AT CHATRA IN RAMGUR. 317 



That the great noxious quality of frefh drawn fpirits 

 is chiefly owing to the caufe I have afligned, a little at- 

 tention, and comparing of the effeth that are uniformly 

 produced by the principle of inflammability, wherever 

 it is met with in a loofe and weakly combined Mate, as 

 it is in them, will eafily convince us of: whereas, when 

 fully affimilated either in fpirits, or with any other 

 body, it becomes entirely inert, and ufeful, more or 

 lefs, either for food or phyiick, according to what it 

 happens to be united with. Thus we find it in putrid 

 animal fubftances, where it lately formed part of a 

 healthy body, being now detached, or but w r eakly united 

 with air, exhibiting a mod offenfive and pernicious 

 poifon : though this abforbed again by a living plant, 

 is prefently changed into good and wholefome nourifh- 

 ment: to the vegetable immediately, and to any animal 

 who may afterwards choofe to eat it. In like manner 

 fulphur, which is a compound of this principle alone, 

 united to a pure acid, the moft destructive to all animal 

 and vegetable fubftances, yet, it being here perfectly 

 inert alio, may be taken into the body with fafety : 

 when, if loofened either by heat, or by an alkaline ialt 

 uniting with the acid, its noxious quality is prefently 

 made perceivable to whoever comes within its reach. 



Many other inftances of a like nature might eafily be 

 added, and fome too more appofite, perhaps, than thole 

 I have here mentioned; but every one's own experience, 

 w : ith what I have already faid, will fufhciently evince 

 the propriety and utility of putting an entire flop, if 

 pofhble, to the fale of what ought to be ib juftly prohi- 

 bited : and this, in its confequences, may even help to 

 lead to other more effectual means of correcting, in a 

 great mealure, the cruel abufe of fpirits in general, 

 that has been iong fo loudly and fo jultly complained 

 of amonglt the ioldi is, lower Europeans, and our fer- 

 vants in this country ; where the very w'orlt, and, in- 

 deed, 



