934 MODUS OPERANDI OF SPIRITS, 



dies, especially in hot climates. For it is certain, 

 that they may be consumed in much larger 

 quantities in cold than in warm and tropical 

 countries, without causing intoxication or disease. 

 And this proves that they afford a certain amount 

 of caloric either by uniting with the fluids of 

 the body, or by increasing respiration, in the 

 same way that animal food and fat produce this 

 effect. Hence it is, that when the energies 

 of life are exhausted, as in the latter stages of 

 typhus, cholera, tetanus, and other low forms of 

 disease, they are often revived by the judicious 

 employment of brandy, a3ther, wine, &c. 



Yet there cannot be a rational doubt, that the 

 abuse of these articles has caused a greater 

 amount of physical and moral suffering, than war, 

 famine, pestilence, or any other single calamity. 

 If, by virtue of a strong constitution, a few 

 drunkards have arrived at old age, millions are 

 destroyed in the prime of life by intemperance. 

 That intoxicating liquors are not sanctioned by 

 nature, would appear from the fact that they 

 are generally disagreeable to the unvitiated taste 

 of the lower animals and of young children ; 

 while it is notorious that their constant use 

 diminishes the appetite of adults for wholesome 

 food. The sooner we begin to assist nature by 

 stimulants, the sooner she leaves us a prey to 

 artificial excitement, which is seldom beneficial, 

 except when the powers of life are reduced 



