Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-01-03
SCIENTIFIC TEMPERANCE LESSON
Facts About Alcohol That Are Worth
Knowing.

When Mayor Gaynor Of New York,
signed the bin for the establishment
of Home for Inebriates he did so
reluctantly and sent a memorandum
to the governor of the state In which
he expressed doubts as to the necessity
for such a home. He declared that
drunkenness had decreased here In
the last thirty years, and that we had
already in this state two homes for
inebriates that had to be closed on
account of a lack Of patients.
Statistics appear to back up the
mayors assertion. The New York
Medical Journal states that in Belle
vue in 1907, out Of total number of
33.224 patients 6,376 were admitted
for alcoholism, while in 1904 the
number of alcoholics was S.941, out
of only 29,741 patients. In other
words. although the total number of
Bellevue's patients in 1904 was about
$3.50 less than in 1907, the number
of alcoholics was over $500 more
a remarkable decrease in only three
years. Still. the number of alcoholics
admitted to the Bellevue alone in 1907
was startingly, If not comparatively
great. A yet more startling fact is
that not less than 400, 600 indiViduals
are arrested annually In this country
for drunkenpess. In the workhouse
on Blackwell's Island, out Of lI47l
prisoners committed in 1907, the
A 0nT mi n6 -
alcoholics. The average mortality of
heavy drinkers is about ten in every
10000. varying in different countries
and climates.
The poisonous effect of an excessive
quantity of alcohol on the blood Is
evidenced. according to DR.. Keschner,
by the facts that the red cells lose
their normal resistance and become
shriveled up, the phagocytes (devour-
ing cells that are supposed to eat up
harmful bacteria) are decreased In
number, and the bactericidal power
of the serum the watery constituent
Of the blond) Is diminished. Normal
oxidation OF the blood is retarded,
and the secretions as well as the pro-
duction of energy and muscle power
are lessened. Also the excretion of
waste products is checked, so that the
blood becomes fine soil for the growth
of new poisonous ferments. The tenn
porary madness that often accom-
panies intoxication is due, DR.. kesch-
ner declares, to a decrease in the tenn
perature of the body and an increase
i'm the temperature of the brain.
Like all substances which produce
stupefactlon when taken in large
doses. alcohol is an eXcitant when
taken in small doses. An Italian
proverb puts it that the first glass
gives lambs blood. making one good
natured. the second, tigers blood,
making one furious, and the third,
hogs blood causing one t. roll in the
mud The three states are, Scientifi=
cally speaking. stimulation, excitatian
and stupefactiop. InsensibilitN to
pain is a remarkable feature OF the
las, stage. and in ancient times, pre-
vious to the introduction of anaes-
thetics. persons We're thoroughly In
toxicated before surgical operations
were performed. 1t has been found
that alcoholics do not recover from
wounds nearly so readily as do non
alcoholics.
Mania potu, the scientific term
for the horrors" or delirtum tre-
mems, is merely an incident, says Dr.
Keschner, i'm the history of chrome
alcoholism. The constant craving Tor
drink manifested by some persons Is
due TO organic changes in the BODY,
and is a true physical craving that
may be practically Irresistible. De-