The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-10
THE GREAT DESTROYER,
SOME STARTLING. FACTS keoUE
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANcE.

,-- Z;
An Impressive Article Written by ThomaA
L. Poulson, d. D., on the Subject AZ
cohol a Food od"-Discourage Men From
Drinking This Vile Be. sraxe.
Is the world better off on that account?
Is the food supply so snort that it is neces-
! sary to cast about to find new Wand to
stay the hunger of mankind?
During the recent coal famine ingenious
persons were busy in efforts to discover
other articles of fuel. Coke, oil, peat, ETC.,
were recommended as substitutes for an.
thraeite. In so far as they were utilized
in that direction they relieved. the strained
situation. +. d
But are we in such dire needs in the
martb of food! Are -four, meats, vegetables
and fruit 80 scarce that we are likely to
famish if we fail to find something else to
eat? Are scientists under such pressure
for want of suitable subjects of investiga-
tion as that they are forsooth constrained
to devote their valuable time and means in
labored and expensive experiments to as.
, certain whether or not alcohol may contain
a modicum of nutriment as well as of in.
toxicating properties?, Might it not be
safer to apply their careful tests to to-
bacco, chewing gum, licorice root, etc.
(which are not deadly intoxicants), for q
similar laudable purpose?
Suppose it be authoritatively ascertained
and proclaimed by science that alcohol Ia
food What then? Alcohol as a common
beverage is the most cruel and relentless
demon preying on humanity. In the name
of debauched souls, what would it be as a
food? The greater portion of the. worlds
poverty, misery and crime are the mon.
strous progeny of alcoholism. Nobody
knows that fearful fact better than scien-
tifc students. Let them proclaim it
food. How soon thereafter would the
whole brood of Unsuitable guzzlers. make
that announcement the pretext of their
from starvation? Now men drink alcohol
for the most part to pander to their de-
praved palates. ~ ~
Under the advanced scientific regimen
they could plausibiy excuse their indul-
gence therein on the ground of aliaylng
the cravings of hunger. With that double
motive how much more swift and sure
their overthrow by this liquid hydra? Alas,
has science become the, apologist for the
long train of unmitigated mischief inflicted
upon the race by alcoholic beverages!
We have no quarrel with science at any
point. Let it 90 on with its commendable
researches in the interests of truth in every
| direction. But permit US humbly to ask it
there are not more vital problems appeal
ing for scientific solution than the compar:
ativeiy Insignificant per centum OF food
that may be lodged in q. given quantity OF
alcohol? Is it not enough for science to In
form us that alcohol is an ilritant poison,
| to be prescribed with caution by competent
medical practitioners, rather than to put
itself to infinite pains in series of intri-
cate experiments in order to prove that it
| is food? ....
Already dealers in alcoholic drinks are
loudly heralding the statement that science
has declared chem; to contain food, and
therefore to be- taken freely as nutriment
upon all occasipns:. This opinion>is even
now being quoted by some as a reason why
they indulge in alcoholic nourishment;
such drink, while it were thought to be 9
fever producing, nerve racking, drunkard
making liquid. +
Ii alcohol shall ultimately be found to be
a food, will it therefore be less harmful as
beverage, less intoxicating, less baneful
to society, less despoiler Of homes, less
promoter of immortality, less breeder OF
vice, less an incentive to riotous living, less
! a waster of substance, or less soul slayer?
Strenuous efforts have been and are stiH
! being made in certain otherwise respectable
circles to have it appear that alcohol is
the universal solvent and the elixir Of life,
capable of transmitting all disorder and
baseness into refinement and purity, en-
abling men to sing with Keats,
"Some blithe wine ....
Or bright elixir peerless I had drunk,
And so become immortal" -"
We are told that Paracelsus, long before
science undertook the hereulean task of
showing that alcohol is food, claimed to
have discovered the secret of physical vlgor
! in drinking that beverage, which he accord
/ ingly freely drank, until he fell lneless in
| fit of delirium tremens in groggery.1g ..
It will indeed be a red-letter day Of
triumph for Diabolus when science shall
! reinforce his wavering ranks by deciding
that his chief dependence for demora!iza-
ton on this earth (alcoholl is exalted to
the dignity of an essential food supply for
building up the human body, which Is
temple designed for the indwelling OF the
Divine Spirit. ...,..
Come, brethren, let us get at something
! more conducive to the worlds betterment;
something that will improve the stock OF
men. Nearly all the great writers of hu-
nan history call alcohol devil when it
becomes incarnate. One famous author
(Robert HalD declares it to be "hquid fire
and distilled damnation." Let US therefore
by all means discourage men from drinking
this vile beverage. It is almost hopeless
, work to persuade them to abstain from al
coholic drinks by the plea of their utter
harmfulness to body and soul, for time 3nd
eternity, but if science shall declare that
they possess food value, it would push us
to the very brink Of despair in our rescue
efforts. Are we color blind? Can we not
see the warning red flag?