The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-05
What Is drunkenness ?

Editor Morning News: Many who
drink will deny with a kind of just indig-
nation that they are given to drunkenness.
They will acknowledge that they take from
eight to ten drinks a day, but are always
sober. A man whose system is ever under
the Influence Of liquor, who does not feel
comfortable unless he feels the effect of
alcohol, may be nationally called q drunk
ARD. he does not drink for the pleasure
! OF the thing, but from necessity. Take a
SICK man who takes medicine, who. In fact
carries 1t about with him, takes ii not as a
pleasure, but to relieve pain, to hold in check
some growing disease. So with a man, who,
like the Presbyterian minister who was
rather fond OF his whisky, was asked to
preach sermon on temperance, regretted
that some in his congregation were taking a
little too much, 30 he was told, aud said he
was not for total abstinence, but temperance
In all things. Said he, ~ do not object to
| drinking in moderation. A little before
breakfast and little after breakfast, a
little before dinner and little after dinner,
a little before supper and little
after supper, and q little before going
to bed, is what I would call modera-
ton; but this pouring it down every hour
OF the day, think little too much.n This
| congregation did not want any more ten
perance sermons from him.
Some men can drink until their systems
| are saturated with alcohol, and never show
any sign by staggering; yet. the effects are
seen 10 the eye and other outward symp-
toms. With some men the alcohol plays
upon the brain with more effect, while with
others, upon the muscular system, Timber
ing the muscles and producing reeling and
staggering. With some it acts upon the
stomach and produces vomiting; that is,
after certain quantity has been taken into
the system. Night drinking is the
most dangerous TO the nervous sys-
ten, and produces more disease
and wear both upon body and
mind than day drinking. The heart during
the day In its normal action is from 20 to 80
beats to the minute; at night it should have
rest and drop to about Ga beats. But when
the night drinker keeps his heart up to its
DAY action or moro from the stimulants
poured down he is but wearing himself out
very fast II he but knew it. Add day and
night drinking and then look out Ia few
years for badly diseased man, especially
II be be of sanguiue temperament.
Many man is seen at his work when he
Is really sick; he is seen on the street. Yet
because be Is at work it Is not in his favor.
Just SO with the man who feels he must
have drink at certain times; he feels I'M
comfortable, nervous, restless, irritable,
cannot concentrate his thoughts until he
has certain quantity of alcohol in
him. He is sick-alcoholio sick. That
man is diseased man, no matter
how straight he may walk or clearly talk:
his system Is diseased. and the more he
drinks the more intense the desire grows.
his system Is alcoholized; an abnormal
condition is produced and the man is a
dipsomaniac; drink he must have to feel
relief. Whenever a man cannot resist a
desire to drink, yet knowing that he is doing
harm to himself, he has lost his will power;
thn 1sra - i
action, and his only hope is In being re-
strained by some supreme will outside Of
his own. 1t is very hard work for the grace
OF God TO cure a sick stomach or mind out
Of the line of grace.
Alcohol plays directly upon the brain and
in three minutes after being drunk, while a
drink of glass Of milk will take between
two and three hours to reach the brain in
the way Of blood, for the milk is digested,
while the alcohol is not. As alcohol makes
neither blood, bone, tissue or flesh IL is a
poison, and its work on the nervous system is
great, rapid. dangerous, and certain. With
young men the work is far more rapid than
with man past IS years. The young mans
system is far more susceptible to the infiu-
enoe than middle-aged man. But the poi
son does its work on both young and old,
The effects of differentkliquors are manifest.
Brandy affects the heart, whisky the lungs
and liver, rum more for the lungs and gin
for the kidneys
Some who have given study to the effects
OF different kinds Of liquor say: As to the
effects on the cerebellum, when a man takes
too much wine or beer he falls on his side.
Whisky, and especially Irish whisky, he
falls on his face; cider, he falls on his back.
Brandy first makes him fall on his knees
and then he turns on his back Rum, he
falls all In heap, and gin makes him draw
his knees up toward his chin.
Wine makes one feel like an aristocrat:
brandy, like gentleman and very polite:
rum. like New England yankee, very in
quisitive; gin gives a reserved feeling, while
whisky produces sociability and general
kind OF leveling democracy.
The danger OF the habit of drink is ik
grows so gradually, so subtle in its work.
so inviting in its feeling, and SO demanding
III its thirst; for drink produces thirst. for
alcohol has a great affinity for the water in
the system, and takes 1t up rapidly, SO that
one really does not know why he drinks so
much, and the more he drinks the greater
the thirst, and eventually drunkenness as
we see it in the regular drinker Instead of
pouring down more liquor to quench the
thirst produced, one should drink plenty
OF water to put the system back into its
normal condition.
When liquor plays upon tie brain and
makes one feel good, cheerful and brighter
is Is certain sign that the nervous system
Is being touched, that the brain is the seat
affected, and that the will power is being
weakened. IL is the red flag that rational
caution waves TO the young r.an, saving:
Beware-take care how you play with your
orain-danger, great danger ahead.
R. ID. o.