Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-06-04
w. c. T. u. COLUMN.
unttn. "Gnd and Home and Native Land. ;,
INIOXICANITS AND DIGESTION.

claim that alcohol is in any sense a
food, or that it is capable of 1mpart-
ing any strength, vigor or endurance.
1t not only does not, can not afford
any real strength, but exhausts 1t, In
consequence of an undue and unnaG-
ural activity, this activity being SO
forced as to be exercised under very
unfavorable circumstances, wasting
an unusual amount of vital force.
This alcohol is virulent poison, pro-
duced by the unwarranted destruction
of utrition-though utterly 1nnutr1-
tious of itself always and everywhere
antagonizing every function of the
human body, containing nothing
which is really needed as means OF
promoting health which can not be
obtained elsewhere. Every organ,
muscle. membrane, surface and fiber
of the body, as if guided by intuition,
practically regards it as a foe, all
arousing themselves to resist this ag-
gressor, forcing it on it's course, Wig
orously fastening it's movements, IN
tent upon it's election at the earliest
possible time. This is called stlmu-
lation. natures effort to resist such
encroaohments-t unnatural actlv-
ity always being followed by depres-
sion and weakness. While stimula-
ton is so well known to be depress-
ing, exhausting physical power, 1t IS
unaccountable that the Intelligent
and scientific should SO often resort
to it. as a medicinal agent, when the
system is struggling with disease, In
the most unfavorable circumstances,
thus increasing the labors of the re-
onnerative forces in contending with
disease.
sGNow. as the system is dependent
on the daily food for its sustenance,
this being prepared for its use by the
digestive process, it is Important 10
have this process, in its best cond1-
ton. particularly when one is en-
feebled by disease. In disease, no
medicinal agent is appropriate which
will not favor normal digestion, aid
and cooperate with the recuperat1ve
forces in the removal of such disease,
instead of antagonizing every function
of the system. 1t should be ever re-
membered that alcohol is entirely
mike all articles acknowledged az
food: that, as it is never digested, like
real food, undergoing no perceptlole
change in its passage through Une
body. it can not serve any of the pur-
poses of acknowledged food. 1t would
|be indeed fortunate if it would prove
itself to be simply inert, eHectlng
neither good nor harm. By the ex-
beriments made in Alexis st. Martlu's
ease. it was proved that small IN
dulgence produced slight imf1amma-
ion of the coats of the stomach, this
Increasing with the continued use,
while, in a few days, actual ulcera-
ion resulted, every change in the ap-
bearance of his stomach being per-
ectly visible. This man was usually
ebust, while we may suppose that
uch effects would be still more marx
d and dangerous, when the same
pirits are used by the feeble patient,
ven though called medicine. Alco-
oil is never welcomed in the human
ystem. but is always treated as foe,
disorganizer. Nature never appro-
rates it, but it is absorbed and hur-
ed out of the system by the various
kcretive organs, etc., treated as an
ement not needed. In addition TO
70 expulsive action of the kidneys,
have abundant evidence that the
ngs do the same, the unchanged al
hol being detected in the breath OF
drinker. During the short Tune
at it is permitted to remain in the
bmach, it's membranes are contract
shriveled, preventing the natural
w of the gastric juice, besides pro-
cling a formation of mucous on the
face, to a still greater extent pre-
nting this natural flow. All OF this
tst materially disturb digestion, to
It extent diminishing the nourish-
MT of the system, since only digest
food is of any practical advantage.
also true that when the digestive,
trio Juice is in contact with alco-
the pepsin-a very important
nent. which acts only when COM
ed with the other constituents OF
juice,-is precipitated, of course
dered imperative, useless. If
that the vigorous and robust are
aimed in their usual health, only
N the stomach and digestive juices
in their natural condition, In ac-
bance with the Creators designs,
manifest that the enfeebled and
ased must suffer when medicinal
ht is taken which necessarily and