The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-06-06
THE VALUE OF TOTAL ABSTIN
ENCE TO A LIFE.
BY Fanny TingIey,

ENCE TO A LIFE.
BY Fanny TingIey,
Winner of Second w. G. Il. U. Prize.
Prohibition of the use of alcohol
is of so much importance to human
life that it's true value can not be es-
timated in words, or on a money
basis, but in the highest thoughts of
educated man; for although the
health and prosperity which comes
with total abstinence can not be
bought at any price, yet the poorest
may enjoy these comforts without
cost. This essay, therefore is dedi-
Gated to the disadvantages accom-
panying the use of alcohol, while the
real value of abstinence will be left
to the highest reasoning power of
the individual reader.
There is probably no tissue, mus
Gle, organ or system in the body
which is not agected by alcohol al
though the i'll affects upon some of
these are not visible to the stranger
for some time, yet the symptoms of
alcoholism are shown Immediately
by others.
When alcohol reaches the intes-
tines it is taken by the blood and
the work of destruction Immediately
begins to destroy the remaining cor
puscles, which, being SO greatly di-
minished by the addition of alcohol,
have little power to fight the effects
of the poison and part of them die.
Thus the blood goes to the heart,
which because of the thinness and
warmth of the blood, has the pow
er to send it past the internal organs
| fO the skin Hnrn hu 20
1nvoluntarary muscles acting upon
sweat glands, most of the heat es-
capes while the interior Of the body,
left destitute of food and fuel, be-
comes incapable of performing it's
many tasks. If a large amount of
heat is lost the result will be an in
ternal chill and possibly death.
In this condition the blood speed
lily lmpairs the health and ability of
the brain by supplying poisoned food
and deadening the nerves, which
condition continues for some time
after the effects have disappeared.
For example of this condition we
may safely consider the Corning IN
Y.) disaster of July fourth, nine
teen hundred twelve, when the en-
glneer was said to be sober" al
though his brain was still under the
influence of alcohol taken several
hours previous to the wreck. His
stupefied mind had not the power to
comprehend the danger. Continued
alcoholism curdles the gray matter
OF the brain and weakens the walls
| OF the blood vessels so that the in
creased flow Of blood to the head
may burst a vessel and cause par
alysis. Delirium tremens is a dis
ease of the brain resulting from al
cholism.
The telegraph system Of the body
being thus at fault in the main Of
fice the messages of the mind are
sent wrong or fail to be sent at all.
When the muscles become useless be-
cause OF the lack of proper mes
| sages ana suitable food to supply the
| demand. In health when a muscle
is working 1t sends an order by the
nerves to the heart, which immedi-
ately begins to pump faster in order
10 furnish the supply. Nerves IN
der the influence of alcohol are so
numbed that they cannot perform
| this duty and the muscle is worn out
faster then it can be replaced; while
the waste material is not carried
away because of the increased
amount OF lymph and the intoxica-
ton OF the lymph vessels. Muscu-
lar degeneration may best be seen
in the muscles of the throat and
mouth by the slow, thick speech of
an intoxicated person.
The plasma which remains after
passing through the walls of the
blood vessels and furnishing food to
the cells cannot re-enter the blood
vessels but is carried away by the
lymph vessels. In the moderate
drinker there is an increased amount
OF this and by it's entering the lvmph
vessels the latter, together with their
valves, become irritated and slightly
swollen and hardened SO that the
now OF lymph is so hindered and
SLOW that the part which does NOT
enter these vessels is left in the flesh
and causes temporary, though per-
maps not noticeable bloating. In the
drunkard this condition often leads
to Bright's disease.
The effect of alcohol upon the
lungs is probably not SO plainly seen
as In other parts of the body vet its
result is just as Injurious for when
the tiny network of vessels which
surround each air sac comes in con-
tact with alcohol the sensitive mem
brane becomes infiamed, and weak