The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-04-22
LECTURE
ON THE THE CEREBRAL AND MEN
tai EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLIC sTIM-
ULANTS.


Church Sunday Evening. April 10th, by
the Rev. A. ID. Hsaxt.
Published By request
Temperance is a theme upon which
much has been written and spoken. To
throw additional light upon this subject,
or to advance new thoughts upon a
theme so frequently, and ably discussed,
is more than we hope TO accomplish. But
the proneness of man to forget that
which involves his highest interests,
renders it necessary that we should,
occasionally, have our "minds stirred up
by way of remembrance" In the work
of persuading men to forsake the wrong,
and to persue the right, two things are
important. They must be made to see
the benefit of the right, and the fatal re-
suit of the wrong. To fully impress the
mind with the consequences of wrong
doing, is often difficult task But it is
very important. Without this there is
but little hope of permanent reformation.
Men will not, usually, cease SHINING
until they feel that sin will bring down
upon them the curse of God.
The same is true in regard to the use
of alcoholic stimulants. In order to in
duce men to refrain from the use of
them as beverage, and to favor the
prohibition of the traffic in them for that
pu. pose, they must be shown the terri
BILE consequences of such use and sale.
Many who drink and sell are, in great
degree, ignorant of what they are
doing.
propose to direct your attention to
some important facts connected with
this great subject. We hear it frequently
said that men ought to abstain from the
use of Intoxicating liquors. Also that
their sale, as beverage, ought to be pro-
hibited. Now it is proper to ask, why?
And to this question many answers
might be given. / shall ask your atten-
ton to one of these answers. The facts
which shall present furnish sufficient
and satisfactory reason forpersonal total
abstinence from all Intoxicating bever-
ages; and at the same time will show
the Importance of the legal prohibition
of the traffic in them.
1t is a well established fact that GER
tain substances introduced into the
system, have a peculiar affinity for par
ticular organs, or parts of the body.
-'"inian administers rene
dav for a definite ailment-say diseas-
ed condition of the liver-the article
taken is first introduced into the stom-
ach-the receptacle of food and drink.
That being the case, how does it act di
rectly upon the diseased organ? The
active medicinal principle of the article
taken is absorbed and passes into the
circulation. 1t is then carried with the
blood to the diseased part, and having a
greater chemical affinity for this particu-
lar organ than any other, is here princi-
pally deposited; and thus acts directly
upon the part aft cted. If this were not
a well ascertained fact,a physician would
have but little hope of etfecting cure in
any case. Indeed the whole science of
medicine would be merely an uncertain,
unreliable experiment. Success would
depend upon the chance selection of the
proper remedy. And in most cases,
before this could be done, the disease
would have finished its work.
Three things are necessary to consti-
tute person skilful, and successful
physician.
First, he must be able to locate the
disease. He must know by the symp-
toms what part of the system is affected.
Second, he must be able to determine
the nature of the disease.
Third, he must prescribe the proper
remedy. But the most accurate knowl-
edge of the disease would be of little i'm
portance unless the physician knew what
remedy to administer. The only hope
of the patient lies here.
But it is well known that certain sub
stances select particular parts, and act
primarily, and principally upon them.
And so doing they obey law of chemi-
cal neutrality-suspicious., inexplicable it
may be, but nevertheless, so certain and
infallable in its action that the physi-
clan can positively assert, this article
acts upon the liver; this upon the KID
neys; this upon the nervous system; this
upon the muscular system; this upon
the blood; this will thin the blood this
will thicken it. And indeed the highest
medical authorities declare, that some
remedies not only manifest this wonder
full selective tendency to certain organs,
but that they are limited in their action
to particular parts or spots upon the
organ.
What has been said concerning GER
tain medicinal substances is equally
true of poison. These deadly agents do
not all act upon the same parts of the
system. Opium acts upon the nervous
system. Its effect is not to stimulate
but to soothe. 1t produces dull,
dreamy condition, which, if the quantity
Will Gnu uCdIus
Arsenic attacks the mucous membrane
of the alimentary passages. Some poi.
sons fasten upon the spinal cord; and,
what is very remarkable indeed,
lead attacks first the muscles of the
wrist. These substances may not act
exclusively upon the parts named, be-
cause if a particular organ is affected
the intimate relationship existing be-
tween the various parts of the physical
organism, occasions serious disturbance
throughout the entire system.
We now direct attention more particu-
larly to the subject of Intoxicating liq-
uOrs. And by whatever process the
liquor is prepared, the Intoxicating prin-
ciple is alcohol. A beverage that does
not contain alcohol, will not intoxicate.
And all authorities unite in declaring,
that this Intoxicating agent is poison.
The Latin ord-TOricunl-from which
the English verb to intoXicate is derived.
signifies poison. And if | was going to
define the verb intoxicate, correctly, in
stead of using the synonymous verbs, to
make drunk, to inebriate, would say to
poison with alcohol And this defiini-
ton is not only the true chronological
rendering of the word, but also an ex-
act description of the act or state to
which the word is applied. An intoxi-
Gated person is simply poisoned with
alcohol Or, as an eminent authority,
DIR. Carpenter of London, has expressed
it, 1.-THE condition of drunkenness, in
all its STAGES is one of noisOIiinO -