The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-08-06
A DOCTORS OPINION.
Alcoholic Beverages as IA PredispOs-
ing and Exciting Cause of
Disease and Crime.

James Thatcher, NJ. D., was a prom
incnt physician and surgeon through
out the revolutionary war. He was
man of keen observation and sound
judgment. In addition to his valua-
bic Military Journal, he published his
celebrated Modern Practice of Medi-
cine in 1926.
l quote from this work his opinion
regarding the effect of ardent spirits
only, for it was not generally be-
lieved Is years ago that wine, beer
and other soft drinks" were harm
full.
There are marked chronic effects
of ardent spirits upon the body and
the mind. On the body they dispose
to every form of disease Moreover,
they excite various diseases, as OBJ
struction of the liver, iaundice, drop
sy, cough, consumption and other
pulmonary diseases. eruptions on the
face and nose, called rum buds 1--WE
call them rum blossoms now, and
govt in all its forms.
ardent spirits often incite fatal
diseases without producing drunk
enness. l have known many persons
destroyed by distilled liquor who
were never completely intoxicated
during the whole course of their
lives. The solitary instances of
longevity which are now and then
met with in hard drinkers no more
disprove the deadly effect of ardent
spirits than the solitary instances of
recoveries from drowning prove that
there is no danger to life from a
human body lying an hour or two I'M
der water.
Not less destructive are the eff
fects of distilled spirits upon the
human mind. DR.. Waters. of Penn
sylvania hospital. tells me that the
insanity of one-third of the patients
there was induced by alcoholic
drinks. They impair the memory. de-
bilitate the understanding, and per-
vert the moral faculties. Not only
falsehood is produced by them, but
nncleanness, fraud. theft and murder.
No more affecting spectacle can be
exhibited than a person whose CON
dition has been generated by the
habit of drinking ardent spirits
SIS he a husband? How deep thS
anguish which rends the bosom of
his wife? Is the drinker a wife?
Who can measure the shame and
aversion which she excites in her
husband? Is he a magistrate, or has
I.
position in the councils of the ma
ton? What humiliating fears of cor
ruption in the administration of the
laws appear in the countenance of all
who see him! Is he a minister of the
Gospel? Here language fails me. If
angels weep it is at such a sight.
Poverty and misery, crimes and ia,
fanny, disease and death are all the
natural and usual consequences of
the prolonged use of ardent spirits.
And this death is suicide.
"But the use of distilled liquors is
believed by many people to give
strength to the body in certain cir
cumstances. They are said to be nee
essary in cold weather. This is not
true; for the temporary warmth pro-
duced is always succeeded by great
er disposition of the Body to be af-
fected by cold They are also de-
clared to be needed in very warm
weather. Experience shows that in
creasing instead of lessening the eff
feet of heat upon the body is the re-
suit of their use. DR.. Bell. of the
West Indies, declares that rum al
ways diminishes the strength of the
body and renders men unfit for anv
service in which vigor and activity
are required.
ardent spirits do not lessen the
effect of hard labor upon the body.
Look at the horse; with every muscle
of his body swollen from morning
till night when attached to a pillow or
in team! Does he make signs for
a glass of toddy to enable him to do
his work? No! he requires nothing
but cool water and substantial food.
There is no nourishment in ardent
spirits. So great is the danger of