The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-01
Alcohol in Hot Weather.

During the recent hot spell in New York
City 1t was observed at the hospitals that
the number Of cases Of persons suffering
with sunstroke or heat prostration waE
very much less than the records OF the
hospitals ten years ago and earlier showed
to .have been the case during similar
periods OF great heat, says q writer IN
Leslies Weekly. 1 II
The hospital authorities regarded that asi
abundant indication that people who live
in great cities have learned that 1t is follH
and temptation to serious illness or DEATH
to drink alcoholic or malt liquors when the
sun Is raging in the heavens. In the earlier
days, when the heat was great the temptaI
tion was to indulge in, beverages which
contained alcohol, often ingeniously and
seductlvely concealed, and It was noticed
that in majority Of cases brought to the
hospitals during heated spells the patient
had been using liquor frequently to excess
1t Is the testimony, too, Of those whose
business 1t is to sell intoxcants that the
demand Tor these beverages in hot weather.
Is much less than used to be the case. Even
confirmed topers now qualify their bevert
ages In the hot weather, and it is only those
who by some slip have forgotten the coun-
sells OF physicians and have taken ''braoer''
or "cooler" in the morning who are found
later In the day to be under the influence
OF liquor. SO great has been the change
that 1t was observed upon the recent Fourth
OF July-a festive day in the earlier time,
when many persons yielded to temptation,
and when the newspaper reports Of the fol-
lowing morning made long records of dis
aster due to drink-that in New York City
the police made fewer arrests for drunken.
ness than are usually recorded on any given
day, and the newspapers contained not a
single account Of disturbance or accident
due to liquor. A visitor at one of the sub!
urban resorts, where many thousands Of
the poorer citizens of New York are accus-
toned to go for days outing, reported
that he saw but two persons under the In
fuence Of liquor. ... ..g 7
This change Is due in part, OF course, to
the present happy disposition Of every one
to make excursions into the country an end
joyment made possible by the trifing fares
charged by the trolley lines. But it Is also
In part due to the better understanding Of
the people OF the laws which are necessary
to follow IL they would preserve health.
Men in crowded cities now clearly under,
stand that the use Of intoxicants in very
hot weather is not only discomfort, great
ly adding to the suffering which heat
causes, but Is also positive invitation td
the elements to PROSTATE the body. Oat;
meal water, temperance drinks, such as
mineral waters, or milk, carbonized Oh
peptonized, enables the system to resist
heat and to throw of by means of perspir3
alton the waste which great heat causes{
Intoxicants tend to check perspiration, and
thereby increase the danger of sunstroke
or heat prostration. And as 1t is in the
great cities, so 1t is said everywhere to ba
better and better understood that he whd
would preserve health and maintain soma
degree of comfort in very hot weathei
must be prudent In eating, obtain sufficient
sleep, wear light clothing and keep the
system absolutely free from alcohol or MALI
beverages