, a
twoluld Increase In the deaths from disease OF
The kidneys, a decrease of half as much again i'm
those from heart disease, a marked increase
IN those from pneumonia and pleurisy, q consid-
eFablc increase and an earlier occurrence of those
from diseases Of the central nervous system, q
marked decrease In those from bronchitis
asthma, emphysem and congestion Of the lungs
sdecrease nearly as great as In those from
phthisis. and later occurrence or at least ter
minafion, OF the disease, . very large decrease
IN those from old age. with an increase In those
referred TO atrophy, debility, ETC., and the adj
dirton OF considerable group referred in gen.
eral terms to alcoholism or chronic Alcoholism.
or resulting from Academia"