Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-28

directly used its production may be
made simultaneous with the production
of the agent desired. In the manu-
facture of ether and chloroform, the
apparatus for alcohol may be made
part of the devices from which the
ultimate agents, ether and chloroform,
result. Fermentation and distlllation
may be conducted at one end and the
an@sthetics received at the other. 1t
is true that in q chemical labratOry
alcohol is a convenient agent in
thousand ways. But, if it was Danish
ed utterly, what would result? There
are other methods of fabricatlng the
useful products named and many 9TH
ers, without the use of alcohol but
the processes would be rather NEON
venient and more costly. The Danish
ment of alcohol would not deprive us
OF single one of the indispensable
agents which modern civilization de-
mands and neither would chemical
science be retarded by its loss.
1t must be remembered that mod
ern science has given us glycerine,
naphtha, bisulphlde of carbon, pryo-
lioneous products, carbolic acid and q
hundred other agents which are capa-
bic of taking the place of alcohol in
very large number of appliances and
processes. The naturalist is no long
err dependent upon alcohol for the
preservation of his wonderful speci-
mems, and the artisan no longer needs
alcohol to obtain convenient heat for
his tools or to facilitate his labor
cheaper and equally as good substi-
tutes have been provided. Petrole-
um in its refined state has taken the
place Of mixtures Of alcohol and tur-
pentine for obtaining artificial illu-
mination; and alcohol for purposes
of securing light and heat can never
again be needed. 1t is only quar-
ter of century since two millions
gallons of alcohol was consumed
yearly for illuminating purposes.
The perfumer employs alcohol in
many of his products; but the ques-
ton arises, Have we need Of the
perfumer?" The man who fabricates
one smell to cover up another may be
a very useful artisan, but certainly he
is in no sense indispensable. Aside
from his cologne" and odorous ex-
tracts, the perfumer can dispense
with alcohol, and, if its Punishment
should occur, our good ladies would
not even know of the event from
meeting with any unsupplied wants
at the perfumers.
AS regards the medicinal value of any
of the spirituous liquors which are
known in commerce, very much may
be said. If all the brandies, WHISTLES
wines and malt liquors which how
exist, were suddenly destroyed, anC
there could be no further production
no class but dipsOmaniacs would sui
fer any pain or distress for singl,
hour. Ii these beverages are some
times useful as difusable stimulants
they are oftener bar to recuperation
no matter what may be the ailment
In all cases of disease where an al
coholic stimulant seems to be indIcat
ed, science presents other stinulants
non-al coholic, which may serve equal
| ly as useful purpose. The alcohc
question as related to medicine ma
be summed up in a few words. L
some cases of extreme exhaustion O
debility, it may be regarded as a con
venient agent, if carefully employed
but in no instance of disease Of an
form is it medicine which might nc
be dispensed with and other agent
substituted.
This view of the chemical and the
: raputical needs and uses of alcoho
as related to the human family,
not presented from the standpoint {
the temperance orator, but from thu
of the scientific Investigator. L hay
often for many years, taken car
full survey of the whole field, an
, therefore speak with premeditatic
and knowledge. To present the sui
iect properly, so that all aspects
the question might be fully brougl
5 under discussion, would require mo-
5 space than is at present at comman'
J The present movement OF Senate
Blair of New Hampshire in Congre
to secure the enactment Of laws Wink
will prohibit the manufacture and in
portation of alcoholic beverages Is
t movement of the highest consequent
/ to the welfare of our country.
e may seem to many chlmerc
I scheme, unworthy of serious consl
: Grafton; but the evils OF the free u
t Of alcohol as beverage are enc
B, nous, so overwhelming, so fatal
the nations prosperity and safet
e that the matter ought no longer to
,, disregarded.-Jas. Il. Nichols, u. !