AN INQUIRY 
Into the Effects of 
ARDENT SPIRITS 
UPON THE , 
HUMAN BODY AND MIND. 
With an. Account of the 
MEANS OF PREVENTING, 
AND OF THE 
REMEDIES FOR CURING THEM. 
BT BENJAMIN RUSH, M. I). 
PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE IN THE UNIVERSITY 
OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
THE FOURTH EDITION WITH ADDITIONS 
PHILADELPHIA *. 
PRINTED FOR THOMAS DOBSON, AT THE STONE 
HOUSE, No. 41 SOUTH SECOND STREET. • 
Archibald Baitrain> Printer CONTENTS. 
PART I. 
Of the effects of ardent fpirits, as they 
appear in a fit of drunkennefs Page 6 
Of the chronic efFeCts of their habitual ufe 
upon the body ic 
Of their efFeCts upon the mind .... 14 
Of their efFeCts upon property .... 15 
Arguments in favour of their ufe anfwered 17 
Cafes in which a fmall quantity of them 
may be taken with fafety 19 
PART II. 
Subftitutes for ardent fpirits 20 
Cautions, and directions to fundry dalles of 
people, with refpeet to the ufe of ardent 
fpirits 26 
Means of preventing their general ufe, fug- 
gefted to civil, and ecclefiaftical bodies 
of men 36 IV 
CONTENTS. 
PART III. 
Remedies for a fit of drunkennefs ... 40 
Remedies for preventing the pernicious ef- 
fects of the habitual and intemperate 
ufe of ardent lpirits 4^ AN 
INQUIRY, 
PART I. 
T) Y ardent fpirits, I mean thofe liquors only 
which are obtained by diftillation from fer- 
mented fubftances of any kind. To their effedts 
upon the bodies and minds of men, the following 
inquiry fhall be exclufively confined. Fermented 
liquors contain fo little fpirit, and that fo inti- 
mately combined with other matters, that they 
can feldom be drunken in fufficient quantities to 
produce intoxication, and its fubfequent effedts, 
without exciting a dilrelifh to their tafte, or pain, 
from their diftending the ftomach. They are 
moreover, wrhen taken in a moderate quantity, 
generally innocent, and often have a friendly in- 
fluence upon health and life. 6 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
The eSe&s of ardent fpivits divide thcmfelves 
into fuch as are of a prompt, and fuch as are of 
a chronic nature. The former, difcovcr them- 
lelves in drunkennefs, and the latter, in a nume- 
rous train of difeafes and vices of the body and 
mind. 
I. I fhall begin by briefly defcribing their 
prompt, or immediate effe&s, in a fit of drunk- 
ennefs . 
This odious difeafe (lor by that name it fhould 
be called) appears with more or lefs of the fol- 
lowing fymptoms, and moft commonly in the or- 
der in which I fliall enumerate them. 
1. Unufual garrulity. 
2. Unufual lllence. 
3. Captioufnefs, and a difpofition to quarrel. 
4. Uncommon good humour, and an infipid 
fimpering, or laugh. 
5. Profane fwearing, and curfing. 
7. A difclofure of their own, cr other people’s 
fecrcts. ARDENT SPIRITS. 
7 
8. A rude difpofition to tell thofe perfons In 
company whom they know, their faults. 
g. Certain immodeft actions. I am forry to 
fay, this llgn of the firft ftage of drunkennefs, fome- 
times appears in women, who, when fober, are 
uniformly remarkable for chafte and decent man- 
ners. 
10. A clipping of words. 
11. Fighting ; a black eye, or a fwelled nofe, 
often mark this grade of drunkennefs. 
12. Certain extravagant adls which indicate a 
temporary fit of madnefs. Thefe are finging, hal- 
looing, roaring, imitating the noifes of brute 
animals, jumping, tearing off clothes, dancing 
naked, breaking glades and china, and dafhing 
other articles of houfehold furniture upon the 
ground, or floor. After a while the paroxyfm of 
drunkennefs is completely formed. The face now 
becomes flufiied, the eyes project, and are fome- 
what watery, winking is lefs frequent than is na- 
tural ; the under lip is protruded,—the head in- 
clines a little to one fhoulder ;—the jaw falls ;— 
belchings and hiccup take place ;—the limbs tot- 
ter ;—the whole body daggers :—The unfortunate 
fubjedt of this hiftory next falls on his feat,—he 8 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
looks around him with a vacant countenance, and 
mutters inarticulate founds to himfelf ;—He at- 
tempts to rife and walk. In this attempt, he falls 
upon his fide, from which he gradually turns up- 
on his back. He now clofes his eyes, and falls in- 
to a profound deep frequently attended with fnor- 
ing, and profufe fweats, and fcmetimes with fuch 
a relaxation of the mufcles which confine the 
bladder and the lower bowels, as to produce a 
fymptom which delicacy forbids, me to mention. 
In this condition, he often lies from ten, twelve, 
and twenty-four hours, to two, three, four, and 
five days, an object of pity and difgufl to his 
family and friends. His recovery from this fit 
of intoxication, is marked with feveral peculiar 
appearances. He opens his eyes, and clofes them 
again ;—he gapes and dretches his limbs,—he 
then coughs and pukes,—his voice is hoarfe,—he 
riles with difficulty, and daggers to a chair ;—his 
eyes refemble balls of fire,—his hands tremble, 
—he loathes the fight of food ;—he calls for a 
glafs of fpirits to compofe his ftomach,—.now 
and then he emits a deep fetched figh, or groan, 
from a tranfient twinge of confidence, but he 
more frequently fcolds, and curfes every thing 
around him. In this date of langour and ftupidity, 
he remains for two or three days, before he is 
able to relume his former habits of bufmefs and 
converfation. ARDENT SPIRITS. 
9 
Pythagoras we are told maintained that the 
fouls of men after death, expiated the crimes com- 
mitted by them in this world, by animating cer- 
tain brute'animals ; and that the fouls of thofe 
animals in their turns, entered into men, and 
carried with them all their peculiar qualities and 
vices. This doctrine of one of the wifeft and bed; 
of the Greek Philofophers, was probably intend- 
ed only to convey a lively idea of the changes 
which are induced in the body and mind of man 
by a fit of drunkennefs. In folly, it caufes 
him to refemble a calf,—in ftupidity, an afs,—in 
roaring, a mad bull,—in quarrelling, and fight- 
ing, a dog,—in cruelty, a tyger,—in fetor, a 
fkunk,—in filthinefs, a hog,—and in obfcenity, a 
he-goat. 
; It belongs to the hiftory of drunkennefs to re- 
mark that, its paroxyfms occur, like the parox- 
yfms of many difeafes, at certain periods, and 
after longer or fhorter intervals. They often 
begin with annual, and gradually increafe in thqir 
frequency, until they appear in quarterly, monthly, 
weekly, and quotidian or daily periods. Finally they 
afford fcarcely any marks of remiflion either dur- 
ing the day or the night. There was a citizen of 
Philadelphia many years ago in whom drunken- 
nefs appeared in this protradted form. In fpeak- 
ing of him to one of his neighbours, I faid, 10 
OX THE EFFECTS OF 
** does he not fometimes get drunk ?** You mean 
faid his neighbour, “ is he not fometimes fober ?” 
It is farther remarkable, that drunkennefs re- 
fembles certain hereditary, family, and contagi- 
ous difeafes. I have once known it to defcend 
from a father to four out of five of his children. 
I have feen three, and once four brothers who were 
born of fober anceftors, affedted by it, and I have 
heard of its fpreading through a whole family 
compofed of members not originally related to 
each other. Thefe fadts are important, and fhould 
not be overlooked by parents, in deciding upon 
the matrimonial connections of their children. 
Let us next attend to the chronic effedts of ar- 
dent fpirits upon the body and mind. In the bo- 
dy, they difpofe to every form of acute difeafe ; 
they moreover excite fevers in perfons predifpofed 
to them, from other caufes. This has been re- 
marked in all the yellow fevers which have vifit- 
ed the cities of the United States. Hard drinkers 
feldom efcape, and rarely recover from them. 
The following difeafes are the ufual confequences 
of the habitual ufe of ardent fpirits, viz. 
i. A decay of appetite, ficknefs at ftomach, 
and a puking of bile or a difcharge of a frothy 
and vifcid phlegm by hawking, in the morning. ARDENT SPIRITS. 
11 
2. Obftrudtions of the liver. The fable of 
Prometheus, on whofe liver a vulture was faid 
to prey conftantly, as a punifirment for liis Heal* 
ing tire from heaven, was intended to illuftrate 
the painful effedts of ardent fpirits upon that or* 
gan of the body. 
/ ' c:. * . 
3. Jaundice and dropfy of the belly and limbs, 
and finally of every cavity in the body. A 
fwelling in the feet and legs is fo chara&errftic 
a mark of habits of intemperance, that the mer* 
chants in Charlefton, I have been told, ceafe to 
trufl: the planters of South Carolina, as foon as 
they perceive it. They very naturally conclude 
induftry and virtue to be extindt in that man in 
whom that fymptom of difeafe, has been produc- 
ed by the intemperate ufe of di(tilled fpirits. 
4. Hoarfenefs, and a hufky cough, which of- 
ten terminate in confumption, and fometimes in 
an acute and fatal difeafe of the lungs. 
♦ 
5. Diabetes, that is, a frequent and weakening 
difcharge of pale, or fweetifh urine. 
6. Rednefs and eruptions on different parts of 
the body. They generally begin on the nofe, and 
after gradually extending all over the face, fome- 
times deicend to the limbs in the form of leprofy. 12 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
They have been called “ Rum-buds,” when they 
appear in the face. In who have occafi- 
onally furvived thefe qffeds of ardent fpirits on 
the fkin, the face after a while becomes bloated, 
and its rednefs is fucceeded by a death-like pale- 
nefs. Thus the fame fire which produces a red 
colour in iron, when urged to a more intenfe de- 
gree, produces what has been called a white heat. 
7. A fetid breath compofed cf every thing 
that is offenfive in putrid animal matter. 
8. Frequent and digufting belchings. Dr. 
Haller relates the cafe of a notorious drunkard, 
having been fuddenly deftroyed in confequence of 
the vapour difcharged from his ftomach by belch- 
ing, accidentally taking fire by coming in con- 
tad with the flame of a candle. 
9. Epilepfy. 
/ 
10. Gout in all its furious forms of fwelled 
limbs, colic, palfy, and apoplexy. 
Laflly, 11. Madnefs. The late Dr. Waters, 
■while he aded as houle pupil and apothecary of 
the Pennfylvania Hofpital, allured me, that in o*e- 
third of the patients confined by this terrible dif- 
eafe, it had been induced by ardent fpirits. ARDENT SPIRITS. 
13 
Moft of the difeafes which have been enume- 
rated are of a mortal nature. They are more cer- 
tainly induced, and terminate more fpeedily in 
death, when fpirits are taken in fuch quantities, 
and at fuch times, as to produce frequent intox- 
ication ; but it may lerve to remove an error 
with which fome intemperate people confole them- 
felves, to remark, that ardent fpirits often bring 
on fatal difeafes without producing drunkennefs. 
I have known many perfons deftroyed by them, 
who were never completely intoxicated during the 
whole courfe of their lives. The folitary inftances of 
longevity which are now and then met with in 
hard drinkers, no more difprove the deadly effe&s 
of ardent fpirits, than the folitary instances of re- 
coveries from apparent death by drowning, prove 
that there is no danger to life from a human body 
lying an hour or two under water. 
The body after its death, from the ufe of dif- 
tilled fpirits, exhibits by dilfedion certain ap- 
pearances which are of a peculiar nature The 
fibres of the ftomach and bowels are contraded; 
—abfcefles,—gangrene,—and fchirri are found in 
the vifcera.—The bronchial veffels are contrad- 
ed,—the blood-velfels and tendons in many parts 
of the body are more or lefs ofiified, and even 
the hair of the head pofiefles a crifpnefs which 14 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
renders it lefs valuable to wig-makers than the 
hair of fober people. 
Not lefs definitive are the effeds of ardent fpi- 
rits upon the human mind. They impair the 
memory, debilitate the underflanding, and per- 
vert the moral faculties. It was probably from 
obferving thefe effeds of intemperance in drink- 
ing, upon the mind, that a law was formerly pall- 
ed in Spain which excluded drunkards from being 
witnefles in a court of juftice. But the demoral- 
izing effeds of diftilled fpirits do not flop here. 
They produce not only falfehood, but fraud, theft, 
uncleanlinefs and murder. Like the demoniac 
mentioned in the New Teftament, their name is 
“ legion,” for they convey into the foul, a hoft of 
vices and crimes. 
A more afFeding fpedacle cannot be exhibited 
than a perfon into whom this infernal fpirit, gene- 
rated by habits of intemperance, has entered. 
It is more or lefs afFeding according to the ftation 
the perfon fills in a family, or in fociety, who is 
poffeffed by it. Is he a hufband ? How deep the 
anguifh which rends the bofom of his wife! Is 
the a wife ? Who can mcafurc the fliamc and 
averfion which file excites in her hufband ? Is he, 
the father, or is fhc the mother of a family of 
• hildren ? See their averted look- from the’r pa- ARDENT SPIRITS. 
15 
rent, and their blufliing looks at each other ! Is 
he a magi (Irate ? Or has he been chofen to fill a 
high and refpectable ftation in the councils of his 
country ? What humiliating fears of corruption 
in the adminiftration of the laws, and of the fub- 
verfion of public order and happinefs, appear in 
the countenances of all who fee him! Is he a 
minister of the gofpel ?—Here language fails me. 
If angels weep,—it is at fuch a light. 
In pointing out the evils produced by ardent 
fpirits, let us not pal's by their effe&s upon the 
eftates of the perfons who are addi.fted to them. 
Are they inhabitants of cities ?—Behold ! their 
houfes dripped gradually of their furniture, and 
pawned, or fold by a conftable, to pay tavern 
debts. See ! their names upon record in the 
dockets of every court, and whole pages of news- 
papers filled with advertifements of their eftates 
for public fale. Are they inhabitants of country 
places ? Behold ! their houfes with (battered win- 
dows,—their barns with leaky roofs,—their gar- 
dens overrun with weeds,—their fields with broken 
fences, their hogs without yokes,—their fheep 
without wTool,—their cattle and horfes without 
fat,—and their children filthy, and half clad, with- 
out manners, principles, and morals. This pic- 
ture of agricultural wretchednefs is feldom of 
long duration. The farms and property thus ne- 16 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
gledted, and depreciated, are feized and fold for 
the benefit of a group of creditors. Tlie children 
that were bom with the profpefl of inheriting 
them, are bound out to fervice in the neighbour- 
hood ; while their parents, the unworthy authors 
of their misfortunes, ramble into new and diftant 
fettlements, alternately fed on their way by the 
hand of charity, or a little cafual labour. 
Thus we fee poverty and mifery, crimes and 
infamy, difeafes and death, are ail the natural 
and ufual confequences of the intemperate ufe of 
ardent fpirits. 
I have claffed death among the confequences 
of hard drinking. But it is not death from the 
immediate hand of the Deity, nor from any of 
the inftruments of it which were created by him. 
It is death from Suicide. Yes—thou poor de- 
' graded creature, who art daily lifting the poifon- 
ed bowl to thy lips—ceafe to avoid the unhallow- 
ed ground in which the felf-murderer is interred, 
and wonder no longer that the fun fhould fhine, 
and the rain fall, and the grafs look green upon 
his grave. Thou art perpetrating gradually, by 
the ufe of ardent fpirits, what he has effected 
fuddenly, by opium—or a halter. Confidering 
how many circumftances from furprife, or de- 
rangement, may palliate his guilt, or that (un- ARDENT SPIRITS. 
17 
like yours) it was not preceded and accompanied 
by any other crime, it is probable his condemna- 
tion will be lefs than yours at the day of judg- 
ment. 
I fhall now take notice of the occafions and cir- 
cumftances which are fuppofed to render the ufe 
of ardent fpirits neceffary, and endeavour to fhew 
that the arguments in favour of their ufe in 
fuch cafes are founded in error, and that in each 
of them, ardent fpirits inftead of affording ftrength 
to the body, increafe the evils they are intended 
to relieve. 
t *' 
1. They are faid to be neceffary in very cold 
weather. This is far from being true ; for tire 
temporary warmth they produce, is always fuc- 
ceeded by a greater difpofition in the body to be 
affected by cold. Warm dreffes, a plentiful meal 
juft before expofure to the cold, and eating occa- 
flonally a little gingerbread, or any other cordial 
food, is a much more durable method of preferv- 
ing the heat of the body in cold weather. 
2. They are faid to be neceffary in very warm 
weather. Experience proves that they increafe, 
inftead of leffening the effects of heat upon the 
body, and thereby difpofe to difeafes of all kinds. 
Even in the warm climate of the Weft Indies 18 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
Dr. Bell afferts this to be true. “ Rum (fays this 
author) whether ufed habitually, moderately, or 
in exceflive quantities in the Weft Indies, always 
diminifhes the ftrength of the body, and renders 
men more fufceptible of difeafe, and unfit for any 
fervice in which vigour or adtivity is required.* 
As well might we throw oil into a houfe, the roof 
of which was on fire, in order to prevent the 
flames from extending to its infide, as pour ar- 
dent fpirits into the ftomach, to leffen the effedfs 
of a hot fun upon the lhin. 
3. Nor do ardent fpirits leffen the effedfs of 
hard labour upon the body. Look at the horfe ; 
■with every mufcle of his body fwelled from morn- 
ing till night in the plough, or a team, does he 
make figns for a draught of toddy, or a glafs of 
fpirits to enable him to cleave the ground, or to 
climb a hill ?—No—he requires nothing but cool 
water, and fubftantial food. There is no nou- 
rifhment in ardent fpirits. The ftrength they pro- 
duce in labour, is of a tranfient nature, and is 
always followed by a fenfe of weaknefs and fa- 
tigue. 
But are there no conditions of the human body 
in which ardent fpirits may be given ? I anfwer— 
* Inquiry into the causes which produce, and the means of 
preventing diseases among British officers, soldiers and others in 
the West Indies. there are. 1 ft. When the body has been fuddenly 
exhaufted of Its ftrength, and a difpofition to faint- 
nefs has been Induced. Here a few fpoonfuls, or 
a wine-glafsful of fpirlts, with or without water, 
may be adminiftered with fafety, and advantage. 
In this cafe we comply ftriftly with the advice of 
Solomon, who reftridts the ufe of “ ftrong drink” 
only “to him who is ready to perifh.” 2dly. 
When the body has been expofed for a long time 
to wet weather, more efpecially, if it be combin- 
ed with cold. Here a moderate quantity of 
fpirits is not only fafe, but highly proper to ob- 
viate debility, and to prevent a fever. They will 
more certainly have thofe falutary effedts, if the 
feet are at the fame time bathed with them, or a 
half pint of them poured into the fhoes or boots. 
Tliefe I believe are the only two cafes in which 
diftilled fpirits are ufeful or necellary to perforis 
in health. 
ARDENT SPIRITS. 
19 20 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
PART II. 
BUT it may be faid, if we rejedl fpirits from 
being a part of our drinks, what liquors fball 
we fubftitute in their room ? I anfwer in the firft 
place, 
i. Simple Water. I have known many in- 
ftances of perfons who have followed the moffc 
laborious employments for many years, in the 
open air, and in warm and cold weather, who 
never drank any thing but water, and enjoyed 
uninterrupted good health. Dr. Mofeley, who 
refided many years in the Weft Indies, confirms 
this remark. “ I aver, (fays the Dodtor) from 
my own knowledge and cuftom, as well as the 
cuftom and obfervations of many other people, 
that thofe who drink nothing but water, or make 
it their principal drink, are but little affected by ARDENT SPIRITS. 
21 
the climate, and can undergo the greateft fatigue 
without inconvenience, and are never l’ubjed to 
troublefome or dangerous difeafes.” 
Perfons who are unable to relifh this fimple be- 
verage of nature, may drink fome one, or of all 
the following liquors in preference to ardent fpi- 
rits. 
2. Cyder. This excellent liquor contains a 
fmall quantity of fpirit, but fo diluted, and blunt- 
ed by being combined with a large quantity of fac- 
charine matter, and water, as to be perfectly 
wholefome.—It fometimes difagrees with perfons 
fubjed to the rheumatifm, but it may be made 
inoffenfive to fuch people, by extinguilhing a red 
hot iron in it, or by mixing it with water. It is 
to be lamented, that the late frolls in the fpring 
fo often deprive us of the fruit which affords this 
liquor. The effeds of thefe frofts have been in 
fome meafure obviated by giving an orchard a 
north weft expofure, fo as to check too early ve- 
getation, and by kindling two or three large 
fires of brufh, or ftraw to the windward of the or- 
chard, the evening before we exped a night of 
froft. This laft expedient has in many inftances 
preferved the fruit of an orchard to the great 
joy and emolument of the ingenious hufbandman. 22 
ON THE EFFECTS 6? 
3. Malt Liquors. The grain from which 
thefe liquors are obtained, is not liable, like the 
apple, to be afFedted by froft, and therefore they 
can be procured, at all times, and at a mode- 
rate price. They contain a good deal of nou- 
rifnment ; hence we find many of the poor peo- 
ple in Great Britain endure hard labour with no 
other food than a quart or three pints of beer* 
with a few pounds of bread in a day. As it will 
be difficult to prevent fmall beer from becoming 
four in warm weather, an excellent fubflitute may 
be made for it by mixing bottled porter, ale, or 
ftrong beer with an equal quantity of water; or a 
pleafant beer may be made by adding to a bottle 
of porter, ten quarts of water, and a pound of 
brown fugar or a pint of molaffes. After they 
have been well mixed, pour the liquor into bot- 
tles and place them, loofely corked, in a cool cel- 
lar. In two or three days, it will be fit for life. 
A lpoonful of ginger added to the mixture, ren- 
ders it more lively, and agreeable to the tafte. 
3. Wines. Thefe fermented liquors are com- 
pofed of the fame ingredients as cyder, and are 
both cordial and nouriihing. The peafants of 
France who drink them in large quantities, are 
a fober and healthy body of people. Unlike ar- 
dent fpirits, which render the temper irritable, 
ivipes generally infpire cheerfulnefs -and good htr- ARDENT SPIRITS- 
23 
«hour. It is to be lamented that the grape has 
not as yet been fufficiently cultivated in our coun- 
try, to afford wine for our citizens ; but many ex- 
cellent fubftitutes may be made for it, from the 
native fruits of all the hates. If two barrels of 
cyder frcfh from the prefs, are boiled into one, 
-and afterwards fermented, and kept for two or 
three years in a dry cellar, it affords a liquor 
which, according to the quality of the apple from 
which the cyder is made, has the tafte of Mala- 
ga, or Rhenilh wine. It affords when mixed with 
water, a moll agreeable drink in fummer. I have 
taken the liberty of calling it Pomona Wine. 
There is another method of making a pleaiant 
\vine from the apple, by adding four and twenty 
gallons of new cyder to three gallons of fyrup 
made from the expreffed juice of fweet apples. 
When thoroughly fermented, and kept for a few 
years, it becomes fit for ufe. The blackberry 
of our fields, and the rafberry, and currant of 
our gardens, afford likewife an agreeable and 
wholefome wine, when prefled, and mixed with 
certain proportions of fugar and water, and a lit- 
tle fpirit, to counteract their difpofition to an ex> 
'Cefllve fermentation. It is no objcdtion to thefe 
cheap and home-made wines, that they arc unfit 
for ufe until they are two or three years old. The 
foreign wines in common ufe in our country, re- 
quire not only a much longer time to bring them 24 
ON THE EEFECTS OF 
to perfedlion, but to prevent their being difagreea- 
ble, even to the tafte. 
4. Molasses and Water, alfo Vinegar and 
Water fweetened with fugar, or molaffes, form 
an agreeable drink in warm weather. It is plea- 
fant and cooling, and tends to keep up thofe gen- 
tle and uniform fweats on which health, and life 
often depend. Vinegar and water conftituted the 
only drink of the l'oldiers of the Roman republic, • 
and it is well known they marched, and fought 
in a warm climate, and beneath a load of arms 
which weighed fixty pounds. Boaz, a wealthy 
farmer in Paleftine, we find treated his reapers 
with ncrthing but bread dipped in vinegar. To 
fuch perfons as objedt to the tafte of vinegar, four 
milk, or buttermilk, or fweet milk diluted with 
water, may be given in its ftead. I have known 
the labour of the longeft and hotteft days in fum- 
mer fupported by means of thefe pleafant and 
wholefome drinks with great firmnefs, and ended, 
with fcarcely a complaint of fatigue. 
5. The Sugar Maple affords a thin juice which 
has long been ufed by the farmers in Connedticut 
as a cool, and refrefhing drink in the time of har- 
veft. The fettlers in the Weftern counties of the 
middle ftates will do well to let a few of the trees 
which yield this pleafant juice, remain in all their ARDENT SPIRITS.'*’ 
25 
fields. They may prove the means not only of 
faving their children and grand children many 
hundred pounds, but of faving their bodies from 
difeafe and death, and their fouls from mifery be- 
yond the grave. 
6. Coffee pofiefies agreeable and exhilarating 
qualities, and might be ufed with great advan- 
tage to obviate the painful effedts of heat, cold 
and fatigue upon the body. I once knew a coun- 
try phyfician who made it a prafiice to drink a 
pint of ftrong coffee previoufly to his taking a 
long or cold ride. It was more cordial to him 
than fpirits, in any of the forms in which they are 
commonly ufed. 
• * 
The ufe of the cold bath in the morning, and 
of the warm bath in the evening, are happily cal- 
culated to llrengthen the body in the former part 
of the day, and to reftore it in the latter, from 
the languor and fatigue which are induced by 
heat and labour. 
Let it not be faid, ardent fpirits have become 
neceffary from habit in harveft, and in other Tea- 
fons of uncommon and arduous labour. The hal 
bit is a bad one, and may be eafily broken. Let 
but half a dozen farmers in a neighbourhood com- 
bine to allow higher wages to their labourers than 26 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
are common, and a fufficicnt quantity of any of 
tlxe plcafant, and wholefpmp liquors I have re- 
commended, and they may foon, by their exam- 
ple, aboiilh the pradlice of giving them fpirits. 
In a little while they will be delighted with the 
good effects of their aifociation. Their grain and 
hay will be gathered into their barns in lefs time, 
end in a better condition than formerly, and of 
courfe at a lefs expenfe, and an hundred difagree- 
abie feenes from iicknefs, contention and accidents 
will be avoided, all of which follow in a greater 
or lefs degree the ufe of ardent fpirits. 
Nearly all difeafes have their predifpofing cauf- 
es. The fame thing may be faid of the intem- 
perate ufe of difti-lled fpirits. It will, therefore, 
be ufeful to point out the different employments, 
fituations, and conditions of the body and mind 
which predifpofe to the love of thofe. liquor s, and 
to accompany them with directions to prevent per- 
fons being ignorantly and undciignedly feduced 
into the habitual and deftruCtive ufe of them. 
x. Labourers bear with great difficulty, long 
intervals between their meals. To enable them 
to fupport the wafte of their ffrength, their fto- 
machs fliould be conftantly, but moderately ffi- 
mulatedby aliment, and this is heft done by their 
eating four or five times in a-day, during the ft a- ARDENT SPIRITS. 
27 
fons of great bodily exertion. The food at this 
time fnould be folid, coiifilfing chiefly of falted 
meat. The vegetables ufed with it, fhould poflefs 
fome a&ivity, or they fliould be made iavoury by 
a mixture of fpices. Onions and garlic are of a 
moft cordial nature. They compofed a part of 
the diet which enabled the Ifraelices to endure in 
a warm climate, the heavy talks impofed upon 
them by their Egyptian mailers, and they were 
eaten, Horace and Virgil tell us, by the Roman 
farmers, to repair the wafte of their flrength, by 
the toils of harveft. There are likewife certain 
fweet lubftances which fupport the body under 
the prelfure of labour. The negroes in the Weft 
Indies become ftrong, and even fat, by drinking 
the juice of the fugar cane in the feafon of grind- 
ing it. The Jewifh foldiers were invigorated by 
occafionally eating raifxns and figs. A bread 
compofed of wheat flour, molalfes, and ginger 
(commonly called gingerbread) taken in fmall 
quantities during the day, is happily calculated to 
obviate the debility induced upon the body by 
confcant labour. All theft fubftances, whether of 
an animal or vegetable nature, lefi'en the defire, as 
well as the necefilty for cordial drinks, and impart 
equable, and durable ftrength, to every part of 
the fyftem. 
\ 
2. Valetudinarians, efpecially thofe who are 
afflicted with difeafes of the ftomach and bowels, 28 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
are very apt to leek relief from ardent fpirits. Let 
fuch people be cautious how they make ufe of 
this dangerous remedy. I have known many 
men and women of excellent characters and prin- 
ciples, who have been betrayed by occafional do- 
fes of gin and brandy, into a love of thofe liquors, 
and have afterwards fallen facrifices to their fatal 
effeCts. The different preparations of opium 
are much more fafe and efficacious than diftilled 
cordials of any kind, in flatulent or fpafmodic af- 
fections of the ftomach and bowels. So great is 
the danger of contracting a love for diftilled li- 
quors by accuftoming the ftomach to their ftimu- 
lus, that as few medicines as poflible fhould be 
given in fpiritous vehicles, in chronic difeafes. 
A phyfician of great eminence, and uncommon 
worth, who died towards the clofe of the laft cen- 
tury, in London, in taking leave of a young phy- 
fician of this city, who had finifhed his ftudies un- 
der his patronage, impreffed this caution with pe- 
culiar force upon him, and lamented at the fame 
time in pathetic terms, that he had innocently 
made many fots by prefcribing brandy and water 
in ftomach complaints. It is difficult to tell 
how many perfons have been deftroyed by thofe 
phyficians who have adopted Dr. Brown’s indis- 
criminate praftice in the ufe of ftimulating reme- 
dies, the moft popularof which is ardent fpirits, but ARDENT SPIRITS.") 
29 
it is well known, feveral of them have died of in- 
temperance in this city, fince the year 1790. They 
were probably led to it, by drinking brandy and 
'water to relieve themfelves from the frequent at- 
tacks of debility and indifpofition to which the la- 
bours of a phyfician expofe him, and for which 
reft, failing, a gentle purge, or weak diluting 
drinks would have been fafe and more certain 
cures. 
None of thefe remarks are intended to preclude 
the ufe of fpirits in the low ftate of Ihort, or what 
are called acute difeafes, for in fuch cafes, they 
produce their effects too foon, to create an habi- 
tual defire for them. 
3. Some people, from living in countries fub- 
je<5t to intermitting fevers, endeavour to fortify 
themfelves againft them, by taking two or three 
wine-glafles of bitters, made with fpirits, every 
day. There is great danger of contradling ha- 
bits of intemperance from this pradtice. Befides, 
this mode of preventing intermittents. is far from 
being a certain one. A much better fecurity 
againft them, is a teaipoonful of the Jefuits bark, 
taken every morning during a fickly feafon. If t his 
fafe and excellent medicine cannot be had, a gill or 30 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
half a pint of a ftrong watery infufion of centau- 
ry, camomile, wormwood, or rue, mixed with a 
little of the calamus of our meadows, may be taken 
every morning with nearly the fame advantage as 
the Jefuits bark. Thofeperfons who live in a fick- 
ly country, and cannot procure any of the prevent- 
ives of autumnal fevers, which have been men- 
tioned, Ihould avoid the morning and evening air ; 
—fhould kindle fires in their houfes, on damp 
days, and in cool evenings, throughout the whole 
fummer, and put on winter clothes, about the 
firft week in September. The lad part of thefe 
directions, applies only to the inhabitants of the 
middle ftates. 
4. Men who follow profefiions, which require 
conftant exercife of the faculties of their minds, 
are very apt to feek relief, by the ufe of ardent 
fpirits, from the fatigue which fuccceds great 
mental exertions. To fuch perfons, it may be a 
difcovery to know, that tea is a much better re- 
medy for that purpofe. By its grateful and gen- 
tle ftimulus, it removes fatigue, reftores the ex- 
citement of the mind, and invigorates the whole 
lyftem. I am no advocate for the excefiive ufe 
of tea. When taken too ftrong, it is hurtful, efpeci- 
ally to the female conftitution ; but when taken of 
a moderate degree of ftrength, and in moderate ARDENT ST1RITS. 
31 
quantities, with fugar and cream, or milk, I be- 
lieve it is in general innoxious, and at all times to 
be preferred to ardent fpirits, a.s a cordial for ftu- 
dious men. The late Anthony Benezet, one of 
the moft laborious fchoolmafters I ever knew, 
informed me, he had been prevented from the love 
of fpiritous liquors, by acquiring a love for tea m 
early life. Three or four cups, taken in an after- 
noon, carried off the fatigue of a whole day’s la- 
bour in his fchool. This worthy.man lived to be 
feventy-one years of age, and died of an acute dif- 
eafe, with the fall exercife of all the faculties of 
his mind. But the ufe of tea, counteracts a de- 
fire for diftilled fpirits, during great lodi/y, as well 
as mental exertions. Of this, Captain Foreft has 
fumifhed us with a recent, and remarkable proof 
in his hiftory of a voyage from Calcutta, to the 
Marqui Archipelago. “ I have always obferved 
(fays th:s ingenious mariner) when failors drink 
tea, it weans them from the thoughts of drinking 
ftrong liquors, and pernicious grog; and with 
this, they are foot! contented. Not fo with what- 
ever will intoxicate, be it what it will. . This has. 
always been my remark! I therefore, always 
encourage it, without their knowing why.” 
5. Women have fometlmes been led to feek 
lief from what is called breeding ficknefs, by the 32 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
ufe of ardent fpirits. A little gingerbread, or 
bifcuit, taken occafionally, fo as to prevent the 
ftomach being empty, is a much better remedy 
for that difeafe. 
6. Perfons under the prefTure of debt, difap- 
pointments in worldly purfuits, and guilt, have 
fometimes fought to drown their forrows in ftrong 
drink. The only radical cure for thofe evils, is 
to be found in Religion ; but where its fupport is 
not reforted to, wine and opium fliould always 
be preferred to ardent fpirits. They are far lefs 
injurious to the body and mind, than fpirits, and 
the habits of attachment to them, are eaiily brok- 
en, after time and repentance have removed 
the evils they were taken to relieve. 
:>sl: tv rnof • r, \ > vi . ... 
7. Thefociable and imitative nature of man, 
often difpofes him to adopt the moil odious and 
deftru&ive practices from his companions. The 
French foldiers who conquered Holland, in the 
year 1794, brought back with them the love and 
ufe of brandy, and thereby corrupted the inhabi- 
tants of leveral of the departments of France, who 
had been previcuilydiflinguifhed for their temper- 
ate and fober manners. Many other fa«fts might 
be mentioned, to fhew how important it is to avoid 
the company of perfons addifted to the ufe of ar- 
dent fpirits. ARDENT SPIRITS. 
33 
8. Smoking and chewing tobacco, by ren- 
dering water and fimple liquors infipid to the 
tafte, difpofe very much to the ftronger ftimuliis 
of ardent fpirits. The pradtice of fmoking fe- 
gars, has in every part of our country, been more 
followed by a general ufe of brandy and water, 
as a common drink, more efpecially by that clafs 
of citizens who have not been in the habit of 
drinking wine, or malt liquors. The lefs, there- 
fore, tobacco is ufed in the above wTays, the bet- 
ter. 
9. No man ever became fudde.nly a drunkard. 
It is by gradually accuftoming the tafte and fto- 
mach to ardent fpirits, in the forms of grog and 
tody, that men have been led to love them in 
their more deftrudtive mixtures, and in their fim- 
ple ftate. Under the impreftion of this truth, 
were it poftible for me to fpeak, with a voice, fo 
loud as to be heard from the river St. Croix, to 
the remoteft fhores of the MiffilFippi, which boijnd 
the territory of the United States, I would fay, 
—Friends and Fellow Citizens ! avoid the habi- 
tual ufe of thofe two feducing liquors, whether 
they be made with brandy, rum, gin, Jamaica 
fpirits, whifkey, or what is called cherry bounce. 
It is true, fome men, by limiting the ftrength of 
thofe drinks, by meafuring the fpirit and water, 34 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
have drunken them for many years, and even 
during a long life, without acquiring habits of in- 
temperance or intoxication, but many more have 
been infenfibly led by drinking weak toddy, and 
grog firft at their meals, to take them for their 
conftant drink, in the intervals of their meals ; af- 
terwards to take them, of an increafed flrength, be- 
fore breakfaft in the morning, and finally to de- 
flroy them!elves by drinking undiluted fpirits, 
during every hour of the day and night. I am 
not fmgular in this remark. “ The confequen- 
ces of drinking rum and water, or grog, as it is 
called (fays Dr. Mofeley) is, that habit increafes 
the defire of more fpirit, and decreafes its effects ; 
and there are very fewT grog drinkers, who long 
furvive the practice of debauching with it, with- 
out acquiring the odious nuifance of dram-drink- 
ers breath, and downright ftupidity and impo- 
tence,”*. To enforce the caution againfl the ufe 
of thofe two apparently innocent and popular li- 
quors flill further, I fha.ll feledt one inftance, 
from among many, to fliew the ordinary manner, 
in which they beguile and dellroy their votaries. 
A citizen of Philadelphia, once of a fair and fober 
chara&er, drank toddy for many years, as his 
conftant drink. From this he proceeded to drink 
grog. After a while, nothing would Satisfy him, 
* Treatise on Tropical Diseases. ARDENT SPIRITS. 
35 
but flings made of equal parts of rum and water, 
with a little fugar. From flings, he advanced to 
raw rum, and from common rum, to Jamaica fpi- 
rits. Here he refted for a few months, but at 
length finding even Jamaica fpirits were not 
flrong enough to warm his ftomach, he made it a 
conflant pra&ice to throw a table-fpoonful of 
ground pepper into each glafs of his fpirits, in or- 
der, to ufe his own words, “ to take off their cold- 
nefs.” He foon afterwards died a martyr to his 
intemperance. 
Miniflers of the gofpel of every denomination, 
in the United States !—aid me with all the weight 
you poffefs in fociety, from the dignity and ufeful- 
nefs of your facred office, to fave our fellow men 
from being deftroyed, by the great deftroyer of 
their lives and fouls. In order more fuccefsfully 
to effedt this purpofe, permit me to fugged to you, 
to employ' the fame wife modes of inftruifHon, 
which you ufe in your attempts to prevent their 
deftrucHon by other vices. You expofe the evils 
of covetoufnefs, in order to prevent theft ; you 
point out the fmfulnefs of impure defires, in order 
to prevent adultery ; and you difluade from an- 
ger, and malice, in order to prevent murder. In 
like manner, denounce by your preaching, con- 
verfation and examples, the feducing influence of 36 
toddy and grog, a lien yon aim to prevent all the 
crimes and miseries, which are the offspring of 
ftrong drink. 
i„,» ?L{ r . . , . r.T t r.fl. . .( ._«»r . ■. 
We have hitherto confidered the effefts of ar- 
dent fpirits.upon individuals, and the means of 
preventing them. I fhall clofe this head of our 
inquiry, by a few remarks on their effedts upon 
the population and welfare of our country, and 
the means of obviating them. 
It is highly probable, not lefs than 400c people 
die annually, from the u£e of ardent fpirits, in the 
United States. Should they continue to exert this 
deadly influence upon our population, where will 
their evils terminate ? This queftion may be an- 
fvvered, by afking, where are all the Indian tribes, 
whofe numbers and arms formerly fpread terror 
among their civilized neighbours ? I anfiver in the 
words of the famous Mingo Chief, “ the blood of 
many of them flows not in the veins of any human 
creature.” They have perifhed, not by pefli- 
lence, nor war, but by a greater foe to human 
life than either of them,—Ardent Spirits. The 
lofs of 4000 American citizens, by the yellow fe- 
ver, in a Angle year, awakened general fyffipathy 
and terror, and called forth all the ftrength and 
ingenuity of laws, to prevent its recurrence. Why 
©N THE EFFECTS OF 13 not the fame zeal manifetyed in protecting our 
citizens from the more general and confirming ra- 
vages of diftiiled fpirits ?—Should the cuftoms ot 
civilized life, preferve our nation from extinction, 
and even from an inCreafe of mortality, by thole 
liquors ; they cannot prevent our country being 
governed by men, chofen by intemperate and 
corrupted voters. From fuch legiflators, the 
republic would loon be in danger. To avert 
this evil;—let good men of every clafs unite 
and befiege the general and date governments, 
with petitions to limit the number of taverns—to 
impofe heavy duties upon ardent ipirits—to in- 
flict a mark of difgrace, or a temporary abridge- 
ment of fome civil right, upon every man, con- 
victed of drunkennefs ; and finally to fecure the 
property of habitual drunkards, for the benefit of 
their families, by placing it in the hands of tiuf- 
tees, appointed for that purpofe, by a court of 
juftice. 
To aid the operation of thefe laws, would it 
not be extremely ufeful for the rulers of the dif- 
ferent denominations of Cliriftian churches to 
unite, and render the fale and corrfumption of 
ardent fpirits, a fubjeCt of ecclefiaftical jurifdic- 
tion r—The Methodifts, and fociety of Friends, 
have for fome rime palf, viewed them as contra- 
ARDENT SPIRITS. ' 
37 38 
band articles, to the pure laws of thegofpel, and 
have borne many public and private teftimo- 
nies, againft making them the objedts of com- 
merce. Their fuccefs in this benevolent enter- 
prife, affords ample encouragement for all other 
religious focieties, to follow their example. 
ON THE EFFECTS OF ARDENT SPIRITS. 
39 
PART III. 
WE come now to the third part of this In- 
quiry, that is, to mention the remedies 
for the evils which are brought on, by the ex- 
cefiive ufe of diftilled fpirits. 
Thefe remedies divide themfelves into tw* 
kinds. 
I. Such as are proper to cure a fit of drunken- 
nefs, and 
II. Such as are proper to prevent its recur- 
rence, and to deftroy a defire for ardent fpirits. 
I. I am aware that the efforts of fcience and 
humanity, in applying their refources to the cure 
of-a difeafe, induced by an aci of vice., will meet 40 
OS THE EFFECTS OF 
with a cold reception from many people. But 
let fuch people remember, the fubjedfs of our re- 
medies, are their fellow creatures, and that the mi- 
feries brought upon human nature, by its crimes, 
are as much the objedh of divine compaffion, 
(which we are bound to imitate) as the diftrefies 
which are brought upon men, by the crimes of 
other people, or which they bring upon them- 
felves, by ignorance or accidents. Let us not 
then, pafs by the profirate fcfferer from ftrong 
drink, but adminifter to him the fame relief, we 
would afford to a fellow creature, in a fimilar 
fate, from an accidental, and innocent caufe. 
1. The firfl; thing to be done to cure a fit of drunk- 
cnnefs, is to open the collar, if in a man, and re- 
move all tight ligatures from every other part of 
the body. The head and fhouiders fhould at the 
fame time be elevated, fo as to favour a more 
feeble determination of the blood to the brain. 
2. The contents of the ftomach fhould be dis- 
charged, by thrufting a feather down the throat. 
It often reftores the patient immediately to his 
fenfes and feet. Should it fail of exciting a puk- 
ing* 
3. A napkin fhould be wrapped round the head, 
and wetted for an hour or two with cold water, ARDENT SPIRITS. 
41 
cr cold water fhould he poured in a ftream upon 
the head. Tn the latter way, I have fometimes 
feen it ufed when a boy, in the city of Philadel- 
phia. It was applied, by dragging the patient, 
when found drunk in the ftreet, to a pump, and 
pumping water upon his head for ten or fifteen 
minutes. The patient generally rofe, and walked 
ofF, fober and fullen, after the ufe of this remedy. 
•- Other remedies, lefs common, but not lefs ef- 
fectual for a fit of drunkennefs, are, 
4. Plunging the whole body into cold water. 
A number of gentlemen who had drunken to in- 
toxication, on board a fliip in the ftream, near 
Fell’s-point, at Baltimore, in confequence of their 
reeling in a fmall boat, on their way to the fhore, 
in the evening, overfet it, and fell into the water. 
Several boats from the fhore hurried 'to their re- 
lief. They were all picked up, and went home, 
perfectly fober to their families. 
5. Terror. A number of young merchants, who 
had drunken together, in a compting houfe, on 
James river, above thirty years ago, until they 
were intoxicated, were carried away by a hidden 
rife of the river, from an immenle fall of rain. 
They floated feveral miles with the current, in 
their little cabin, half filled with water. An illand 42 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
in the river arrefted it. When they reached the 
fhore that faved their lives, they were all fober. 
It is probable terror affifled in the cure of the 
perfons who fell into the water at Baltimore. 
6. The excitement of'a fit of anger. The late 
Dr. Witherfpoon, ufed to tell a ftory of a man 
in Scotland, who was always cured of a fit of 
drunkennefs, by being made angry. The means 
chofen for that purpose, was a fingular one. It 
■was talking again!! religion. 
7. A fevere whipping. This remedy a<fts by 
exciting a revullion of the blood from the brain, 
to the external parts of the body. 
8. Profufe fweats. By means of this evacua- 
tion, nature fomeumes cures a fit of drunkennefs. 
Their good effetfs are obvious in labourers, whom 
•quarts of fpirits taken in a day, will feldom in- 
toxicate, while they fweat freely. If the patient 
be unable to fwallow warm drinks, in order to 
produce fweats, they may be excited by putting 
liijn in a warm bath, or wrapping his body in 
blankets, under which fho-uld be placed half a do- 
zen hof bricks, or bottles filled with hot water. 
9. Bleeding. This remedy fhould always be 
ufed, where the former ones have been preferibed to no purpofe, or where there is reafon to fear from 
the long duration of the difeafe, a material injury 
may be done to the brain. 
It is hardly neceflary to add, that each of the 
above remedies, fhould be regulated by the grade 
of drunkennefs, and the greater or lefs degree, in 
which the intellects are affected in it. 
II. The remedies which are proper to prevent 
the recurrence of fits of drunkennefs, and to de- 
ftroy the defire for ardent fpirits, are religious, 
metaphyfical, and medical. I fhall briefly men- 
tion them. 
1. Many hundred drunkards have been cured 
of their defire for ardent fpirits, by a practical be- 
lief in the doctrines of the Chriftian religion. 
Examples of the divine efficacy of Chriftianity for 
this purpofe, have lately occurred in many parts, 
of the United States. 
2. A fudden fenfe of the guilt contracted by 
drunkennefs, and of its puniffiment in a future 
world. It once cured a gentleman in Philadel- 
phia, who in a fit of drunkennefs, attempted to 
murder a wife whom he loved. Upon being told 
of it when, he was fober, he was fo ftruck with the 
ARDENT SPIRITS. 
43 44 
enormity of the crime he had nearly committed, 
that he never tailed fpiritous liquors afterwards. 
3. A fudden fenfe of fhame. Of the efficacy 
of this deep feated principle in the human bofom, 
in curing drunkennefs, I (hall relate three remark- 
able inftances. 
A farmer in England, who had been many years 
in the practice of coming home intoxicated, from 
a market town, one day oblerved appearances of 
rain, while he was in market. His hay was cut, 
and ready to be houfed. To fave it, he returned 
in halle to his farm, before he had taken his cui- 
tomary dofe of grog. Upon coming into his 
houfe, one of his children, a boy of fix years old, 
ran to his mother, and cried out, “ O ! mother— 
father is come home, and he is not drunk.” Ths 
father, who heard this exclamation, was fo fevere- 
ly rebuked by it, that he fuddenly became a 
fober man. 
A noted drunkard was once followed by a fa- 
vourite goat, to a tavern, into which he was invit- 
ed by his mailer, and drenched with fome of his 
liquor. The poor animal daggered home with 
•his mailer, a good- deal intoxicated. The next 
■day he followed him to his aocullomed tavern. 
When the goat came to the door, he paufed : his 
ON THE EFFECTS OF matter made ligns to him to follow him into the 
houfe. The goat ftood ftill. An attempt was 
made to thrufthim into the tavern. He refitted, 
as if ftruck with the recollection of what he luf- 
fered from being intoxicated the night before. 
His matter was fo much affe&ed by a fenfe of 
fhame in obferving the conduct of his goat to be 
fo much more rational than his own, that he ceaf- 
ed from that time to drink fpiritous liquors. 
t 
A gentleman in one of the fouthern ftates, who 
had nearly deftroyed himfelf by ftrong drink, was 
remarkable for exhibiting the groifeft marks of 
folly in his fits of intoxication. One evening, fit- 
ting in his parlour, he heard an uncommon noife 
in his kitchen. He went to the door, and peep- 
ed through the key hole, from whence he faw 
one of his negroes diverting his fellow fervants, 
by mimicking his matter’s geftures and converfa- 
tion when he was drunk.—The fight overwhelm- 
ed him with fhame and diftrefs, and inftantly be- 
came the means of his reformation. 
4. The affociacion of the idea of ardent fpi- 
rits, with a painful or difagreeable impreflion up- 
on fome part of the body has fometimes cured 
the love of ftrong drink. I once tempted a 
negro man, who was habitually fond of ardent 
fpirits, to drink fome rum (which I placed in lfs 
ARDENT SPIRITS. 
45 46 
way,) and in \vhu:h I had put a few grains of 
tartar emetic—The tartar fickened and puked 
him to fuch a degree, that he fuppofed himfelf to 
be poifoned. I was much gratified by obferving 
he could not bear the fight, nor fmell of fpirits, 
for two years afterwards. 
I have heard of a man, who was cured of the 
love of fpirrts, by working off a puke, by large 
draughts of brandy and water, and I know a 
gentleman, who, in confequence of being affefl- 
ed with a rheumatifm, immediately after drink- 
ing fome toddy, when overcome with fatigue and 
expofure to the rain, has ever fince loathed that 
liquor, only becaufe it was accidentally affociated 
in his memory with the recollection of the pain 
he differed from his difeafe. 
This appeal to that operation of the human 
mind, which obliges it to affociate ideas, acci- 
dentally or otherwile combined, for the cure of 
vice, is very ancient. It was retorted to by Mo- 
fes, when he compelled the children of Ifrael, to 
drink the folution of the golden calf (which they 
had idolized) in water. This folution, if made 
as it moft probably was, by means of what is call- 
ed hepar fulphuris, was extremely bitter, and 
naufeous, and could never be recollected after- 
wards, without bringing into equal deteftation, 
ON THE EFFECTS OF ARDENT SPIRITS; 
47 
the I'm which fubje&ed them to the neceflity of 
drinking it:. Our knowledge of this principle 
of affociation upon the minds and conduct of 
men, fhould lead us to deftroy, by means of other 
impreihons, the influence of all thofe circumflan- 
ces, with which the recollection and defire of fpi- 
rits are combined. Some men drink only in the 
morning, fome at noon, and fome only at night. 
Some men drink only on a market day, fome at 
one tavern only, and fome only in one kind of com- 
pany. Now by finding a new and interefting em- 
ployment, or fubject of converfation for drunkards 
at the uftial times in which they have been- ac- 
cuftomed to drink, and by reftraining them by 
the fame means from thofe places and compani- 
ons, which fuggeffed to them the idea of ardent 
fpirits, their habits of intemperance may be com- 
pletely deftroyed. In the fame way the periodi- 
cal returns of appetite, and a defire of fleep have 
been deftroyed in an hundred inftanees. The de- 
lire for ftrong drink, differs from each of them, in 
being of an artificial nature, and therefore not dif- 
pofed to return, after being chafed for a few -weeks 
from the fyftem. 
5. The love of ardent fpirits has fometimes 
been fubdued, by exciting a counter pafiion in the 
mind. A citizen of Philadelphia, had made many 
unfuccefsful attempts to cure his wife of drunken- 48 
ON THE EFFECTS OF 
nefs. At length, defpairing of her reformation, 
he purchafed a hogfhead of rum, and after tap- 
ping it, left the key in the door of the room in 
which it was placed, as if he had forgotten it. 
His defign was to give his wife an opportunity of 
drinking herfelf to death. She fufpedled this to 
be his motive, in what he had done, and fuddenly 
left off drinking. Refentment here became the 
antidote to intemperance. 
6. A diet confiding wholly of vegetables cured 
a phyfician in Maryland, of drunkennefs, proba- 
bly by leffening that third, which is always more 
or lefs excited by animal food. 
7. Bliders to the ankles, which were followed 
by an unufual degree nf inflammation, once fuf- 
pended the love of ardent fpirits, for one month, 
in a lady in this city. The degrees of her intem- 
perance, may be conceived of, when I add, that 
her grocer’s accompt for brandy alone, amounted 
annually, to one hundred pounds, Pennfylvania 
currency, for feveral years. 
8. A violent attack of an acute difeafe, has 
fometimes dedroyed a habit of drinking diddled 
liquors. I attended a notorious drunkard, in 
the yellow fever, in the year 1798, who recover- ARDENT SPIRITS. 
49 
ed with the lofs cf his relifh for fpirits, which has, 
I believe, continued everfince. 
9. A falivation has lately performed a cure of 
drunkennefs in a perfon in Virginia. The new 
difeafe excited in the mouth and throat, while it 
rendered the aflion of the fmalleft quantity of fpi- 
rits upon them, painful, was happily calculated 
to deltroy the difeafe in the ftomach which prompts 
to drinking,, as well as to render the recollection 
of them difagreeable, by the laws of alfociation 
formerly mentioned. 
• 
10. I have known an oath taken before a magis- 
trate, to drink no mote fpirits, produce a perfeCt 
cure of drunfennefs. It is fometimes cured in 
this way in Ireland. Perfons who take oaths 
for this purpofe, are called affidavit men. 
11. An advantage would probably arife from 
frequent reprefentations being made to drunkards, 
not only of the certainty, but of the fuddennrfs of 
death, from habits of intemperance. I have heard 
of two perfons being cured of the love of ardent 
fpirits, by feeing death fuddenly induced by fits 
of intoxication ; in the one cafe in a ftranger, 
and in the other, in an intimate friend. 
12. It has been laid, that the difufe of fpirits 
fhould be gradual, but my obfervations authorize 50 
ON THE EFFECTS OF, &C. 
me to fay, that peifons who have been addiftcd 
to them, fhould abftain from them fudden/y, and 
entirely. “ Tafte not, handle not, touch not,” 
fhould be infcribed upon every veffel that con- 
tains fpirits in the houfe of a man, who wifhes 
to be cured of habits of intemperance. To obvi- 
ate for a while, the debility/which arifes from the 
fudde'n abflraftion of the ftimulus of fpirits, lauda- 
num, or bitters infufed m water, fhould be taken, 
and perhaps a larger quantity of beer or wine, 
than is confident with the drift rules of temperate 
living. By the temporary tife of thefe fub (Unites 
for fpirits, I have never known the tranfition to 
fober habits, to be attended with any bad effefts, 
but often with permanent health of body, and 
peace o( mind. 
THE END.