Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-16
DOCTORS STRONG CASE
AGAINST ALCOHOL

DR.. II. z. Hourlgan OF Buffalo, N
Y, presents a strong case against al
cohol in the 100 Per Cent Magazine fol
December. He says:
People are all agreed on one thing
alcoholic drinks work positive harm
The verdicts of the laboratory. of in
dustry. and of the nation are the same
Everywhere the brains Of the world
recognize that alcoholic liquors weak
en- both muscle and mind power and
lower moral tone. The war lords have
discovered that an efficient army is a
sober army.
Our ancestors mistook alcohol for a
comedy and they laughed, but to the
observing student Of today the tragic
element is only too evident in all its
CHASTITY reality.
Alcohol is a narcotic poison and in
all it's forms belongs to that class OF
poisons. This class includes opium
morphine, ether, chloroform. choral
herein, etc. 1t is by far the most dan
gerous of the class.
While the other poisons are produc-
tive of distinctly evil functional eff
fects. alcohol. being equally seductive,
and as a habit more obstinate and
tyrannical than other narcotics. is, at
the same time, producing organic
changes and working destruction to
important vital organs and so even
tually running the intellect and moral
nature as well as the physical body
The closer the study the more firmly
are these facts established.
Alcohol impairs every human fac
m l. s<-I
the faculty, the more pronounced is
the effect of alcohol upon it. Alcohol
is a potent disturber of the function OF
digestion. 1t causes congestion Of the
coats of the stomach and intestines.
Its destructive influence upon the
liver can be easily recognized. Hard
ening of the liver. is universally recog-
nized as being nine times in ten of al
coholic origin.
Fatty degeneration Of the heart Is
frequently met with in chronic alco-
holics. The ultimate effect of alcohol
upon the heart is to depress, in. larger
doses to paralyze that organ. The
young buck, who in his bravado
drinks a pint of whiskey in one portion
and is found a half hour later dead in
the back room of the saloon is sam
pie of this effect.
A patient who suffers from alcoholic
degeneration necessarily runs a much
greater risk of heart failure during q
case of acute fever. from overwork
exhaustion, overloaded stomach, and
after accidents than does the man with
a strong, healthy heart unaffected by
alcohol.
Alcohol causes hardening and fatty
degeneration Of the blood vessels and
in this way alcohol drinking stands In
a causative relation to cerebral trou-
bles. apoplexy. and diseases Of the
heart and kidney. 1t Is well estab-
lished that the general mortality from
diseases Of the liver, kidney. heart
blood vessels, and nervous system Is
much larger in those following such
occupations as expose them to the
temptation of drink.
Thirty percent of the insanity in the
world is the direct result of alcohol
(Statistics from the world over are in
peculiar accord in supporting this
statment.) The combination of alco-
hol and syphilis in the individual Gre
ates the shortest and most direct path
to the insane asylum.
Eve"y physician contemplates with
increased solicitude every case of
pneumonia complicated by alcoholism.
Injuries in the drinking man heal
slowly, are more liable to infection,
bring on neuritis and other inflamma-
tons, more readily endanger life. and
are liable to bring on delirium tremens.
The amusing and strange thing is
that the alcoholic drinker always
imagines he is more powerful and
more exact in his physical activity,
and that he Is doing and is capable of
doing better mental work than when
similarly employed without alcohol,
while all experiments exactly and
carefully made show the exact oppo-
site.
A recent English poster signed by
leading commanders and surgeons OF
England reads:
1T has been proved by the most
careful experiments ana completely
confirmed by actual experience in atf-
letlcs and war that alcohol:
II. Slows the power to sec signals.
Y. Confuses prompt Judgment.
q. Spoiis accurate shooting.
-. hastsns fatigue.
D.. Lssssns resistance 70 disease
and exposure.