The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-12-09
ALCOHOL ARRAlGNED.
Facts Which Should BE Weighed by
Drinking Men.

ALCOHOL ARRAlGNED.
Facts Which Should BE Weighed by
Drinking Men.
During tine year 1890, the people Of
the United States consumed $4,000, 900
gallons of distilled spirits, 10000, OO(
gallons of wines and 800. 900, 900 gallons
OF malt liquors, making total of 400,
600, 900 of alcoholic beverages. This
cost the consumers, at the very lowest
estimate, $500 900, 000 or about S13 per
capita for the total population of the
country, men, women and children. In
estimating the nations drink bill,
however, we must add to this enor.
mous total the time lost from work. and
that lost because of sickness and crimes
due to drinking
1t is estimated by DR.. N. s. Davis. OF
Chicago, that this cost at least as much
more, hence the total drink bill of the
nation for the year 1890, ran up to the
enormous total of $l,60O,OO
1t must be remembered, too, that the
consumers Of liquor got absolutely
nothing of value to themselves for this
enormous expenditure of money. Rum
docs not Id to a mans health, nor to
Ibis strength. It answers no purpose
.of clothing, nor of food. In negative
'results, look at the wasted fortunes,
ruined lives and homes. Men who do
not indulge in drink can do better
work, and can work more steadily, than
those who indulge. Why then does
anyone drink?
A large number Of people begin
drinking, at least, because of erroneous
ideas as to the nature of alcoholic bev.
verages and their effects upon the
human body. Before chemistry an
salyxed rum, it was supposed to be
stimulating, warming, soothing and
restorative. All these, in the clea,
light of science, are now seen to be fall
lacies. Yet the belief is strongly
rooted in the minds of thousands tina
indulge in liquors for this purpose; es
pecially fallacious is the idea that any
1lcoholc beverage contains nutrimen
), any marked degree. A five-pound
ispaf of bread contains as much actua
food as man would obtain in yea
if he drank from eight to ten quarts o
beer daily. At that rate of drinking
by the end OF the year a man wonlc
have swallowed barrel of alcohol
Beer contains about four per cent. o
alcohol, wines about fifteen per cent.
and distilled liquars from fifty to sixt,
per cent The question then present
itself What is the effect of this al
cohol upon the physical systcin?'
The answer of science is that alcoho
is q poison, pure and simple. A SLOW
poison, if you will, but one whose eff
fects are directly proportional to tn,
amount taken, and to the rapidity wit
which it is ;mbibed. Because it; doe
< not kill instantly, men think that Their
IS no foundation for it's. classified
ton as poison. It's effects
when steadily taken, are detrimental
to ali the great bodily ',orgaus, 1
causes permanent structural change
in the liver, the kidneys, the stomach
the blood-vessels and in tho nervou
tissue. In the liver and kidneys it pre-
duces two incurable diseases-cirrhosi
and Bright's disease. 1t Injuries tn
brain by hardening it, and consequent
ly Injuries the mental powers Of thos
who imbibe it, and it is the testimon
of the highest medical authorities ths
the babltual use of alcoholic drink
lessons the natural duration of lii
from ten to fifteen years That is I
say, man who would, did he renal
temperate, live to be seventy years oil
will. as moderate drinker die som,
where between fifty-five and sixt
years old
Besides it's effect upon the brain, a
cohol has very deleterious powt
over the minds and morals of the wi
Tins. Prof Axel Gustafson declare
that alcohol holds preeminent plat
as blood poison, and that suicide, il
sanity, idiocy and various kinds I
moral mania are directly traceabie
its influence on the brain. More tina
this, the habit of moderate drinkin
greatly increases the danger to any p'
tient who may be attacked by diseas
This is because alcohol reduces the v
tality of the system and its power I
resistance.
These are facts which should |
brought home to every man, an
especially to every young man, in Il
United States. Every mother shoul
know them, and teach them to h,
children. Every father should n,
only lie able to warn his sons of the:
evils, but should set them a person,
example of abstinence. The cryir
need of the times is for the dissemin
ton of Just such scientific knowledl
among the masses of the peopl
There is no politics in it. II is sihp
ma kirg known the facts which scien,