Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-12-10
saint bIaru's Beacon
The perniuiuas Effects Of Alcohol

'aoi s"hu oSsAt tAputc'pHtutC ntu
ical Society, held in May. 1893, a
commission was appointed "to in
vestigate the effects Of alcohol in
health and disease"
During the recent session Of the
society, held in Baltimore, NAV
19;h and Goth. 1896. the following
report was made. signed b. the full
commission and adopted uDani-
mously By the society.
The commission has carefully
considered the important matter
thus placed under its care; it has
gone to original sources when prac-
ticable, and weighed the matter in
the light Of experiment and expert
ence.
The members Of your conmis-
sion unite in the following conclu.
sions:
The most perfect health 10 CON-
patible with total abstinence from
all alcoholic beverages. A very
large proportion Of disease 10 in.
ducsd BY their use.
or all dilutants and solvents for
the nutritious parts Of foods there
is nothing that can take the place
OF water.
While exhibiting a slight irri-
tant or stimalant effect. ~
Diary or permanent - -"e secon-
is narcotic effect of alcohol
use as and depressing. It's
= . medicine in chronic or long
continued sickness, such as con-
sumption or typhoid fever, is hurt
fol and tends to prevent recovery.
Those who take wine. beer, OF
any other form of alcoholic liquor
daily, should understand that it is
at u cost. Ii is a luxury which
must be paid for, usually by loss
Of health, Of mental power, of calm
ness Of temper, OF judgment. the
control over thoughts words and
actions being impaired. Its habit
ual use exposes the body t. disease,
leads To premature degeneration
anh shortens life.
Alcohol creates n craving for it.
self which. in certain number OF
persons. becomes irresistible.
Those who use alcoholic liquors
are more liable To become diseased
harder to cure when i'll, and are
more liable to complications than
total abstainers.
Those accustomed to the use of
such beverages may with perfect
safety discontinue their use. No
form of alcoholic liquor is tonic,
but the exact opposite.
While alcohol has been classified
BY some scientists as a food. its use
as such is dangerous aud should be
condemned.
The use of porter, beer, stout, or
any other form of liquor by nurs.
ing mothers is productive of lamen-
table results both to mother and
child.
Alcohol does not increase the
supply of milk, while on the other
hand. when thus used. it has led to
the formation of drinking habits in
the mother. 1t sends also to pro-
duce weakness. nervousness, epilep-
sy, and other diseases, in the of.
spring.
The use of liquor by one or both
parents entails disease upon the
offspring. They are often cursed
by an -powering desire fol
drink, are apt to be irritable
hysterical, with a tendency to neu
rosy generally including insanity
MANY die young.
The greatest feats of skill
strength, and endurance are per
formed more easily by total ab
stainers. Finally from the thers
p nsic standpoint, alcohol can b
regarded only rs temporary stim
ulant aud because OF its secondar
or depressing EFF, ct the EN- ploymen
OF other means of slim ulation
strongly advised.
Owing to the dangerous charact
er Of alcoholic liquors it is recon-
mended that no one should us
them except under the direction O
physician; aud physicians are ad
vlsed to prescribe alcoholic liouo
with great caution aud then to EN-
ploy their official titles.
~ When most needed il is not unus
al for your family physician to be ava
from home. Such was the experience @
Mr.. j. Y. Schenck, editor of the Cadds
Ind. Ter, BsRaer, when his little CIR