The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-06-14
ALCOHOL A DESTROYER.
Mental, Physical and Moral De-
ing-Frcnch Scientists Views.

A French scientist presents the fol-
lowing incontrovertible testimony on
the deadly work of alcohol:
physicians tell us precisely how al
,cohol acts on the system. Almost the
moment it is swallowed it makes its
way through the veins of the stomach
into the blood, which it darkens. Its
action is immediate, for it has under
gone no transformation. 1t passes
away very slowly through the skin,
lungs and kidneys, which are irri-
tated by its passage. Once it has
been introduced into the body it per-
forms it's deadly work The diges-
tive apparatus is the first point of
attack. The stomach, whether bloat
ed by beer drinking or shrunl by
brandy drinking, soon becomes ulcer
.ated, causing hemorrhages Digestion
becomes more difficult, for the gas
trio juices are diminished in quantity
by the paralyzing of the glands.
"The liver becomes congested and
swollen. heavy and painful. This is
fatty degeneration of the liver. Some
times the liver shrivels up and is Gov
cred with hard, stony tissue. This
is cirrhosis. The taste changes very
early, leading to all kinds of aberra
lions. When an old absinthe drinker
was put on a milk diet in the hospital
he complained that the milk burned
his throat. He managed to get some
pure absinthe. which he swallowed,
al hn+ nn1 oAa1a1
his throat wonderfully The circula-
tory system is no less affected. The
arteries become hard and brittle. Ac-
scidents which would normally affect
only the aged seriously strike down
young alcoholized persons. The irri-
tation of the lungs produces dry
cough. tending directly toward tuber-
culosis. The kidneys, worn out by the
accumulation of alcohol, become in
famed. leading TO Bright's disease or
other kidney affection.
1.-THE worst troubles resulting from
alcohol's abuse are those of the nerv-
Gus system, weakening of memory,
nightmares, visions of impossible an
imals, Authorizations, general paral-
ysis. insanity. Delirium tremens
threatens every alcohol patient
The finest intelligence is soon de-
stroyed by this poison. Superior tai
ents are drowned in the bottle"
Taking up the question of race de
generation. the French scientist states
that alcoholism is depopulating Nor
mandy.
Normandy" he says. shows the
terrific effects OF alcoholism more
sstrikingly than any other place on
the globe. Ruin and poverty rule in
many districts. No more cider is to
be found in the saloons; nothing but
cheap brandy is called for. When a
man goes to market he asks for four
cents worth of coffee and 20 cents
worth of brandy. When he has time
and money he will drink 20 or 80
cups of coffee, accompanied by mixed
drinks without number. The women
of Normandy drink even more than
the men. The grocer, vegetable deal
er and charcoal vender offer brandy
as an inducement to, lady customers.
When the women 60 to work they
take along TASKS. which they fill and
empty several times a day. To sim
plify the cooking they take pint or
so of brandy and put a few crumbs of
bread in it, and call this soup. The
children are not spared, Early they
are taught TO drink like men. They
go to the saloons with their parents
and drink brandy as the chief part
eof their meals. The results are dimi-
mutton In the number Of births and
marriages and tremendous increase
in tine mortality"