The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-22

The hush Of health upon the face Q
the individual who indulges in the US
spirituous liquors is due to the paraly1
| ing effects of the alcohol on the nerve
that regulate the contraction of the al
teries, for these contract and dilate q
the hear does, and this compression
and expansion depends on the nerve
that accompany the arteries in all q
the offices they have to perform. WheI
thus unnaturally and unhealthily dilat
ed the capillaries become snrchargeC
with blood, and the heart pulsates mort
rapidly because of the decrease and re
sistance of the arteries.
In the habitual drinker We find alarm
ing congestion of every vital organ, and
the smallest malady superadded may
result fatally. Congestion of the ''stom
ach is the origin of the worst form OF
indigestion, congestion of the liver,
which sooner or later results in dropsy,
and congestion of the lungs and kidneys
are the dire diseases that fall to the lot
of the immodcrate drinker, whether he
be confirmed sot or otherwise, and he
is throughout a mass of disease, how
ever rosy may be the glow of health
| upon his cheek.
Alcohol is powerful agent in lower
ing the natural temperature Of the body
to fatal point, and colds are more fire.
quently contracted by drunkards than
any other class of men by reason of the
depression of temperature and the expo
sure to which they may be subjectedfin
divers wavs.
Alcohol poisons the blood, which is
the life of man. and is the mighty agent
that supplies all the tissues, conveys the
oxygen (without which all animal life
would be soon extinct,) from the lungs
to every portion of the body; receives
the perishing matter that is constantly
being cast off from the numberless life
furnishing cells, and bears it to the
proper organs for permanent election;
it is the source of all light and warmth
through the chemical changes that are
ever taking place within its range.
So important is this fluid to life, that
should it fail for an instant to reach the
brain, all consciousness would cease,
and life in a few seconds come to an
end.
The most important portion of the
blood is the red globules, and by the use
of the microscope the injurious effects
of the deadly foe are plainly visible in
imparing their power to absorb gases
and destroying their ability to pass
through the minute articles and thereby
clogging them.
1t so accelerates the action of the heart
as to force it to perform daily one-fifth
more its allotted work and lift each day
to the height of foot twenty-four tons
of extra blood. Under such excitement
and extra pressure it soon becomes |
weakened and unfit for the performance
of its healthy functions, and the end of |
the unhappy victims life is fastened |
by other structural arrangement due to
the use of this deadliest of all foes to hu-
man ife-alcoholl
Never mistake the flush upon the face
of drnnkard for the rose of health; il
is as sure an unerring sign of disease as
the hetic glow upon the cheek of the |
doomed victim of consumption, and it
is as deceptive in promise as the beauti-
full apples that grow on the shores of the
dead sea--tempting to the eye, but
within full of dust and dashes-Baltimo- |
rean.