The Somerset reporter., 1898-04-07
Temperance Service.

The second Of the series of temperance
meetings was held In Mission hall, Satur-
day evening last. Rev. Geo. f. Leigh.
ton presided and DR.. w. 7. Merrill de-
livered an address upon the effect of
alcohol upon the human system. The
audience was considerably larger than
that two weeks earlier, in fact every seat
in the hall was taken.
Following is brief abstract of DIR.
Merrilrs Interesting and instructive
address:
The use of alcohol iu disease is always
TO be under the advice and control of the
physician. 1t Is powerful drug and
should not be used without special d.
rections any more than strychnine or
morphine. There is no disease men,
tionable whose outcome is not more or
less Influenced by the previous habits
and surroundings of the patient. IL a
single tissue or organ In the human body
is weakened and incapaetated by the use
of alcohol, surely the whole body must
be influenced in proportional degree.
For all living things alcohol has a
certain affinity or liking for water, for
the simple reason that all living things
contain, and as rule are largely made
up of water. The parts Of the human
body which first suffer most from the
use of alcohol are those parts which the
anatomist calls membranes. All the
more important organs aud tissues are
both lined and covered by membrane
more or less delicate, their uses are to
act as filterers. Without this process 8
there could be no building of structure.
1t is proven fact that upon all these
membranous structures alcohol exerts a
direct perversion of action. We know
this from post-mortem examinations, by
experiments on the lower animals and
by chemical tests. The injury in the
greater part is done simply by taking
out much of the natural water contained
in these membranes and thus rendering
them less pliable, more compact and
easily diseased. 1t follows then that the
evil effects resulting from the prolonged
use of alcohol, are observed particularly
in the digestive system, the breathing
apparatus, kidneys, nervous and circula.
tory systems. In all these systems it Is
the lining, covering or connecting tissues
first Influenced and disordered and the
more delicate nerves, glands and vessels
following in quick succession.
Dyspepsia is one of the most common
complaints of those using any form of
alcohol. Heart disease is sure TO be met
with sooner or later, Bright's disease not
infrequently follows, appoplexy is not
uncommon. Epilepsy and insanity trace
able to alcohol are diseases most to be
lamented, many of them may be seen In
our asylums. DR.. Sanborn says "the
use of alcohol enters largely as factor
In the cassation of mental disease"
Aside from the diseases brought about
directly by its use, we also know that
the power Of resisting attacks of acute
disease is greatly diminished, the vital
organs do not possess the same endur-
ance Of fatigue and the same power of
resistance to external influences as the
healthy. This fact is proven by both
arctic and torrid explorers. The use of
alcohol Is not allowed by surgeons of
any exploring expedition to either cold
or hot climates.
In regard to the influence on the
children of those using alcohol we have
abundant proof of the injurious effects.
DR.. SanbOrn says it Is no uncommon
thing for several of the children of de-
bauched father 70 be brought to this
institution for treatment, sin fact within
year we have treated three children of
the same family where have no question
but that the mental disease was the re-
suit Of heavy drinking of the father"
DR.. Richardson, an English authority
says, physical vice like physical face
and physical virtue, descend in line"
Not one of the transmitted wrongs.
physical or mental is more certainly
passed on from one generation than the
wrongs which are Inflicted by the use of
alcohol.