free use of ardent spirit at that period. | the following case :-An old man came from Dr. Short, in his account of this extra-Romagna every two years, to labour during ordinary mortality, says, "The like was the the harvest in the Campagna of Rome. He fate of all tipplers, dram-drinkers, and was never, during these visits, attacked with punch merchants, scarcely any other died of the fever. His beverage, both in the mornthis severe fever."* And again, concerning ing and through the day, was water, with a the persons to whom the fever of 1741 was little lemon juice. His father before him most fatal, he adds, "but of pot-compa- had adopted the same practice with similar nions, and dram-drinkers, none recovered."+ success. His two sons, however, used spirit, "It is stated," says the Report of the (brandy) and even at one time mixed with it Scottish Temperance Society for 1831, "that gunpowder, and at another time cayenne fever has been lately very prevalent in pepper. Both of them fell victims to the Kilsyth, and that in almost every case fever. where it terminated fatally, the victim was addicted to spirit drinking."+ The following example was published some years ago, during the prevalence of the Dr. Bell informs us, that when small-pox cholera in India:-"Two bodies of men, prevailed so extensively in the city of one amounting to 300, the other to 100 Philadelphia, in 1823-4, he never knew of persons, were located in adjoining situations a drunkard who recovered from an attack of when the cholera appeared. The small the natural disease; that is, where neither body immediately determined to live temvaccination nor innoculation had been prac-perately and by avoiding the night air, and ticed he for the most part died delirious. || the other predisposing circumstances, which "The history of almost all epidemics," were obvious, to endeavour to escape the observes Professor Francis, "furnishes proofs distemper. The plan succeeded so well, most ample, that comparatively little chance that only one individual was siezed of the exists of exemption from their direful effects, 100. The larger body adopted no precauon the persons of those whose physical con- tion. They lived in their usual way, and stitutions have been impaired by inebriating one-tenth of their whole number perished." drinks and, if indeed, occasional examples The author's personal experience is strongly occur of individuals addicted to such per- conclusive of the superior advantages of nicious beverage, being seemingly thereby temperance as a preventive of disease. enabled to brave the influence of disease for During the prevalence of the Asiatic cholera, a while, yet it is to be borne in mind how some years ago, it was his lot to be extencertain and fatal is the arrow of pestilence, sively employed, night and day, for upwards when directed among the victims of habitual of two weeks, in attending to persons indulgence in ardent and diffusible stimuli."§ labouring under this dreadful disease, subNot only do medical men under such jected, of course, at the same time, to circumstances despair of a successful termina- extreme mental and bodily excitement. tion of an attack of cholera, fever, or the During that period, as was his usual practice, small-pox, but the same fears are excited he drank nothing stronger than coffee, tea, with regard to almost every variety of disease or cold water, being at the same time in that afflicts mankind. "It would take a other respects, exceedingly temperate in his volume," remarks Dr. Rush, "to describe diet. This practice, combined with a cheerhow much disorders, natural to the human ful disposition and unruffled mind, under body, are increased and complicated by the blessing of God, brought him unscathed the use of spirituous liquors." Indeed, and untouched, through all the dangers of almost the whole catalogue of human disease the pestilence; while on every side, numbers might be included in this well-founded state-of drunkards and moderate drinkers fell ment. sudden victims to habit and disease. His The use of spirituous and bitter com- experience, however, but resembles that of pounds, as preventives of disease, has, in others placed under similar circumstances, innumerable instances been productive of and adopting the same precautions. opposite effects, and induced such a state of A little reflection will show the propriety, the system, as was most favourable to its as well perfect adaptation, of this practice. vigorous developement. Pucinotti, for ex- No effectual preventive of disease exists, but ample, attributes the severe character of the in the due performance of those laws which best Roman fevers, in many cases, to the use secure the healthy operations of the animal of spirits, bark, and other stimulants, com-functions. A healthy tone of the stomach, monly employed as preventives. The Mal- the grand centre of digestion, is doubtless a aria fevers which commonly prevail in the most important, if not essential, source of country about Rome, prove very destructive bodily vigor, as well as mental equanimity. to those whom they attack. This writer relates The effects of indulgence in alcoholic drinks, * Chronological History of the Seasons, &c., Rep. Scottish Temp. Soc., 1831, p. 32. in whatever quantities, are most marked. In epidemic cholera, and in fever generally, the first symptom which manifests itself, is an irritable state of the stomach, evidenced by uneasiness, in addition to a sense of burning, accompanied by a parched condition . of the mouth and throat, excessive thirst, Water, has a forcible passage on these unand weakened appetite. All stimulating enviable members of society. "Albeit," he compounds increase rather than diminish remarks, there is in every town or district these distressing symptoms; they add indeed throughout England, some tough dramfuel to the fire, and increase that state of drinker set up as the devil's decoy, to draw excitement which it ought to be the first in proselytes." object of the medical man to subdue. Thus, Dr. Cheyne, of Dublin, relates an anecof all other expedients, alcoholic drinks are dote, which may serve as an additional least calculated to ward off contagious illustration. A gentleman, far advanced in disease; on the contrary, they predispose years, one of Bishop Berkeley's "devil's the system to its speedy and effectual re-decoys," on one occasion boasted that he ception. If on occasions of danger, any al- had drank two, three, or four bottles of wine teration of diet be required, it is the abandon- every day for fifty years, and that he was as ment of all those practices which unnaturally hale and hearty as ever. Pray, remarked a tend to disturb the healthy performance of by-stander. where are your boon companions? the functions, and which diminish, if not " Ah," he quickly replied, "that's another destroy, the only certain check to disease-affair; if the truth may be told, I have a sound and well regulated condition both of buried three entire generations of them." body and of mind. Dr. Beddoes, a physician of high repu V. The systems of individuals blessed with tation, in allusion to the popular objection a vigorous and healthy constitution, are en- that all who indulge in the use of intoxicating abled powerfully to resist the influence of in- liquors are not injured, remarks, that we toxicating liquors. This circumstance will are perpetually reminded of the exception, account for the fact that hard drinkers are as an excuse for a practice so universally not unfrequently known to live to an advan- marked by medical observers as destructive. ced period of life. The advocates of strong But neither, he continues, do all who are drink dwell with considerable satisfaction on exposed to its contagion catch the plague. this apparently contradictory fact. The And yet is the hazard sufficient to induce following anecdote, among numerous others, every man in his sober senses to keep out is often quoted by way of illustration :-On of the way of infection. one occasion, in a court of law, two wit- Dr. Rush argues much in the same strain. nesses appeared before the bench, advanced "The solitary instances of longevity," he on life's list, but hale and hearty in their observes, "which are now and then met appearance. The judge, surprised at the with in hard drinkers, no more disprove the healthy appearance of one so old, made in- deadly effects of ardent spirits, than the quiries of the first witness as to his mode of solitary instances of recoveries from apparent life, and, in particular, his course of diet. death by drowning, prove that there is no During these interrogations, it appeared that danger to life from a human body lying an he had from an early period of his existence, hour under water." drank nothing stronger than water. Upon On reference to authentic data, however, hearing this statement, the learned judge it is found that intemperate persons do not commented with considerable eloquence on escape the consequences which result from the advantages of temperance, the good unlawful indulgence. A few additional illuseffects of which so striking an example was trations are now adduced. then presented for their imitation. Shortly Dr. Parry details the cases of two gentleafterwards the second witness appeared in men, each of whom drank, in a day, a bottle evidence. To the surprise of the judge, as of gin, the same quantity of rum, and two well as of the legal gentlemen who sat on the bottles of Madeira. One was afflicted, for bench, it appeared on the man's own con- some time, with mental alienation, and put fession, that he had seldom or never gone to under the necessary restraint. The other, bed in a sober state. The tables were now for many weeks, had repeated attacks of turned, and, to a casual observer, the evidence epilepsy, followed by occasional wanderings on both sides, appeared to be equal. On a of perception. The following case fell under more careful examination, however, it will the observation of Mr. Cheselden, an anatobe found that long-lived drunkards are ex-mist of great celebrity:-A man died through ceptions to a rule general in its results. excessive palpitation of the heart, occasioned The peculiar habits of the drunkard engage by hard drinking. He had indulged in this that degree of observation, which more sober habit for years. About ten inches of the members of society fail to attract. Hence, largest vessel that issues from that organ, thousands of temperate individuals, vigorous was found to be distended with blood, and in mind, and strong in body, arrive almost about three times its natural diameter. unnoticed at a green old age, while the aged, Dr. Cheyne details the following case :and seemingly healthy drunkard, if such a A naval officer took two or three tumblers of phrase be not deemed absurd, is held forth grog daily. On one occasion, after feasting and pointed at, as an example of the harm-with some officers for two days, who "tarried lessness, if not beneficial influence of ine- long at the wine," he became sick, combriating compounds. plained of intense head-ache, and remarked, Bishop Berkeley, in his Essay on Tar that he believed one-half of his head was separating from the other, and that he felt These illustrations might be multiplied to a conviction, that be could not long survive an almost unlimited extent. such sensations. At midnight he died. A VI. The influence of this stimulant in agconsiderable quantity of coagulated blood gravating diseases, which already exist, and was found in the brain. The liver was in destroying the susceptibility of the sysmarbled with spots of a yellow colour, and tem in regard to the curative effects of its structure was so changed, that when a medicines and medical treatment, forms a little force was used in handling it, it broke necessary and important subject of investishort. The biliary vessels were full of a gation. dark ropy bile; while the stomach on its Stimulating liquors aggravate diseases inner surface, was thickened and unnaturally which already exist. Medical men have inflamed, and externally studded with a frequent cognizance of this fact. In diseases great number of little stars of a rich lake of an inflammatory character, in particular, colour. it is a matter of necessity, altogether, to reMr. Chevalier relates the case of a boy, strict invalids from the use of any kind of named Froome, fourteen years of age, who, intoxicating liquor. In chronic cases, esat a Christmas feast, ate heartily, and drank pecially, the moderate use of stimulants has, rather freely of gin and water. In the course in innumerable instances, protracted the of the next evening, he became sick, and sufferings of the unfortunate victims of disvomited violently. These symptoms con- ease, and completely baffled the remedial tinued at intervals during the night, and the measures of medical men. On the removal following morning he went out for a short of moderate stimulus, a disease, perhaps of time, but felt very ill, and observed, that his many years standing, totally disappears, blood was boiling at his heart. In two days without the aid either of medicines, or meafterwards, he became short-breathed, un- dical treatment. Such is the restorative power able to swallow, and felt great anxiety, with of nature when uninfluenced by artificial frequent efforts to vomit. After a scene of agents. much suffering, he vomited near two pints The following interesting statements of an of blood, and soon afterwards expired. The individual, resident in Lancashire, whose stomach, on the body undergoing a post-name and residence are known to the author, mortem examination, exhibited, in various well illustrates this position. "Being acplaces, a torn condition of its internal coat. customed," remarks the narrator, "to farDr. Cassel, who, some years ago, published mer's labour from infancy, when approaching an article on the subject of intemperance, manhood, I began to take a full share in the relates the following three cases, in addition toils of the hay and corn harvest, and was to some of the examples which have already then permitted to take a man's allowance of been detailed:-A man, thirty-three years ale, each day, which was merely one pint in of age, habituated to the free use of wine the afternoon. I have frequently exchanged and tobacco, complained of pain in the left my pint for a basin of milk, and always side of his head, with pain and weakness of found myself better without ale; for, after the neck. After a violent fever, he expired the labour of the day was over, I felt myself on the eleventh day of his illness. An ulcer heavy, dull, and lifeless, when I had taken and purulent matter were discovered on the ale; and when without, however fatigued in basis of his brain. A man, about twenty-body, my faculties always maintained their eight years of age, who ate and drank to natural clearness, and usual composure.' excess, fell into an universal dropsy. About" Having," he continues, "been from home seven days before his death, he suffered more than thirty years, and during that from laborious breathing, with a cough and period having experienced twelve transitions pain in the chest. A woman, forty years of from and to sedentary and active situations age, much accustomed to eat salt victuals, in life, in various counties, my frame has felt and drink generous wine, had been for many the effects of such various transpositions. years subject to pains of the stomach, a loss The use of ardent spirits and malt liquor to of appetite, and other bad symptoms, which which I, in a measure, became addicted, continued till she died. Part of the internal brought on surfeit and scurvy, which finally surface of her stomach was found of a livid settled in my legs, with inflammation, a colour, its coats very much thickened, and an abscess had been discharged. cure for which became a matter of serious consideration, and I found it absolutely Dr. Darwin narrates the following in- necessary to abstain from all kinds of spirits eresting case:-Mr. C. and Mr. B., two and malt liquor, because after having taken very strong men, who had drank ale at their a small quantity of either, I always found meals, instead of small beer, suddenly became the inflammation increased and a cure reweak, lost their appetite, flesh, and strength. tarded; BUT BY A CESSATION FROM THEM Their skin became of a yellow colour. In I FOUND CONGENIAL APPLICATIONS EFFECabout two months' illness they died. A few TUAL, AND BY REFRAINING FROM THEM days before their death, Mr. C. became ALTOGETHER, I AM RESTORED TO CLEAR dropsical, and Mr. B. had frequent and great SOUNDNESS.' discharges of blood from an issue, and some parts of his mouth. "A few years ago," says Mr. Beaumont, "I was sent for to an elderly gentleman, who was dangerously ill. His symptoms con- matory nature. He observed, at first, that sisted of distressing dyspnea, obstinate the pain invariably recurred within an hour constipation, nausea, and occasional vomit- after dinner, at whatever time he might ing, tenderness over the pit of the stomach, have taken that meal, and whether the food and on the right side, sallowness of com- had been animal or vegetable. Suspecting plexion, and tinge of the conjunctiva, ema- that this might be connected with the nature ciation and extreme debility, with evident of the liquid, rather than the solid matter signs of incipient ascites. I readily dis- which he took into his stomach, he left off covered a key to all this mischief, on learning fermented liquors; on the first day after he that my patient had been subject to a gan- had made the change, the pain did not grena senilis, of the metatarsus and toes, return till he had been an hour in bed; this for which he had been enjoined to take freely led him to institute a number of experiments of brandy, wines, &c., which had undoubtedly upon the influence of different kinds of ferlaid the foundation for the truly formidable mented liquors, in different quantities; the symptoms on which account I was consulted. result was, that the pain could with certainty I immediately put my patient upon the be excited, within an hour, by drinking a antiphlogistic system, by which, along with glass of any kind of fermented liquor, howa suitable course of medicine, I ultimately ever weak, and a single drachm, by measure, succeeded in removing the chronic inflam- of port wine, diluted with four ounces of mation from the internal parts; so that he water, acted with equal energy as a glass of quite recovered from all the symptoms, and the undiluted wine." by continuing a water beverage, his foot got The influence of alcoholic liquors prowell: and this original disease has never duces such a state of the system, as, in returned, although previously, whilst using active disease, prevents the necessary cua stimulating diet, the symptoms returned rative effects of medicines and medical every few months, entailing serious doubts treatment. This fact is familiar to the as to the necessity for amputation."* members of the medical profession.-The Dr. Cheyne, of Dublin, aptly remarks, that use of stimulants impairs, if it does not those who have heard how large a quantity totally destroy, the tone of the nervous of fermented liquor may sometimes be taken system, and thus vital exhaustion is induced, without injury, ought also to know how at a time when its resisting energy is most small a quantity may prove injurious; other-required. For this reason, many diseases wise, he remarks, the question at issue has run on uninfluenced by medical treatment, not been fairly submitted to their judgment. and in many cases, where there is great "Wine," observes this physician, "even in exhaustion, medicines are often entirely a small quantity, sometimes so offends the useless, and the disease terminates fatally, stomach, as to cause immediate vomiting. in spite of every curative exertion. The I have known many individuals who have following is the result of extended observation repeatedly tried to drink wine, but were obliged to desist, as half a glass at any time, would throw them into a fever, which would last for several hours, and cause great languor on the following day. I have read of a physician who had, for a long time, abstained from fermented liquors, and who, having occasion to take medicines, which were administered in a spirituous vehicle, complained that a distressing excitement was produced by a quantity of spirits which could not have exceeded a tea-spoonful."+ on the part of fifteen of the most eminent physicians of New York :-" When a person accustomed to spirituous drinks is seized with an inflammatory disease, he is in the following predicament; the disease requires that bleeding and other evacuations should be used, which the habits of the patient will not permit; the habits require the administration of stimulants, which aggravate the disease. In either case, the result is death. Evacuations exhaust the little remains of susceptibility, and stimulants exalt the disAn additional illustration adduced by Mr. ease, and prevent the cure. If, on the other Crampton, Surgeon-General in Ireland, and hand, the disease is a chronic one, or not published in the Dublin Hospital Reports, accompanied with febrile action, as in dropsy, presents a most powerful proof on the sub-which is often produced by intemperate ject in question. A gentleman, of a fair drinking, then the predicament is nearly complexion, and rather delicate frame, who the same. The patient wants strength to laboured under a severe pain of a periodic resist the disease, and is desirous, by medinature, which depended upon an inflammation cal aid, to effect a cure; but the susceptibility of the periosteum of the right tibia, noticed of the system to the operation of medicine is a circumstance with respect to the influence nearly exhausted, and the remedies will not of fermented liquors on this affection, act. There is no cure but death. If to "which," remarks Mr. Crampton, "appears arouse the little remains of susceptibility, the to be of considerable importance, as illus- patient resorts to previous habits, spirituous trative of the effects of even very small potations, the disease is aggravated, and its quantities of alcohol in diseases of an inflam- termination surely fatal." Dr. R. G. Dods, * An Essay on Alcoholic Drinks. p. 40. + Letter on Wine and Spirits, p. 14. of London, on being asked "Do habits of intemperance at all interfere with medical treatment in cases of disease?" replied, Smollett, as we have seen, remarks, that "all the peasants of France, who have wine for their ordinary drink, are of a diminutive size in comparison to those who use milk, beer, or even water."† "That forms one of the strongest points of Dr. Farre also relates the following illusevidence on which a medical man can give tration of the effects of indulgence in ale :his opinion; there is not a single acute attack A country farmer, who went through the which persons are liable to, who are accus- highest animal exertion, took of the strongest tomed to the use of ardent spirits, which we ale, to the extent of seven pints per diem. have much hope of being able to cure; the This man who had posessed a most vigorous probability, as compared with similar attacks constitution, and had been capable of living on temperate persons, is as ten to one to the full term allotted to man, was blind, against recovery. The explanation is simply and injured in other important functions, at this: the acute attack coming on requires the age of 42.* the abandonment of intemperate habits, prompt treatment, free blood-letting, and other active remedies, which, without his usual stimuli, the patient cannot bear."* It is unnecessary to dwell further on this subject. The same influence, more or less, Nor can these facts excite much surprise, interferes with the successful treatment, and when we reflect upon the amazing extent and professional remedies employed to remove virulence of those diseases which originate almost every variety of disease which afflicts in the use of strong drink. mankind. Alcohol has been at all times, In large towns, the pale features and not only a source of great mischief to the emaciated bodies of its victims, present the patient, but a powerful means of counter-most convincing proof of the influence of acting and discouraging the judicious efforts strong drink on the physical powers. The of the enlightened and persevering phy- late Parliamentary Report alludes, in strong terms, to this fact. "The diminution of VII. Intemperance has a deteriorating in- the physical power and longevity of a large fluence, in respect to the physical energies and portion of the British population, the loss of powers of the present generation.-The ex-personal beauty, the decline of health, and perience of all ages has shown the injurious progressive decay of the bodily and mental effects of intemperance, in prostrating the powers,' are enumerated as among the physical powers of man. Several causes, effects of intemperance, "which evils," it however, contributed to modify these effects goes on to say, "are accumulative in the on the ancients, and on our more proximate amount of injury they inflict."‡ ancestors. The athletic exercises, the war sician. VIII. Intemperance is not only hereditary, like habits, and the agricultural pursuits in but it entails upon posterity, physical dewhich they engaged, prevented very much bility and disease. Several of the most the injurious effects of their intemperate distinguished philosophers of ancient and habits. And hence, persons who labour modern times remark, in strong terms, on hardly, and who reside in the country, are the consequences entailed upon posterity by less easily injured by strong drinks than intemperance. Plato, in particular, alludes those who are of contrary habits, and reside to the hereditary transmission of drunkenin a confined and vitiated atmosphere. The ness; and Plutarch expresses himself a reasons are obvious; exercise, in addition believer in the same doctrine—“ Ebrii to pure air and plain diet, forms an excellent gignunt ebrios.” Aristotle appears to have counteracting influence. These individuals, been of the same opinion, for, he remarks, in general, drink heavily for a day or two, that "Drunken women bring forth children and perhaps do not again become intoxicated like unto themselves.” Shakspeare also for a length of time. Nature consequently, seems to have been convinced of the same in some degree, has time to recover her lamentable fact. The expressions which he accustomed tone of feeling and power of puts into mouth of Falstaff, are sufficiently action, before she is called upon to sustain conclusive of this point. Burton, in his another attack upon the citadel of her humorous and quaint style, makes a similar existence. allusion. In another portion of his work, Dr. Farre relates an example in point. A he speaks of "Tiberius, who was a common female, who underwent great bodily exertion, drunkard, because his nurse was such a by his permission, drank a quart of beer one."§ Diodorus also states this fact: Nero's daily. Her uncle died and left her a large nurse, according to this writer, was much fortune, on which she passed from a state of addicted to drinking.¶ Dr. Darwin thus most active life, to a state of perfect ease. expresses himself: "It is remarkable, that In this sedentary state she continued to take all the diseases arising from drinking spiritevery day her former allowance of malt uous or fermented liquors, are liable to liquor. The result was, that from a spare habit, she became sleek and fat, and died of chronic inflammation of the liver, which produced jaundice."+ *Parl. Evid. p. 107. + Travels through France and Italy, 1776. Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, 16th ed., p. 218. Diodorus Siculus, Lib. 2. |