The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-07-26
w. C. U. COLUMN.
CONDUCTED By MRS. M. l.. HOBBS.
ALCOHOL. FROM A PHYSICIANS
STANDPOINT.
A Talk Given in Trinity Church, South
Bend, by J. w. MiIIigan, N. d.
CONTINUED from last week }

CONTINUED from last week.
So it is with alcohol. While Q
food of greatest value for the emer,
gency, 1t is not wise to attempt tc
live on it indefinitely.
As the result Of my training, as
the result of my reading, as the re-
suit of my observation, | am con-
vinced that the amount of alcohol a
person in health should consume is
none. In health it serves no pur-
pose that may not be more safely
accomplished in some other way.
If person is sick he is not in con
dition to judge what is best for him
self, and should not attempt to pre-
scribe. An old adage has wisely
said, "He who hath himself for a
patient, hath a fool for physician. +"
Therefore, if you are well you do
not need alcoholics; if you are sick /,
you are incapacitated to Judge.
Alcohol wisely used may prove a
valuable stimulant; under ether cir
Icumstance most valuable food
but unwisely used, cause Of death
Suppose person lies at our feet,
PROSTATE from shock; almost pulse
less, respiration barely perceptible,
life hanging by thread. A little
stimulant is given, soon the pulse
little more, he opens
his eyes; more, he sits up; still
more, and he is able to stand.
The administration is unwisely
continued, on the oft quoted theo-
ry, "lf little is good, more is bet
ter" He experiences feeling Of
well being; the exhilaration is
marked; thoughts flow with un-
wonted freedom, and the physical
condition is in sympathy; lie runs,
he leaps, all is hilarity. The stage
of exhilaration passes to one Of
maniacal excitement; the ideas
come with such rapidity that speech
is too slow, and confusion Of utter
ance is manifest. From :Eaniacal
excitement the condition passes to
one of delirium, and the disoldered
intellect sees in the harmless objects
about beings Of terror and monsters
from an inferno, coming to torture.
The delirium changes to stupor; no
longer able to stand, he is again
PROSTATE at our feet; pulseless, res
piration disturbed, comatose; at
length dead-physically, mentally,
morally, who shall say?
What alcohol has thus for the pur-
poses OF our illustration done in a
few hours for the individual, it will
just as surely accomplish for its de-
votee, though years may be re-
quired. What it will do for the in
vidual it will do for the race.
The continued use Of alcohol pro-
luces certain we'll marked changes
in various important organs OF the
bo ly. AT first, in small amounts
IN aid to digestion, in greater guam
.ities it hinders the process by pre-
:ipitating the pepsin OF the gastric
luids. Later diseased condition
If the stomach walls and glands re-
suits as tie effect of over stimula-
ion. The alcohol absorbed by the
blood vessels Of the stomach passes
Immediately to the liver. This or
yan, at first stimulated shows the
.esults of over-stimulation; passing
through a period Of fatty deeenera- |
ion, it becomes, as result OF an
lbnormal increase Of connective It's
ue, contracted, nodular--a condi-
ion Of cirrhosis, as it is termed.
The kidneys undergo a similar
,hange. The heart becomes fatty
md weak; the blood vessels lose
heir elasticity and become harder,
more brittle, more liable to rupture
han in the normal condition.
The brain, partly as the result Of
he diseased blood vessels, partly as
he direct effect Of the alcohol on its
no longer possesses in ..
ull measure thepower Ct continued,
onnected thought.
The nerves, diseased, are no long
r able able to perfectly control the /;
muscles; there is trembling Of the :
and, the gait is unsteady and shut. !,
ing. The tongue, always an un.
ulv memher offers its protest in