The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-04-20

CONDUCTED by MRS. NJ. l.. HOBBS.
DRUNKARDS AGE PREMATURELY.
Alcohol Enieebles the Functions and Di.
minishes Muscular Force.


the human system is subject
which has excited considerable in
terest of late among physicians and
has attracted some attention from
mankind at large. The average
man is probably aware at some pc
riod Of his life, Of certain effects
of pleasant forms Of alcohol upon
the system and may contend with
himself that alcohol in moderate
quantities is not only good for his
health, but necessary for it.
Whether this be true or not, he
may learn by reading the opinion
of scientists appended herewith.
Alcohol as a medicine is a mild
anasthetic. 1t should only be used
for acute sickness, but never for
chronic troubles, for the same rca-
son that morphine and chloral hy-
drate should not be employed.
Many drink because of the good
taste Of the liquor and not for its
effects. But taste is made perverse
in this way, the appetite tending
almost wholly toward meat. Sugar,
ripe fruits and sweet food in general
are dstastcful to the drinker, Ply
siology has established that sugar
is the source Of muscular force
When the sweet is no more agree
able to us it signifies an abnormal
condition. a drinkcr finds him
self in this condition, and he is a
drinker who does not feel himself
at ease unless he takes beer, wine
or alcohol in any form.
Alcohol in passing into the di-
gcstive tube produces warm prick
ing sensation, which propogates it.
self from the mouth to the pharynx
and stomach. Concentrated OF
large quantities Of alcohol act as an
irritant in the stomach. This
action is much more energetic if the
stomach is empty. In this case
diluted alcohol is injurious because
it acts directly on the mucous YES
sells, exciting viscus, when stimu.
lation has no use, but if there is food
in the stomach moderate dose is
still more diluted and mingles with
the ingesta and secretions. Here
ii is not an irritant, but a stimulan
of the digestive functions. 1t is alb
sorbed especially in the stomach,
in the duodenum and in the begin
ming of the intestine, if the quantity
taken is large enough. Ii pene.
tratcs the blood either directly OF
indirectly by the veins or by the
chylifcrous vessels.
Alcohol causes an acceleration OF
the heart beats, followed by CORE
spending decrease.
The simple physiological influ-
ence Of alcohol resembles that of the
influence Of age. The functions al
first excited are enfeeblcd 10y an in
evitable reaction, muscularforces are
diminished, urine and carbonic acid
are sccretcd in less quantity, and
the temperature Of the body is low
cred. Alcohol does not remain long
i'm the organism. The kidneys are
a constant source Of elimination
of alcohol. The quantity eliminated
from the lungs is very little. The
skin is an important source OF elm
ination, producing a dilation Of the
periphcrical vessels, SO that larger
quantity Of blood is carried to the
surface and the insensible transpira-
tion is increased From the phys.
iological dose to the pathological is
only a step, and special circum-
stances can render the. former dan.
gerous. Temperance is a lure. To-
tai abstinence is necessary. These
are conclusions to which we are al.
most tempted to ome.-Washing-
ton Star.