INTRODUCTION. 3 



muscles, the nerves, and the brain, are unavoid- 

 ably consumed. The true cause of death in 

 these cases is the respiratory process, that is, the 

 action of the atmosphere. . . . The flame is extin- 

 guished because the oil is consumed ; and it is 

 the oxygen of the air which has consumed it." * 

 In effect, life is but the battle of the animal or- 

 ganism with oxygen : death is the victory of the 

 latter ; and it now appears that the forces with 

 which nature enables us to fisrht this everlasting: 

 enemy are merely fat, starch, gum, the various 

 kinds of sugar, wine, beer, and spirits ! Respi- 

 ration is but the natural broad-sword encounter 

 of animality with oxygen — stroke for stroke it 

 gives and takes, and every respiration proclaims 

 a victory in the well-appointed system. 



If it be then conclusively proved that alcoholic 

 liquors are amongst the necessaries of life, after 

 having been so long considered merely adapta- 

 tions to assuage the cares of the mind and banish 

 uneasy reflections, may we not confidently expect 



* See Liebig's admirable ' Letters on Chemistry,' first 

 series, Letters x. and vii. If the reader has not read the 

 work he had better do so without delay. 



B 2 



