Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-06-10
w. c. Il. u.
C OIL U Nj II

Prize essay written by Miss Clara
Leap, eighth grade, Washington
school. What is the harm in glass
of beer?"
This question has been discussed
many times. To give full and ef
fective answer we must take into con-
sidcration the various kinds of liq-
uors.
All alcoholic liquors are the result
of alcoholic lamentations. They may
be grouped into three important
classes: wines, malt liquors, and dis
titled liquors.
Malt liquors, of which beer is per-
haps the principal one, are obtained
from the small ~rains, especially bar
ley, which is soaked and allowed to
sprout During this process most OF
the starch is converted into grape su-
gar. This is fermented by boiling.
and by the addition of yeast, alcohol
is formed. Hops and other sub
stances are then added. Although
the per cent of ale ohol in beer is but
from two to FIVE per cent its effects
are shown on the beer drinker.
After showing how beer is made we
will now consider it as food. Food
is anything which. taken into the body
supplies it with heat, growth, or en-
ergy.
Beer was once considered nutri-
tious food: and because it would pro-
duce weight in the body, physicians
rec commended it to the sick. But
since science has been turned upon
beer, facts are produced which are
gradually overcoming this gross ig-
norance.
While beer produces a degeneratira
of all the organs of the body, it chief
ly affects the heart, the liver, and the
lungs.
Alcohol stimulates the heart to ac-
ton, increasing both the force and
frequency of the beats: thus in
healthy persons il the heart is con
stantly stimulated to more rapid con.
traction than is natural. it has less
time TO rest and soon becomes weak
encd from ovcrwork. Although thi:
organ seems to be constantly at work,
it rests more than half the time. The
lack of rest produces exhaustion OF
the heart-muscles. ending in partial
change of the muscular tissue into
fat. The heart then becomes veal
and its walls become thinner, condi'
ton known to physicians as fatty
heart" This often results in sudden
! death.
The effect of alcohol upon the liv-
er is also very evident: the alcohol
being absorbed by the blood vessels
| of the stomach. is borne away in the
blood to the liver. Ii reaches this
organ before there has been time for
oxidation. and comes in contact with
| the structures of which it is compos-
ed. At first it STIMULATES the secre
ton OF bile. but il ID is used to ex-
| cess the liver becomes the seat Of
| serious changes. and causes fatty liv-
cr", a disease which is invariably IA
tai.
Let us now notice the effec, of alco
hol upon the lungs Of the habitua!
drinker: the mucous membrane be-
comes congestcd and the secretion
of mucus more plentiful. Colds are
| easily contracted, and frequently
chronic bronchitis results. The fune-
ton of respiration is thus interfered
with and the sufferer becomes shor,
of breath. often asthmatic, is troubled
with constant cough and hawking
mucus. so that life is burden both
to him and to others.
Why then should we abstain,
Because all alcoholic liquors con-
tain poisonous element. which is
not essential as articles OF food.
Because the LIQUOR habit is the di-
rect or indirect cause of crime. and
produces poverty. disease and even
death.
Because many millions of dollars
are annually spent for intoxicants.
which. if used in other ways. would
afford the necessities OF life. comfort
and even luxury. to many lives.
Because many millions of bushels
OF wheat. and good grain and fruit
given us from God for food. arc per
verted from this use and applied &c
the manufacture of alcoholic liquors
Because it hinders the progress OF
civilization. education and religion.
Because drinking moderately is dan
gerous, in that it creates an appetite
which cannot be controlled.
Total abstinence. then, is the only
| safe way