Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-04-22
PRIZE ESSAY
Written by Master Marion
Wright of Trenton High
School, Prof. G. F. Leng,
Principal.
'sThe Earn in a Glass of Beer"

Form5rly only the 'niPaEatiVe-
ly few, belonging to the wealthier
class of people used alcoholic
drinks as beverage. There was a
naturally limited production. Ex-
csssiva use Of such drinks began
with the art Of dlstilling, which
made it possible TO produce strong
whiskey and similar drinks from
corn, rye aud other grain, in an
inexpensive manner. With this
wide spread production Of alcohol
ic drinks here has arisen group
of physical and mental disorders
that are becoming more and more
alarming in degree.
Th average glass of beer con.
.tains about six and twenty-five
one hundred!hs per cent alcohol.
True this is avery small amount
but it is sufficient to create
longing for more.
First let us determine whether
or not beer is ford. Food is any
substance which when taken INTO
he body, produces heat or
strength. 1t is sometimes claimed
for beer that it mas the special
advantage of producing bodily
heat. This is a mistaken idea. for
as is plainly shown by the clini-
cal thermometer of the physician,
beer lovers the temperature of the
body. The blood is sent to the
skin by this agencv. This gives a
sensation of heat. We feel warmer
hut we are actually c,oler. The
more blood there is at the surface
of the body the more quickly is
the temperature lowered.
Let ns now endeavor to trnce
the effects of alcohol in the beer
on the various organs of the body.
Chroni. catarrh of tie st'mlch is
frequently duo TO hear-drinking,
In feet physicians agree that he
excessiv, nsa IF Alcoholic drinks
is the only ir. .quaat cause # The
aieaase.
Boer-drinkirg causes a shrink
ing and hardening Of the liver.
i'ha true liver substance gradual
lv cases TO act and finally dies.
Tie substance which takes itE
nlace is of 40 aid tu digestion,
for il spcretes nothing, hut sim
ply holds together in one COMPACT
mass tho numerous liver eel 6
that do the work. This connectiva
tissue illcreasas in size, thus
squeezing the liver coils out OF
shape, and prevents their proper
action so that they die from dis
eaee. This condition causes dis.
ease known as cinhosis of tbs
liver.
Beer-drinking lessons the ahili'
ty Of the blood to absorb oxygen
thus making it poorer in quality
aud less able to do the great work
of nourishing the tissues.
The blood vessels coon show
the effects of beer-drinking. Or
the interior lining of the arteries
fatty matter slowly accumulates
It entirely takes the place of th'
tough. elastic material Of which
the blood vessels should be com
posed, and often they burst.
Alcohol over-stimulates thc
heart, causes the muscles to b
overworked, deprives the. heart o
a certain degree of rest, so neces
sary to perfect health, and IRON
overaction develops a weakness il
the nerves that control the actor
of the heart After somo years USE
beer deposits of fat occur he
tween the muscle ihers of th'
heart, thereby weakening them
These weak muscles are unable tc
exert the proper force necessar,
: to send the blood to the variou
parts of the body.
Beer does lasting Injury to tn
muscles. Deposits of fat take th
. place of muscular fiber. Men en-
dure more hard labor, cold, etc.
, when they never use beer. Th
athlete who wishes to compete il
; athletic contests is forbidden b,
his trainer to taste any alcohol,
drink. Besides destroying tn
strength of his muscles, beer
drinking diminlshes the powe
cf endurance and precision.
. Beer-drinking does great injur,
to the lungs. 1t acts directly OF
the breathing center located at th
base of the brain, thus diminish
ing the amount of air taken int
! the lungs. The walls of the tin,
air sacs become thickened an
,, less elastic and the breathing ca
pacity of the lungs is, slowly re
duced. There is always less pow
er to resist any lung diseas
f among beer drinkers. This limitp
, breathing power, or starvation
soon takes away from the indi
: vidual his power of endurance an
: decreas;s his general bodily vigo,
Tn the kidneys there comes
noticeable change. In the beer
: drinker the kidneys are compelle
: to work beyond their power j
! separating the alcohol poison fror
= = the blood. The overwork of .h
). kidneys may cause that mos
4 fearful of maladies, Bright
$ disease. This inability of the kic
/, news to remove the poison fror