The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-01-21
festations has been repeatedlyslnoted

MY own OBSERVATION ana study or
yellow fever in the Argentine Repub-
lie. S. A., in 1879, and in Brazil in
1884 and 1885, convinced me that per-
sons addicted to spirituous beverages
more quickly contracted the fever and
more quickly succumbed to it.
Alcohol has long been considered as
heart and brain stimulant, but its
| action on the heart is now known to
be that of a depressant, as is also its
action on the mental faculties. It's
action being that of n depressant,
narcotic, is the explanation of the i'm
provement noted at the bedside after
| it's administration, for it is this effect
| that promotes the rest and comfort of
the patient, who feels less anxiety by
his brain being less capable of dwell
| ing on his disabilities because it is
partially narcotized.
1t is claimed that the evidence o.
mental activity is illusory, and that
the brilliancy and wit apparently in
duced by the drug is due to the loss
of self-control and self restraint. The
inhibiting associations are removed,
self respect gone, regard for the pro-
prieties of life, the fruits of education
and experience are laid aside IN in
toxication and the natural man is ex-
posed. Yes, exposed often as a savage
and brute
Spirituous beverages contain many
poisonous substances, which may also
be found in bitters, cocktails and So
called mixed drinks. Malt liquors are
subject to authorizations, and lead
poisoning has been ascribed to their
contamination by vessels and pipes.
Some extremists now claim that the
recent results of the experiments of
Abbott, Laitinen and others condemn
the use of alcohol, in any dose and
under any circumstances. "
Undoubtedly it deserves place in
therapeutics as narcotic, to some
extent as a stomachic, and under GEL
tain conditions as food, though in
ordinary circumstances it's use as a
food may be dismissed from consider.
alton inasmuch as half pint Of
whiskey would have food value
equivalent to only about two ounces
of fat
No cause for drunkenness can be
laid to the physicians prescriptions,
for cases of chronic alcoholism arising
therefrom are fortunately rare, though
the pretended use as medicine at the
will of the individual may be another
story For the cause of inebriety we
must look deeper than to the saloon,
for of the many millions of people
who frequent the saloon comparatively
few become inebriates.
We must remember that all races of
men able to obtain alcohol have used
er for thousands of years, and from
the earliest dawn of history wine has
been so used; that through various
conditions and stages of civilization
and enlightment the drink habit has
been common amongl' our ancestors
and transmitted to us. Sometimes
the predisposition or tendency to de-
velop disease or HABIT is passed on
by parent to child as the result OF
heredity. Heredity may be immediate
or remote. Instances of remote hered-
ity occur which are characterized by
reversion to a more primitive type il
racial history, examples of which are
certain criminals with the flat foot,
receding forehead, peculiar ears and
massive jaw, stigmata of a lower
race" We see that a lack of steady
employment and any fixed purpose il
life leads to decentralization. The de.
sire to better ones condition is the
incentive that wards off the. tendencies
to dissipation, and without pride,
ambition and energy man never
amounts to much
Among a rural population, satisfied
with only the necessities of animal
existence. there is found more drunk
enness than among an urban people
who possess more self respect and q
higher sense of personal honor and
worth. A disregard for that which
elevates and ennobles, the hereditary
and acquired taste, the supposed med
icinal virtues and ignorance of Their
action, are causes that lead people tC
indulge in Intoxicating beverages
The searchlight of science has re-
vealed the town liquor agency as not
only a dispensary of poisonous drugs
for health Iestoratives, but as means
of gliding widespread error under the
mantle of State authority, thereby
rendering more difficult its eradica-
ton. Aside from other evils the
"agency" is means by which taste
is cultivated by the young and bv a
class of people who would not like tc
! L. -, he .