>2i
 ■m
 Wy,:
^%y^i
ffna
m
im
**.» *?
'y>.
,>;iy.L«
m
#
^
$
3??
frfe^s^^**-

■o-SCS-ni^v-



	JsV	,*■.". ■•	'1
	sraj*^- 38Ji<		
		fctfM'I,	I
			r"
			
			fi>
			

m : "f.		'^5<S«	
 
>*2?
'"'J?'**
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOUNDED  1836
WASHINGTON,  D. C.
GPO   16—67244-1
*■;*
*-'■.
*#**■
■y
R4'v.
 
 
 
>- y
<u'  v f,


AN
ADDRESS
DELIVERED BEFORE THE SOCIETY
FOR  THE REFORMATION OF MORALS.
IN WEYMOUTH AND BRAINTREE,
At their Annual Meeting, April 13, 1818.
By Dr. NOAH FIFIELD, of Weymouth.
"Every inordinate cup is unblessed,
" And the ingredient is—a Devil."....Shaks,
              BOSTON:       ^/£     ^H

PWNTKH BY PARMENTER AND NORTOST, ROGERS' BCrLBWiUi.,

        RHAR OF NO. 12, STATE-STREET.

                181?. 
 
                         NOTICE.
   THE method pursued in the following discourse, is, in some
measure, like that pursued by Doctors Rush and Trotter, particu-
larly the latter.  In  some instances the author has availed him-
self of their sentiments ; also of the sentiments of other authors,
as quoted by Dr. Thatclicr in his " American Modern Practice.5' 
 
AN
ADDRESS,  $c.
 A HE  object for  which" this Society was  formed,  as-
 stated in their constitution, is to suppress intemperance,
 and its  kindred vices—an object  highly important to
 individual  and public happiness.  To maintain tem-
 perance  and morality within their proper  limits, and
 preserve those who are yet uncontaminated, require the
 most  benevolent, determined,  and persevering efforts.
 But to reclaim those  victims,  who have long floated
■down the strong current of ebriety, in  most instances,
 is beyond the reach of well grounded  hope.  The task
 assigned me, on their anniversary, by this respectable
 society, is to point out " the effects of ardent spirits up-
 on the human body, &c." By ardent spirits,  are intended
 those liquors  only, which are  obtained by distillation
 from fermented substances of any kind.
   In the first place, I shall speak of the effects of ar-
 dent spirits upon the  human body, with the attendant
 phenomena, from the first degree of excitement, till  it
 ends in complete drunkenness.  I shall also notice the
 symptoms of recovery from a fit of intoxication.  Sec-
 ondly, I shall describe the chronic effects of intempe-
 rance, a numerous train of diseases, both of body and
 mind.   And, in the third place,  I shall  consider its
 chronical effects. 
b
   The intoxicating quality of all liquors depends upon
 the alcohol they contain : an "Arabian word much used
 in chemistry, signifying an  impalpable powder, which
 the  Eastern women used, as  a kind of paint for their
 faces, with the view to improve their complexion.   This
 powder, being  impalpable,  was called alcohol.   This
 name was given to other subtile powders; also to spirit of
 wine exalted to its highest degree of perfection and pu-
 rity, according to Quincy.   « The first effects of ardent
 spirits," says Dr. Trotter, «are tranquillity of mind
 and liveliness of countenance ; the powers of imagina-
 tion become more vivid, the flow of spirits more spon-
 taneous, giving birth  to  wit  and humour; hesitation
 gives place to fluency, and every painful affection of the
 soul is alleviated ; an agreeable heat  is diffused over
 the whole body;  muscular  strength is recruited,  and
 the action of the heart and arteries  are manifestly in-
 creased ; the vigour of the circulation of the blood  is
 augmented; a sparkling of the eyes may be observed ;
 a flush or redness is spread over the face, and the whole
 appearance  of  the countenance  is brightened  into  a
 smile.   The soul,  as if  unconscious  of its danger,
 looks with bodily organs, that bespeak rapture  to the
 deceitful bowl, which carries in its draught  every de-
 gree of  sensation, from pleasure to pain, from the pu-
 rest  perception of intellect, to  the  last  confusion of
 thought; which raises man above the sphere of mortals,
 and ends by bringing him to a level with brutes.   The
 mind now has attained the highest degree of pleasura-
 ble feelings from  vinous stimulus;  it  is rapt  in re-
 verie, which may be called a boundary between the
 agreeable sensations of sobriety, and the  delirious tu-
 mults of thought, which ushers  incomplete inebriation."
  The pleasurable sensations  have now been enume-
rated.   The cup continues to  go round, with  deeper
libations from the votaries of Bacchus, till noisy folly,
and often, odd gesticulations appear; next, drowsiness
supervenes.
  "Voluntary motion is partly lost;  the head nods, the 
7
walk is tottering, the countenance  looks swollen  ant!
inflamed ; the eyes glare, vision becomes obscure," and
the tongue, in some instances, paralyzed.
   Such are, in part, the phenomena of drunkenness;
but these phenomena are varied considerably in differ-
ent persons.   Some are  good  humoured and jocular ;
some foam  with rage,  and more than bestial ferocity;
and, like  Alexander, slay the dearest of their friends.
Vomiting is often the effect of an excessive use of ardent
spirits; but if  this does not happen, sleep  ensues ac-
companied  with  sonorous breathing.  The drunkard at
length awakes from his slumber languid and dejected.
Here the drunken paroxysm ends,  and a new series of
complaints arises.  A feverish indisposition commences,
such as  shivering, thirst,  sluggishness,  inactivity  of
mind  and  body, headach, nausea, thirst, peevishness
and timidity, with more or less tremor  of  the whole
system.
   As was proposed, I shall attend in the second \ilace,
to the chronic effects of ardent spirits upon the body and
mind.
   '" In the  body, they dispose to every form of  acute
diseases.""   Whenever any  place is visited  with  an
epidemic, habitual drunkards are generally, by  predis-
position of  body, in consequence of excessive stimula-
tion, the first aileded, and more commonly fall victims
in  the disease.   This has been remarked  in almost
every epidemic  that  has visited the  United  States.*
   2. Gastritis and Enteritis:—or inflammation of the
stomach and bowels.   These complaints often follow
large potations of ardent spirits.  This ought not to sur-
prise us, when we consider that the stomach and bow-
els are organs  possessed of great sensibility, and that of
course they are  susceptible  of high degrees of inflam-
  * The following  diseases are the usual consequences of an habitual use of
ardent spirits—Rheumatism, phrenitis or brain fever, pleurisy, &c.  The body,
nfter having- been excited to the highest degree, from the excessive use of ar-
dent spirits, is often exposed to sudden vicissitudes of heat and cold ; perspi-
ration is checked, which is followed by increased action and turgescence of
blood in the vessels of the pleura, brain, or membranes of the joints, ac-
cording to the particular part affected. 
8
 mation,  from excessive  stimulation.   These  diseases
 are often fatal, and sometimes in the course of twenty-
 four hours.
   3.  Ophthalmia:—Inflammation of  the  eyes.   In-
 flammation of the  eyes  was  produced  by intemper-
 ance in the estimation of Solomon the King of Israel,
 who writes,  (Proverbs, Chapter xxiii. &9—32) " Who
 hath woe ? who hath  sorrow ? who hath contentions ?
 who hath babblings ?  who hath wounds without cause ?
 who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the
 wine : they that go to seek mixed  wine.   Look not
 thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his
 colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright: At the
 last, it biteth like  a serpent, and  stingeth  like  an
 adder."   The eye, from the whiteness of its tunics or
 coats, very soon discovers any turgescence or fulness of
 blood in its vessels, from intoxication, and a real inflam-
 mation, in some instances, follows.  In the commence-
 ment of this inflammation, after the vessels have become
 turgid or bloodshot, the  vessels elongate toward the
 transparent part of  the eye; dimness of sight  is com-
 plained of, and spots of opacity then form in the trans-
 parent part of the eye, or cornea, as it is called by ana-
 tomists.  This inflammation, unchecked, will sometimes
 terminate in the loss of sight in one or both of the eyes.
  4. Gutta Rosacea:—Tumors and eruptions about
 the nose and face of different colours and sizes, most
 commonly of a fiery red or purplish colour.  The faces
 of those who  are accustomed  to habitual intoxication
 are frequently covered with these eruptions.  Dr. Trot-
 ter  supposes this appearance to arise  from  the  chemi-
 cal  qualities of " alcohol: by the evolution of hydrogen
 in the superficial blood vessels ;  and that it is in these
vessels that the hydrogen, or base of  inflammable air
attracts oxygen, or the base of vital air, from the atmos-
phere."  Darwin supposes these eruptions  or tumors
are  sympathetic of diseases  of the liver.
  5. Hepatitis:—Inflammation of the Liver. « Hepa-
tic inflammation, both of the acute and chronic species. i«- 
9
a common  effect of hard drinking.   The liver, indeed,
more than other viscera, appears to be particularly sub-
ject  to  diseases from this cause.  The vicissitudes  of
heat and cold, to which  the inebriate is so often expos-
ed, may have some share in the production of this com-
plaint, like other phlegmasia^; but the chief cause must
be the spirituous stimulus.  It is not evident whetner
the  inflammation  be  propagated  from the  duode-
num, or first portion of the intestines along the com-
mon and biliary ducts, to the substance of this viscus;
or whether the blood, highly charged with alcohol,
may  not be the means of exciting hepatitis.   The
chronic species is not a painful disease; is slow in its
progress, and frequently gives no alarm,  till some in-
curable  affection is the consequence.   It is probable,
that this inflammation, in some degree or other, always
precedes the enlarged liver, and particularly that form
of it, which may be properly called  the tubercular dis-
ease of the liver."
  6.  Decay of appetite, sickness, and puking of bile
in the morning.  This arises from the  excessive stim-
ulation  of the stomach by  the inordinate use of ardent
spirits.   It is agreeable to a law of the  animal  func-
tions, that when any particular organ has been highly
excited, it falls  into a state of debility, and its  func-
tions are either suspended, or become irregular. Hence,
to make a  good breakfast, as suggested  by Dr.  Trot-
ter, is a sign of good health; and whoever makes the
observation, will find it true.
   7.  Icterus :—Jaundice.  This  complaint,  in  a
greater or less degree, almost always attends habitual
drunkenness; and when concomitant with a  diseased
state of liver, is  often very  painful, and generally a
fatal disease.   It  is very often the case, that there is
joined to this  affection,  dropsy;  and water  is col-
lected in the more dependant parts, such as the legs
and  feet: or else universal dropsy, in which case, wa
ter is collected in almost every cell in the body.  Dr. Hush
observes,'-that the merchants in Charleston cense  to 
10
 trust the planters of South Carolina,  as soon as they
 perceive them affected with swelled legs and feet."
   8. A fetid breath.   This may arise from an excess
 of inflammable air, or hydrogen gas, during respiration.
. For the blood may have been, and probably has been,
 highly charged with hydrogen, or the base of inflammable
 air, in the body of the drunkard ; and in some way or
 other,  has been  accumulated  in the lungs.  It ap-
 pears,  according  to Kicherand, in his  Chapter on
 respiration, page 151, "That during respiration, there
 is sometimes to be found  one or  two  parts of hydro
 gen gas," and is it not  probable, if this  quantity is
 sometimes to be found during the respiration of  a tern
 perate man, that  its quantity should be increased, dur-
 ing the respiration of an intemperate man :—since alco-
 hol, or the intoxicating qualities of all liquors, is produ-
 ced  by the intimate union of much hydrogen and car-
 bon, according to Lavoisier ?  It may be said however,
 and it may be true, that the chemistry of our fluids is
 not altered from  their natural state, in consequence  of
 what is  taken  into the  stomach.   It  is  believed,
 however, aside from the  reasonableness of the posi-
 tion, that many facts may be produced,  showing  that
 the chemistry of  our fluids is, or may be  altered, in
 consequence of what is taken into the stomach.
   9. Frequent belchings are occasioned by the evolution
 of gases eliminated from the alimentary mass, which, in
 the stomach of a drunkard, undergoes a painful fermen-
 tation during the progress of digestion.
   10.  Podagra .—Gout.   This complaint is often the
 companion of excess, or of those that  love good pota-
 tions.   It has been spoken of as begotten by the god of
 drunkards. It has rarely been found to assail the tem-
 perate  and industrious, notwithstanding there  may be
 an inherent diathesis prevalent in the body.
  11.   The excessive use of ardent spirits* produces
 schirrus of the bowels, either by exciting inflammation,
 or by contracting  the  lymphatic  vessels, or glands of
 the intestines.   It appears that alcohol coagulates the 
11
serum of the blood, and also lymph, and contracts mus-
cular parts.   But whether  it would have  these  ef-
fects in the living body, may be a question.  It howev-
er is very probable, that where ardent spirits have been
used in an excessive degree, for a considerable time,
they  interrupt the functions of  the  stomach, and of
the lacteals :  a  peculiar  system  of  vessels, destin-
ed by the great  Author of our existence to absorb
chyle, or nutritious fluids, to  supply the constant waste
of our bodies.  These lacteals, or chyle vessels, in their
course towards  the great receptacle of the chyle and
lymph, pass through glands for the purpose of intimate-
ly mixing, and more perfectly combining their contained
elements.   Ardent  spirits more particularly  affect the
glands we have been considering.  The vessels that
constitute their structure, become languid,  or act ir-
regularly : the  fluids conveyed,  accumulate,  and only
the thinner parts  pass through the glandular organs;
the grosser parts, that do not pass, indurate, and  form
tumors.  Thus we may see the perilous situation of
those who are the subjects of this malady.
   12. Tabes, Atrophia:—or emaciation of body. This
 disease is marked  by a gradual wasting of the body,
 usually unaccompanied with fever, but  attended with
 great debility. Jtt has for its origin, the exhaustion  of
 the vital powers in a degree, from excessive stimula-
 tion, and from the contracted, or  torpid state of the mes-
 enteric glands,  and lacteal vessels ; the body ceases  to
 be  supplied  with  healthy  chyle;—hence follows,  in
 most instances, emaciation and death.
    13.  Syncope .-—Palpitation, or in other words, faint-
 ing fits, and palpitation of the heart.  These complaints
 in the drunkard are generally accompanied with exces-
 sive debility, and are, oftentimes, the most  distressing
 and  alarming  diseases  to   which  the  physician  is
 called, and sometimes produce instantaneous death.—
 Upon dissection  it has been found, that there is water
 in the  chest, and  in the covering of the heart: also, 
IS
 that its valves are ossified, or converted into bone. The
 coronary arteries,  and sometimes  the aorta, or great
 artery of the heart, is found diseased.   Here is organic
 affection enough, in  its worst and  most complicated
 form, to alarm the unwary.   This affection, or mass of
 diseases, has no doubt been, in many instances, brought
 on  by the curbed motion  of the heart,  from  being
 crowded with blood, and its efforts to relieve itself.
   14.  Palsy.  This complaint also is often brought on
 by the excessive use of ardent spirits, and may discover
 itself,  in the shaking of the head, universal  tremor of
 the whole body, and the tottering gait of the miserable
 sufferer. This disease arises from debility of the whole
 muscular system.   There is another, and more danger-
 ous form of this disease, which seems to exhibit nearly
 the same morbid appearances, upon examining the brain
 after death, as is to be observed in apoplexy ; and so
 far as the writer of this discourse  has had knowledge
 of these complaints, he believes it to have been oftener
 brought  on, by the inordinate use  of  brandy, than
 by  other  spirits.   The  vessels  of  the  brain are
 distended with  blood,  and, in no small  degree, the
 Avhole  sanguiferous system.   But, from the delicate
 structure of the brain, its vessels have not that mechan-
 ical support, they have in more muscular parts.  Hence,
 as we might expect, blood or serous fluid is more fre-
 quently effused upon the brain, than other parts of the
 body, where the blood vessels are covered with muscu-
 lar parts.  When either blood, or serous fluid  is once
 effused,  it either produces instantaneous  death,  or
 voluntary motion is suspended, in  one side, or every
part of the body, according as the effusion is more or
less, and the unhappy victim is launched into eternity,
 or lives a motionless monument of his folly.
  15.  Ulcers.   When  habitual  excess  in  drinking
ardent  spirits has relaxed the solids, and contaminated
 the fluids, ulcers arise, very difficult of cure, more com-
monly  upon the legs, discharging a very fetid matter. 
13
 Ardent spirits also bring on a desquamation, or peeling
 off of the skin, particularly from the hands.
   16. Madness and idiotism.   These complaints often
 succeed even a single paroxysm of drunkenness.   But
 we are now to  contemplate it in its chronic form, as
 produced by copious potations of ardent spirits.  Mad-
 ness  is  produced sometimes, probably, by  a gorged
 state of the vessels of the brain  with blood.   Violent
 paroxysms of anger, also, into which many inebriates
 fall, may occasion the same effect.  The brain is stim-
 ulated to the highest degree of excitement, and inflam-
 mation commences, which in some instances  deranges
 the material part of the brain, as wUl more fully appear
 from  the testimony of those who have examined the
 brain  of maniacs  after death.    Dr. Rush  informs,
 in his Inquiries into the Diseases of the Mind, page
 24, that «in acute  madness, there is discoverable in the
 brain, inflammation, effusions of water in the ventricles
 of the brain, extravasation and intravasation of blood,
 and even pus is to be found." In chronic madness, there
 is found preternatural hardness, and even dryness, in
 all its parts.   Morgagni, in his celebrated work De
 Causis et Sedibus Morborum, according to Dr. Trotter,
mentions the same facts.   Lieutaud, Dr. Baillie, John
 Hunter and Mitchell, according  to Dr. Rush,  corrobo-
 rate these facts :—" We  sometimes discover preterna-
 tural softness in the brain, in persons who die of mad-
 ness."
   In order that the mind should exercise its  functions
 in the best manner, it  is  necessary, it  should  pos-
 sess the faculties  of perception, memory, imagination
 and judgment.   Any thing in the body, which prevents
an object being painted on the retina, or organ of vision,
may be considered as a disease in the body preventing
 perception.  Again,  an object may be fully painted on
the organ of sensation, yet no impression made on the
 mind.   In  like manner/in idiotism the structure of the
 brain is so changed, that the mind can neither perceive, 
14
remember, imagine, or judge, but in a very imperfect
manner.    Dr.  Rush instituted an  inquiry,  in  order
to ascertain, what proportion  of maniacs in the  Phil-
adelphia hospital was occasioned by the excessive  use
of ardent  spirits.  The  result of  this inquiry was,
that  one third  part of the maniacs, in that  hospital,
brought  on their complaints  by the excessive use of
ardent spirits.
   17. Premature old age.   This may be also the effect
of intemperance.  The unhappy subjects of this evil,
are sometimes  exposed to our view, recognized by a
pale and lifeless countenance, emaciated form, quiver-
ing lips, tottering gait, and a. constitution worn out  by
excess, rather than by the lapse of time.
   Thus, we have taken notice of most of  the diseases
to which the human body is incident, from the habitual
use of ardent spirits, the most of  which are of a dan-
gerous nature.
   I  am  now, agreeably to the plan proposed, in the
third place, to inquire into the chemical effects of ardent
spirits upon  the human body.  Alcohol, or that sub-
stance which is obtained from the distillation of wine,
and  all  fermented liquors, possess more or less same-
ness of quality.  " They appear to be formed by the
intimate union of much  hydrogen and carbon—sub-
stances,  which  are the bases of inflammable and fixed
airs.   As an article in the materia medica, alcohol has
been classed with narcotics,* medicines which induce
stupor and sleep ;—and is it not very probable, that all
narcotic substances, such as opium, hen-bane, &c. may

                 [Notes by a medical Friend.]
  * Saussure in his analysis of alcohol, makes it to contain as follows :
                              Oxygen,    37 85
                              Carbon,    43 65
                              Hydrogen,   14 94
                              Azote,     3 52
                              Ashes,     0 04
                                      300 00
       rhpmzmVs Ebmznts of Chemistry, p. 145. 
15
produce these effects, from the hydrogen and carbon they

contain ?*   It is well known, that in those  countries

where ardent spirits are prohibited, the poorer class of

people make use of  opium, instead of ardent  spirits.

And it  is used in every country, more or less, for  the
same  purposes.   The first effects of these substances,

like ardent spirits, are probably excitative, and all the

consequent  phenomena, exhibited  in the  body, are.

in some measure, like those produced by ardent spirits,

and their excessive use will, it  is  believed,  bring  on
all those evils and diseases, which  are brought on  by

the  excessive  use  of  ardent  spirits.  Dr.  Trotter-

states, that wine was not introduced into Great-Britain
until about the thirteenth century, and that it was then

confined to the  shop  of the  apothecary.  It appears

from  the writings of  Chaptal, a French  chemist, that

brandy was  not known  in France, till the  thirteenth

century.   It was  in  Languedoc  where  it   was first

made.  In speaking  of the  effects of ardent  spirits,

opium,  and  other narcotics upon the body, or as  seen

in the body,  it has been observed, that they arise from

4he hydrogen and carbon they contain.  This has been

  * It  seems doubtful in the opinion of some physicians, whether alcohol
should be classed with narcotic substances.  Orfila on Poisons, p 346, says,—
  " 2d.  Alcohol acts with less energy, when injected into the cellular substance
than when introduced into the stomach.
  *' 3d. It begins by determining a strong excitement of the brain, to which
insensibility and coma succeed.
  "4th. Its first  effects are the result of the action, it exercises on the ner-
vous extremities, which is propagated to  the brain ; it is however afterwards
absorbed.                                  r
  *' 5th. There is no similarity, as has been pretended, between  its action and
that of opium.  Opium acts after being absorbed; it i9 therefore much morc
effective yhen injected into the cellular substance of the thigh, than if it were
introduced into the stomach, because in the first case absorption is more en-
ergetic : Alcohol, on the contrary, acting on the nervous extremities, must pro
duce much more rapid and intense phenomena in the stomach than when ap
plied to the thigh. Alcohol occasions constantly, both on man  and on dogs,
an excitation of variable duration, which is followed by a comatose state, and
great insensibility: Opium, on the contrary, first produces a state of somno-
lency, always attended with palsy of the lower extremities, and  which h
soon followed by the most horrid convulsive phenomena ; so that animals per-
ish by being in a real state of excitation.  Opium does not inflame  the ter
lure of the stomach :  alcohol on  th& contrary prodpc<?= n. "iol*rt phlojrc^'--
"»r inflanwnation." 
16
observed with a view, if possible, to account  for many
of the phenomena exhibited in the  body  from drunk-
enness.   I shall now endeavour to entertain you with
an account of hydrogen and carbonic acid gases ; not be-
cause we  suppose  these  gases  are  already mixed
with the blood, but because hydrogen and carbon con-
stitute a proportion of their primary elements.
  Hydrogen gas  is not proper for  respiration.  The
Abbe Fontana  assures us, that he could not take morc
than three inspirations of this air.  Count Morrozo has
proved that animals perish in it, in a quarter of a min-
ute.   Hydrogen gas  is  not  combustible alone ;  It
burns by the concurrence  of  vital air,  and is about
twelve times lighter than atmospheric air.  Pilatre de
Rozier mixt one ninth part of atmospheric air with very
pure hydrogen gas. He respired this  mixture, and  at-
tempted to set it on fire; the consequence was an ex-
plosion,  so dreadful,  that he  imagined  all his  teeth
blown out.   This gas possesses a  disagreeable  fetor,
and as before suggested, in the eighth head of this dis-
course, may account for the disagreeable odour recog-
nized in  the breath of drunkards.  Dr. Trotter, or
Thatcher, relates from Dr. Harler,  the case of a noto-
rious drunkard having been suddenly destroyed by the
accidental  contact of the flame of  a  candle with the
combustible lava discharged from  his stomach.   Bu-
quet accustomed himself to take ether,* to the amount
of a  half pint per day, and he could, by aid of a candle,
set his breath in a blaze.
  This  account is taken from the Medical Repository,
page 179, vol. II. of the 3d Hexade, where may*be seen
a detail  of the fate of a Mrs. Boyer, aged 73, who lived
at No.  293, Dean-street,  Paris—It  is supposed her
constant habits of inebriation  rendered her the subject
of a spontaneous combustion, which was  completed in
less than  three hours.   In the same paper are referen-
ces to many other similar,  and well authenticated cases.
' Which is nothing more than spirits of wine mixed with oxygen, 
i;
  Their truth is not very questionable, when we con-
sider that both the  solid and fluid parts of those, ac-
customed  to  drink strong drink, abound,  probably,
with more hydrogen and carbon, than in the temperate;
for  carbon, with hydrogen, constitutes oil or fat; and
it is well known, that oil  or fat will  burn with ra-
pidity.
  Having now narrated the properties of hydrogen gas,
and its base 5 and their effects upon the human body; I
shall, secondly, consider the properties of carbonic acid
gas, and its effects.  This gas is unfit for respiration.
History informs us that twoslaves,whomTiberius caused
to descend into the Grotto del Cano, were immediately
stifled; and that two criminals, whom Peter de Toledo
ordered to be shut in there, suffered the same fate.—
Pilatre de Rozier  caused himself to  be fastened with
cords,  and let down into a vat of beer in fermentation.
He had scarcely  been immersed in the carbonic acid
vapour, before slight prickings  obliged him to shut his
eyes; a violent suffocation prevented him from respiring;
he felt giddiness, accompanied with those noises which
characterize  apoplexy; and when he was  drawn up,
his sight remained  dim for several minutes ;  the blood
had filled the jugulars;  his  countenance had  become
purple, and he neither heard, nor spoke, but with great
difficulty.  From what has been said, may we not infer,
that the excess of carbon and hydrogen in the blood of
inebriates, occasions the peculiar lividness of their coun-
tenances, which is so often observable ?  It has been
found,  that the arterial blood of  a professed drunkard
is darker, and approaches more nearly  to the colour of
venous blood, as stated by Dr. Trotter.  This arises
from the excess of  hydrogen and carbon, as before  ob-
served.  May not this state of the blood be favourable
to the production of apoplexy ? for we find that inebri-
ates are more subject to fits of  apoplexy, than the tem-
perate.   Dr. Maclean,  in  his  work on hydrothovax, 
18
savs, those  who make  free use  of  porter  and ale.
••furnish dark, rich, thick blood;  and that  the com-
plexion is either of  a sallow, dark red, or livid hue;"
nor does the blood drawn, look like " the blood of the
athletic, muscular water drinker."
  1 he  vermilion colour of  the blood arises  from the
oxygen which it contains, as may be seen  by taking
the  blackest venous blood, and exposing it to a  pure
atmosphere.  When thus exposed, the external part of
the  blood will soon become florid from the absorption
of oxygen.   Dr. Priestly filled a  bladder with black
venous  blood;  and although the bladder was closed,
yet  so much oxygen, or the  base  of  vital air, passed
through its membranes, or coats, as to render that part
of the blood florid, which was in contact with the sides
of the bladder.  Again, take blood of a pure vermilion
colour, and expose it to  an atmosphere of carbonic acid
gas, and it will very soon become black.   These ob-
servations have  been  made with a view to show, that
if there  is an excess of carbon and hydrogen in the
blood of inebriates, as  we believe there is, this  may
account, as  before  hinted, for  that livid  appearance,
which  is often  observable  in  the  countenances  of
drunkards.  Thus I have gone through the discussion
of the several propositions  proposed, in pointing out
the  effects of  ardent  spirits upon the human body,
though very imperfectly, yet as particularly as circum-
stances would admit.  I shall close with such remarks
as the nature of our subject suggests.
  In the first place, I shall take notice of "the occasions
and circumstances, which may render ardent spirits
necessary."  First—"'They are said to be necessary
in very cold weather; but this is far from being  true,
for  the temporary warmth they occasion, is always suc-
ceeded by a greater  disposition  in the body to be af-
fected by cold."  As there is no nutriment in ardent
spirits for recruiting the body, and giving permanent 
19
strength, their operation is transient, and the seeming!)
momentary good, is often at the expense of frost-bitten
parts, and even of life itself.
  %. It has been said, that  ardent  spirits are " neces-
sary in very warm weather.  Experience proves that
they increase, rather  than diminish, the effects of heat
upon the body."   " Even in  the warm climate of the
West-Indies, Dr. Bell asserts, that rum, whether used
habitually with moderation, or in excessive quantities.
always diminishes  the strength of the body."  " Dr.
Mosely, who resided many years in the West Indies,
says, that those who drink nothing but water, or make
it their principal drink, are little affected by the climate,
and can undergo the greatest fatigue without  inconve-
nience, and are never subject to troublesome or danger-
ous diseases."   And I believe it has been the uniform
opinion of all the noted physicians, who have lived any
time in the  West-Indies, that ardent spirits are mani-
festly injurious.—It is probable that some of my hearers
are ready to make the inquiry, whether  ardent spi-
rits are ever necessary, in any condition of the human
body ?   And if so, what is that condition ?   And far-
ther—If ardent spirits are not necessary, but hurtful in
most cases,  can  any substitute be  pointed  out, which
will not abridge, but prolong human life ?  which will
strengthen our bodies, and enable us with cheerfulness
to go  through  all those toils and vicissitudes allotted
to the  state of man?   In answer  to  the first inquiry,
whether ardent spirits are ever necessary, in any condi-
tion of the human body, &c. I answer, they are: First,
« When the body has been suddenly exhausted of  its
strength, and a disposition  to faintness has been indu-
ced   Here a few  spoonfuls of  spirit  alone, or mixed
with water, may be taken with safety  and advantage.7*
Secondly,  " When the body has  been exposed for a
long time to wet weather, combined with cold." In this
case, a small quantity of ardent  spirits may be nece« 
20
sary in order to keep up the tone of our organs.  In
any other condition  of. the human body, than  those
mentioned, it is believed, they are not required.   Very
different conclusions, however, would be drawn, if one
were  to judge from the custom of the present day;
for after the most trivial service, people are invited to
drink some kind of ardent  spirits, and they do drink,
as if it were necessary, the excitability of their or-
gans should  be kept at the same standard.  But this
is very far from being the case.   " The Roman armies
were allowed only vinegar and water in all their  expe-
ditions, although  they marched  and fought  in almost
every clime.   Yet with this simple beverage, beneath
a load of  arms which weighed sixty pounds, they con-
quered the world 1"   " In the history of this republic,
no mention is made of a habit of intoxication."  Third-
ly, If ardent spirits are hurtful,  and afford no substan-
tial nourishment to the body, as I believe to be the case,
it may be expected that I shall  point out some substi-
tutes, by which it w ill be enabled to go through more
labour  with  good health,  and   be  exposed to a less
number of accidents, than if ardent spirits were freely
used.  These consist of a considerable variety;  such
as cider, cider and water, vinegar and water, molasses
and water, milk  and water, wine  and water, lemon
juice and water, sweetened with sugar.  All these acids
carry off heat, and are grateful cordials.  Many labour-
ers, and all people, in some degree, during  the  warm
season, frequently feel a sinking faintness at the stomach,
which must be relieved, in  order to perform much la-
bour, or to take much comfort.   This  for a time may
be effectually relieved, by taking  a little food with some
cordial drink, such as ginger and water, or beer  made
with hops, and perhaps this is as good a drink as can
be used, especially if it has been bottled, and kept in a
cool place.   In  some of these ways, all men  will be
enabled to go through more arduous business  without 
injury to  their health, with more ease, and to better
effect, than by the aid of ardent spirits.   " In every
country and nation, where ardent spirits have been in-
troduced,  thousands of the human race have fallen
victims  to their  inordinate use.   As it respects our
own country,  it has been made  to appear  from  sub-
stantial documents, that twenty-four millions of gal-
lons of ardent spirits are distilled annually in the Uni-
ted States, and  that the importation in former years
fell but little short of eight millions of gallons annually.
So that more than thirty millions of gallons have been
consumed in this country annually.  Supposing on an
average,  that a  thousand gallons, or ten  hogsheads
of these  spirits,  have produced the  premature death
of one person in one  year,  then it follows,  that the
thirty millions of gallons have brought to an untime-
ly grave,  in one year,  thirty thousand accountable be-
ings.  It  is thought that not less than thirty thousand
do die yearly  in the United States, from the inordinate
use of brandy, rum, gin, and whiskey, not  to mention
a still greater number of persons, whom these liquors
have rendered useless and worse than useless to society."
   My friends, how degrading!  what a picture of the
depravity of man ! Has compassion become extinct in
our  souls? have we no bowels  of mercy  toward our
fellow men ?  shall we see  the silver cord loosed, and
the wheel broken at the cistern, and make no efforts to
check this deadly evil ?  Why will you not arise in
your might,  and combine  your efforts  to check this
sweeping deluge? What man is there, not destitute of
the feelings of philanthropy, whose compassion is not
extinct, that  would not stretch  forth  his hand, and
snatch from the vortex of destruction a fellow creature?
Lt is presumed there is none.   But is it not of unspeak-
ably greater importance, when we see our neighbours,
our friends, our acquaintance, through the excessive use
of ardent spirits, fast hastening into that world "from 
*&
which no traveller returns," probably unprepared to
meet their  God;—is  it not, I say, of far greater  im-
portance, to  use  every effort in  our power to  pre-
serve them from  impending  ruin;  and if we find  ad-
monition, precept  and example unavailable, to  wrest
from their hands the fatal poison ?  My friends, is it not
a melancholy consideration, that in a christian land,
such apathy should possess the greater part of mankind,
and that so many among us are under the influence of
such sickly delicacy, that  they are afraid  to make vi-
gorous efforts  to ameliorate the state of society, lest it
will be said they are intermeddling with, and concern
themselves  about other men's matters !   Can such, or
any other consideration, justify their neglect!  If,  my
friends, we make no efforts to reclaim the intemperate^
can we expect to  meet the approbation of Him who is
to be our Judge ?   If we  sawtke fatal dagger  in  the
hand of our neighbour, raised to be plunged into  his
heart, and it was in our power to wrest it from his hand,
should we hesitate to do it ?   No, my friends !    Shall
we  hesitate then to snatch  the poisonous bowl from  the
lips of the  intemperate, by which they are ready to
perish ?  God forbid!  But  alas ! how many among
us adopt the  evasive  exclamation of unfeeling  Cain;
" Am  I my brother's  keeper!"   Lord  of compas-
sion!  how long  shall this be the melancholy  case !
We however  trust, that the time is  not far distant, if
not already come, when a  more general spirit of bene-
volence will pervade the earth, and when mankind will
be more disposed  to come  up to the help  of the Lord,
by suppressing those iniquities which subvert the laws
of civilized society.   And now let me congratulate you,
my  friends, on this our anniversary, that our lives have
been spared, and that  we have again  been permitted to
assemble, to devise means "to suppress intemperance
and its kindred vices."  Let us renew our efforts to do
whatsoever our hands find to do in carrying into effect 
2S
this great and  benevolent object, in a conciliatory, yet
energetic manner.  Although our success may not have
been equal to our expectations, and  though we  may
not in future realize the extent of our wishes; yet we
hope to be instrumental of that "good, which will insure
the approbation of our consciences, and of our God.