The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25
ALCOHOL IN HOT WEATHER.
Increase of Temperance shown by
Hospital Records.
.eslie's Weekly.

LeSlie'S Weekly.
During the recent hot spell II New York
city it was observed at the hospitals that
the number of cases of persons suffering
with sunstrOke or heat prostratiOn was very
much less than the records of the hos
pitfalls ten years ago and earlier showed to
have been the case during similar periods
of great heat.
abundant indication that people who live in
great cities have learned that it is folly
and a temptation to serious illness or death
to drink alcoholic or excessively of malt
liquors when the sun is raging in the heav-
ems In the earlier days, when the heat
was great the temptation was to indulge in
beverages which contained alcohol, often
ingeniousy and seductiVely concealed, and
it was noticed that in majority of cases
brought to the hospitals during heated
spells the patient had been using liquor fire.
quently to excess.
1t is the testimony, too of those whose
business it is to sell intoxicants that the
demand Tor these beverages in hot weather
is much less than used to be the case
Even confirmed topers now qualify their
beverages in the hot weather and it is
only those who by some Slip have forgot
ten the counsels of physicians and have
taken a 'bracer' or a cooler in the morn
ing who are found later in the day to be
under the influence of liquor. So great has
been the change that it was observed upon
the recent Fourth of July-a festive day in
the earlier time, when many persons yield
ed to temptation and when the newspaper
reports of the following morning made long
records of disaster due to drink-that in
New York city the police made fewer ar
rests for drunkenness than are usually re-
corded on any given day, and the news
papers contained not q single account of
disturbance or accident due to liquor A
visitor at one of the suburban resorts
where many thousands of the poorer citi-
zens of New York are accustomed to go
for a days outing, reported that he saw
but two persons under the influence of
liquor.
This change is due in part, of course, to
the present happy disposition of every one
to make excursions into the country,
enjoyment made possible by the trifling
fares charged by the tolley lines. But it
is also in part due to the better understand
ing of the people of the laws which are
necessary to follow if they would preserve
health. Men in crowded cities now clearly
understand that the use of intoXicants in
very hot weather is not only a discomfort,
greatly adding to the suffering which heat
causes but is also a positive invitation to
the elements to PROSTATE the body Oat-
meal water the more reasonable forms of
temperance drinks, such as mineral waters,
or milk carboniZed or peptoniZed. enable
the system to resist heat and to throw off
by means of perspiration the waste which
great heat causes. 1ntOXicantS tend to
check perspiration, and thereby increase
the danger of Sunstroke or heat prostration.
And as it is in the great cities, so it is said
everywhere to be better and better under
stood that he who would preserve health
and maintain some degree of comfort in
very hot weather must be prudent in eat
ing obtain sufficient sleep, wear light
clothing and keep the system absolutely
free from alcohol or heavy malt beverages.