Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-12-12
FALLAcIEs ABOUT ALCOHOL


The ordinary man says alcohol
warns him in cold weather. This is q
self deception. He feels simply the
warm blood streaming out to the skin in
great quantities. As a matter Of fact,
he loses heat. This deception comes
perhaps in this way: The brain GEN.
ters, which mediate the feeling of cold,
are stupefied by paralysis. In general
1t can be proved that all effects Of al.
cohol, which are generally designated
%excitation, are in reality only paraly-
tic phenomena. The physical effects
are especially 80. The brain function
which is first weakened Is the clear
judgment or critical faculty. In con.
sequence the emotional life prevails.
Freed from the chains Of criticism, the
man becomes open hearted and care
less. But, above all, the paralytic ef-
feet of alcohol shows itself in this, that
every feeling Of discomfort and pain is
benumbed, and especially the bitterest
Of pains-the psychical ones, az sor-
row and anxiety wherefore the merry
feeling I'M drinking company. A man
never becomes clever through drink.
This widespread prejudice Is also a de.
ception. 1t Is likewise q symptom Of
brain paralysis, where, as self criticism
sinks, self suficiency rises and self
control is lost.
He who becomes accustomed to take
alcohol regularly is in fact better cap
able Of working than II alcohol was
suddenly taken away from him. But
this is the ase also with other poisons.
When morphine is taken away from
the morphine eater he a not work,
sleep, nor eat. He is strengthened"
through morphine. But he who Is not
accustomed to narcotics is not made
more capable of work through mar
cotics. But Of still more weight are
the thousands Of experiments that oc-
cur in the case Of sol~diers-that in war,
in peace, in all climates, all hardships
of the most wearisome marches are
best endured when the soldier abstains
wholly from all alcoholic drinks.
These facts are verified in the English
armies in Kaffraria, West Africa,
Canada and India. An additional
v%erifcation is the fact that thousands
of sailors are not allowed to touch q
drop Of alcohol on board, and this in
tropical temperature, and especially in
polar regions. Most whale fishers are
total abstsiners. That which is true
Of bodily exertion Is az true Of mental.
Alcohol strengthens no one-it simply
benumbs the feeling of fatigue.
The error Of poor people in this re-
gard is especially unfortunate, as they
spend much for alcoholic drinks to
strengthen them instead of buying rich
and salutary food. The advocate OF
beer claims that it Is nutritious, True,
beer contains a considerable quantity
Of hydro carbons, dextrin and sugar.
But there is a surplus of this In food
already, and there is no reason, also,
why 1t should be taken in q more cost
ly form. 1t is claimed that beer and
wine aid digestion, but many expert
ments have been made on animals and
men, and especially on men with the
aid of the stomach pump, which show
that moderate doses Of beer and wine
lengthen the time Of digestion and dis
turb it. Direct observations on per-
sons with stomach fistual likewise in
dictate the same effects. Washington
Star.
"~UNsExING woMAN.n
Chauncy Depew pe~rtinently observes
If a woman can be administrative of
an estate and guardian of children
without being unsexed he doesn't see
why 1t will unsex her to have q voice in
making laws about property and child
ren. Women have been being ''un-
sexed" ever since he can remember,
and they seem to be pretty good yet.
It'll Is always the cry whenever there is
any broadening Of woman's opportuni-
ties and responsibilities, "She will be
unsexed." But the fears of the con.
servaties have never yet been realized.
Women are engaged in every one OF
the occupations which It was once
maintained would render them utterly
unwomanly, and they are women still.
Charncey Depew neatly disposed OF
the argument-beloved Of antisuffrag.
ists-that family discussions might di.
vide a household against itself. The
women have school suffrage in Massa.
chusetts, and wives haven't ceased to
speak to their husbands there. Broth.
ers and sisters still live together in
peace, and lovers are not spurned by
their s~weethearts. Even in Wyoming,
where they have full suffrage, the
family doesn't seem TO have suffered.
II women can stand what they stand
now and yet live In household harmo.
ny, they won't fight about the ballot.
why, there wal a woman in here the
other day. I know all about the fami.
ly, and asked her how she happened to
be doing what she was doing. oh,
she answered, because I married O
man who is able to support just half OF
himself, and must support the othe,
half and myself There are a good
many women doing that sort Of thing.
III fhnU aan LoA-