The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-12-19
LIQUOR FOR THE AGED.


Abstract of "a Lecture by j. II. Kellogg,
NJ. d., of the Battle Creek Sanitarlun.
1t is fallacy commonly held that
alcoholic liquors are very excellent for
old people although bad for the young.
The same argument might be used and
often is practically in favor of the to-
baccO habit Nearly every one admits
that tobacco is very bad for boys and
there is hardly tobacco user so de-
PRAYED that he will teach his own boy
to smoke; yet many middle-aged and
Old men think that they need it or at
least that it does them no harm. Now
what change takes place between
youth and old age which makes u thing
which is harmful and poisonous in
youth-for alcohol is O poison-bete-
fetal and strengthening to old age? In
old age there is a natural lessening Of
bodily vigor and lowering Of the vital
powers. A person in the feebleness OF
age has weak heart, weak brain and
weak muscles. Fatty degeneration of
the tissues begins to creep on. BY
means of it the walls Of the blood YES
sells are weakened, and especially there
is fatty deposit in the blood vessels of
the brain which robs them OF elasticity
as we'll as strength. In order to pro
long life an old person must on
the brakes; he must not run fas st
not lift nor allow himself to in
passion. A sudden rush of bloou to
the head from any 'cause-excitemen
passion or stimulation-may haste dis
solution or even prove immediat ely
fatal. A fit of anger has cost many an
old person his life.
The physiological effects Of alcohol in
any form are to quicken the action OF
the heart, flush the face and overcharge
the brain with blood. The danger Of
apopleXy is very great to say nothing of
other serious consequences. Alcoho!
! accelerates the degeneration OF tissue in
| sHient to old age; consequently an old
| person needs specially to abstain from
stimulants; he needs to be more careful
than young person of any thing which
taxes or oyerloads his system. The ad-
vocates of alcohol for old people say
that the bodily machinery is slowed
! down too much and needs quickening.
Nature has purposely put on the brakes
|
pressure upon an old machine. Certain
ly no good engineer would take an en-
CINE which was nearly worn out to run
lightning express train. Nature puts
the brakes on the human machine when
it becomes enfeebled by taking away
some of the natural energy; by making
the muscles SO weak that there shall be
| less temptation to work hard or do any
violent thing which would be likely to
bring on heart failure. Now is it wise
to take off the brakes which nature has
put on? That is exactly what alcoholic
stimulation does. 1t paralyzes the nerve
centers of the brain which control and
regulate the blood vessels and they re-
lax and the heart runs away at too rapid
a rate. 1t is like clock from which
the weight has been taken from the
pendulum; it will soon run down.
1t is further fallacy to suppose that
an old person needs wine or whisky to
keep him warm; for it has just the OPP
posite effect. 1t makes him feel warn.
for the time because it brings the blood
to the surface, but, being at the surface,
it is cooled all the more rapidly. 1t is
just the opposite of natures plan When
a person in q normal condition goes ont
of doors in the cold air. the pores Of the
skin are closed by contraction by which
means the vital heat is conserved within
the body and thus kept from being dis
PEELED. Any nurse or physician knows
that alcohol lowers the temperature of
the body. When policeman finds a
man inSenSible on the street he may
not be able to tell from appearances
whether he is drunk or whether he has
mad a fiji of apopleIy, but physician
determines the matter by testing his
temperature. If it is below the normal
he knows at once that tn man is under
the influence Of liquor. He may have
been drinking and then had apoplexy
Afterwards; but If it is apoplexy, the
test will show decided rise Of temper
ature.
| DIR. Kane and other Arctic explorers
have been unanimous in testifying that
the only safety for travellers in high
| ATTITUDES is to abstain entirely from in
toxicants, and the use of any kind OF
! alcoholic stimulants is absolutely pro-
| hibited by the commanders 1t has
even moderately, will freeze to death
much quicker than those who totally
abstain from it.
In view of all this, it is plain that an
| Old person can not afford to take alcohol
since it will do him harm in every way.
His resistive powers are already low.
and he needs to conserve his forces by
well-regulated, peaceful habits Of life.
| His food and drink should be of the
81 ri Ppi.sst kinds and he should avoid all
manner of excitement and any over
taxing Of mind or body.
| Alcohol has legitimate uses and 10
should be kept strictly within those
lines. 1t is very useful for some me-
chanical purposes and for some of the
arts 1t is good to burn in lamp, and
is excellent as a preventative and de-
urgent. 1t is entirely out of place in
the human stomach and works mischief
to young and old when thus perverted.
Reported by Helen L. Manning.
THE women in Rhineland, Holland.
have signed petition to the burgo-
master, praying that 1.-The police officers
may visit the inns, to prevent our hus-
L. L., nd OF vii 60