The Brookhaven leader., 1886-01-28

says: Having thus determined, experiment
ally, that alcohol 10 neither foo4 nor a gsner-
ator OF force In the living body, the question
recurs: What are its positive sneots when
taken I'm the ordinary manRsr1 / answer,
simply those of an anesthetic and organic
sedstive. Like ether and obloroform, its
presence diminishes the sensibility of tbs
nervous system and brain, thereby rendering
the individual less conscious of all outward
and exterior Impressions This diminuton of
sensibiity, or an9sthesa is developed In
direct ratio to the quantity OF alcohol taken,
and may be seen in all stages, from simple
exemption from all feeling Of fatigue; pain
ancy, hilarity, etc, to that of complete un-
consciousness and loss of muscular power.
II is this anesthetic effect OF alcohol that has
led to all the popular errors and contra
dictory uses which have proved so destruct-
i've to human health and happiness. II has
hong Of the noted Of hS
resort to the same alcoholic drink to WARM
him in winter, protect him from
1he wSon hsa %aa in a to .saass
and cheer when afflicted in body or
mind. With the facts now before us, the ex-
panation Of all this is apparent The alcohol
increasing his temperature, nor from heat by
cooling him, nor from weakness and exhaust
ion by nourishing his tissues, nor yet from
affiictiOn by increasing nerve power, but sim
ply by diminishing the sensibility OF his nerve
structures, and thereby lessening his con.
seriousness of Impressions, whether from cold
words the presence of the alcohol has not IN
any degree lessened the effects of the evils to
VIII oh he is exposed, but has diminished his
consciousness of their eX stence. and thereby
impaired his judgment concerning the de-
gree of their action upon him. II Is this prop
erty of alcohol to produce that sense of ease,
buoyancy and exhilaration arising from d.
minutOn of nerve sensiblity, that gives 1t the
fascinating and delusve power over the hui
man race which II has welded SO ruinously
for centuries gone by. But while the presence
OF alcohol dilninisheS the sensibility or the
nervous structure it also regards all the mole
cular changes thereby diminishing the actlvi-
ty of nutrition, secretion elimination and the
evolution of heat, constituting true organic
sedative."
Let me give, in conclusion, the authoritative
language of this Nestor among physicians. for
1t is a harbinger of the new departure in
medicine for which al; temperance women
toll and pray. He says:
II sneak the more positively on this su bject
because for more than thirty years past have
faithfully tested the correctness OF the sent-
ments have given you IN relatl9h r,t6s 10 t5e
in an ample clinical experience both IN nos
pital and private practice and during that
time have found no case of disease and no
emergency arising from accident that could
not treat more successfully without any form
of fermented and distilled liquors than with"
have gathered these significant facts for
your consideration by request of thoughtful
and scholarly women of your own profession,
who are my honored coadjutors in the Won.
ans Christian Temperance Union. You will
soon be out among the homes and at the bed
sides of the people. Your advice, implicitly
believed in and obeyed will shape many q
destiny for this world and the next There
are beloved sons and daughters of gentle
mother hearts who will have clear or clouded
brains because of temperance habits con-
frmed or incorporate habits begun under
your auspices. And so, while | pray God's 9
blessing upon your own hearts and lives l
earnestly invoke His spirit as your guide,
that, reVerently studiOus of his laws written
in our members, and Obedent to His decaloguo
OF natural law, your work and influence may
nightly re-enfOrce the army of Temperance
men and women who fight for God and home
and native land.