Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-05-30
WHY NOT DRINK MODERATELY
PROF. 5. E. FOSTER, NJ.


You are quite willing to admit tina
intemperance is great evil, tina
drunkenness is great disgrace ant
that multiplied and intolerable bur
dens are put upon society through the
medium of the liquor traffic, but yot
say, "All this comes from excess; j
people would only restrain themselves
there would be no great harm done
Why may 1 not drink moderately ?"
l. Because moderate drinking i.
prejudicial to health.
The old time idea was that alcoholic
liquors were necessary as well to pre-
vent disease as to cure it. But thai
WAS before the period of investigation
Now better opinions prevail. There
Is no appreciable food value in drink
1t docs not increase, but rather dimin-
ishes the natural temperature Of the
body. IL hinders rather than helps
digestion. 1t is the fruitful parent OF
very many OF the diseases which afHict
humanity, and has the effect of predis-
posing toward them.
The following are sample testimo-
MES of some of the most celebrated
medical men of Great Britain.
ut is perfectly certain that there are
multitudes at this moment who are
injuring their constitutions and short
ening their lives by taking alcohol
daily in an amount which they con.
slider strictly moderate" DIR Ridge,
r. s., B. A. b. Sc, London.
Il should like to say that very large
number OF people in society are dying,
day by day, poisoned by alcohol, but
not supposed to be poisoned by it. Ii
is one of the cOmmonest things in En-
glish society that people are injured
by drink, without being drunkards
There is great deal of injury done to
health by the habitual use of wines,
and alcohol in various shapes, even in
so-called moderate quantities" Sir
VIM. Gull, NJ. d., +. K. 5.
AIN the average man the habitual
use OF alcoholic liquors in moderate or
even small quantities, is not merely
unnecessary TOR the maintenance of
bodily and mental vigor, but it is un-
favorable to the permanent enjoyment
of health.-Dr. w. b. Carpenter, F. Il.
s, f. 5. 5.
As far as my experience goes alcO-
hol is in no sense necessary TO health.
l will say more. Alcohol is in no
sense necessary to work. Not only is
alcohol not necessary to health but no
man or woman can ever realize that
full sense of the joy of health until
they live without alcohol.-Sir Andrew
Clarke.
,. Because there is danger that you
will soon drink immoderately.
There never was drunkard in the
world but began as you say in modera-
ton. Each one repeated over and
over the very words which you have
uttered, "Why may not drink mod
erdtely ," and yet each one found him
self at last bound as slave and driven
to utter destruction. Are you strong
er-than all these
Alcohol tends toward producing a
physical craving IN the body Tor itself
In this it is different from all foods
The effect produced by a certain guam
tity to-day can only be produced by
greater quantity tomorrow. The dose
must be enlarged and so on and on
until the awful craving maddens and
brutalizes. Is it we'll for you to tam
per with so strange and fatal poison
Is it not thc~Tiser course to give it
wide berth Drink weakens the will
power, tends to destroy self respect,
weaves . strong subtle chain of appe-
tite about you, and brings with it
thousand associations which tend nei-
Their to purify nor strengthen. 1t is
far Drawer as we'll rs sAfer to make no
alliance with the deceitful thing.
g. Because your example is bad.
It is quite possible that you may be
able 10 take just your few glasses per
day aad never exceed that measure
But where are you leading those who
look up TO you and follow your exam
nle and alas follow it in everything
hut its moderation It IS untrue for
vou 20 say that YOU have no influence,
You have, you cannot help having an
;nauence. Each day some one is learn
ing : lesson from you. taking step
sos,ard in the path you are treading.
VIII they stop where yon ssops
4 fasher and his little son we're