No. 144.] 371 



the blood is water. By means of it, the various actions of the dif- 

 ferent parts of the body are accomplished. Deprived of moisture, 

 animal substance is as permanent as granite. The bodies of ani- 

 mals are in a continual state of decay during life, and this condi- 

 tion is essential to health. The condition of growth is equally 

 connected with a pure condition of the vital current. 



It does not follow that because the sensations produced by adul- 

 terating the blood with these foreign substances are pleasant, that 

 such practices are healthful, or even innocent. The internal 

 nerves of sensation were intended to answer to blood diluted with 

 water. Fermented products are no where in the animal or vege- 

 table kingdom found in the healthy bodies of living things. Al- 

 cohol in any shape forms no part of the sap in plants or of the 

 blood in animals. 



Now, as the nerves of special sense, (as of hearing, of seeing, of 

 taste, or even of motion,) injured, give no sensation of pain, so 

 the sensations produced by the action of blood adulterated with 

 alcohol may be agreeable, and yet drinking practices may be, as 

 experience proves that they are, destructive of health. Although 

 it has been customary to exclude alcoholic drinks from the azotic 

 group of elements of nutrition, we have been in the habit of as- 

 signing them a place with starch, gum, and sugar, as heat pro- 

 ducing agents. It is true that they may be oxidised in the sys- 

 tem. There is a rule among physicians, that in the last stages of 

 disease stimulants may be given, if they do not quicken the motion 

 of the hearty and it has been noticed that at such times it is diflEi- 

 cult to produce intoxication. There is a very general notion in 

 community that liquor warms a man, and there is no doubt but it 

 does. Alcohol is more inflammable than those carbonaceous mat- 

 ters that are provided by nature for fuel in the systems of ani- 

 mals. It usurps to itself their place, and is consumed in their 

 stead, while they are driven to the liver, and cause the liver com- 

 plaint that spirit drinkers are so generally found to possess. This 

 " liver complaint " is the same that visits those inhabitants of 

 northern climates who continue northern eating habits in a south- 

 ern climate, and there is a beautiful connection between the re- 

 spective causes. 



