The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-12-15
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.

system.
Alcohol being the extract of animal
cula, the product of the decomposition
of grape juice, corn, malt, apples, or
other starchy substances, is therefore
the enemy of life-the very ashes of
death
Scientists agree in placing alcohol
among the most irritant, virulent and
deadly poisons to animal life. A small
quantity taken pure will paralyze the
nerve centers, and, like an electric
shock, kill instantly.
The ordinary effect of alcohol is to
irritate and parch the mucous MEM
branes of the intestines and paralyze
the nerves. When taken into the sys-
tenn, either in the form of whisky,
brandy, beer, cordials, or light wines,
ETC., its poisonous effects, while so ex-
hilarating as to be very fascinating,
are SO deleterious to all the nerve it's
sues and fibers of the body that gen.
eral arrangement of all the vital or
gans inevitably follows
The effect of alcohol contained in
these beverages finds its way to the
lungs and arteries which are connected
with the heart, and they become more
or less congested and paralyzed by the
poison, and incapable of rightly per-
forming their ordinary functions; and
this burning or corroding effect com
mences with the smallest quantity of
alcohol taken in the system. There
fore there is no such thing as ''modera-
ton" in the use of alcoholic beverages;
the poison in them is always active in
its deadly mission, and goes on all
through the body; but the result on the
heart and brain is especially noticeable,
as these organs are very sensitive, and
are so retarded in their operations that
disease and death would rapidly ensue
were there not in nature generous
amount of active recuperation strug-
Cling to counterfeit and eliminate the
poison.
Alcohol, being a foreign, poisonous
element, even when greatly diluted, as
in beer, which contains from five to
eight per cent, of it, does not assimi-
late like food, but taxes nature with ex-
tra.exertiOn to eNpel the intruder, which
is partly elected through the lungs or
breath, but mostly through the pores
of the skin aud through the kidneys,
which become more or less infamed,
and therefore INSTRUCTED by conges-
ton; but enough of the poison will
finger in the system to aggravate any
disease to which the drinker is liable,
and hasten a fatal termination.
This specific action of alcohol, while
producing a general disturbance of and
injury to all the vital organs, is
especially detrimental to the brain,
which is composed of numerous minute
cells, of gray, fatty substance, with
large proportion of water. Alcohol
has strong affinity for water; and
when taken in the stomach, being very
volatile, portion of ii goes immediate
ly toward the brain, and disturbs the
finely arranged nervefbers and blood
vessels so as to impair their ability to
nourish this fatty substance. In this
way it renders the brain incapable of
continuous logical thought or action,
and the man is said to be more or less
drunk" which is another way of say
ing that the mans brain is paralyzed,
or parched with inflammation and con-
gestion.
This effect can be tested by putting
drop of alcohol on the tongue; the
smarting, singing sensation proves
that it is parched by the alcohors
eagerness to absorb or get at the water
in the tongue; and this irritating effect
is the same on all the organs of the
body. besides producing a craving
thirst
A continuous use OF alcoholic bever.
ages produces results that are IRENE
diable. After numerous attacks on the
brain and other sensitive organs, a
chronic change takes place in the vic
tim of alcohol, which manifests itself
in all the mans actions and character.
He generally becomes morose and stu
pid, with a tendency to paroxvsms of
violence, and sometimes idiotic hilarity.
His will power is sluggish or nearly
gone, and he is left to be controlled al
most entirely by his animal passions,
which are closely allied to criminal in
sanity Besides, an ever increasing
longing is engendered for more of the
fiery liquid to CRAFTY the cravings of
an Unsuitable appetite; and other svmp-
degeneration, bloated body, slug
gish action of the liver and kidneys,
accompanied by red, or infiamed skin,
and sometimes by offensive eruptions
which can be plainly traced to alco-
holic poisoning.
Many of these indications and symp-
toms of poisoned, diseased body
would horrify drinkers were they sufi-
GENTLY aroused, or were they anxious
or willing to believe the facts as they
develop themselves in their experience,
or could they realize that they transmit
10 their posterity hereditary faint
that is too horrible to contemplate. But
the truth comes to their impaired
brains through so many insidious prob
lens of prejudice, habit and appetite,
and they are so euticed by the pleasur-
able, exciting sensations, that they find
difficulty in tracing the poisonous eff
fects directly to the amount of alcohol
they consume. and so are constantly
cheating and flattering themselves into
a conviction that they can use these
poisonous beverages with impunity.
Hence the poor victims of alcoholic pois-
oning, prompted by an imperious thirst,