DRUNKENNESS.
Ivrognerie, . . . Fft. I Trunkenheit, . . Gra.
Ivresse , i Naeba, Sulcr, . . HIND.
In India the inebriating aubstances used are opium, preparations of hemp. distilled spirits. and the fermented juices of the palin trees. in modera tion these substances aro beneficial, and all nations use them, though the mode of their action on the human frame is not understood ; but nlost of their' must be regarded as valuable in wearying mental or bodily exertions,—they evidently supplysome want in the system. In scene individuals dninkenness is a hereditary disease equivalent to a mania, and these cases are generally given up by the medical faculty in despair.
Although Hindus and Maliomedans and Buddh ists are by their religions or by social image prohibited the use of alcoholic fluids, they do use them largely, either stealthily or openly, the fer mented palm wines, or the distilled arracks or spirits, being in great demand. In ancient times the conquering Aryans seem to have largely used some alcoholic fluid, because the excitement de scribed from drinking their soma juice could not have resulted from other cause. Out of 500,000 persons Who took the pledge in America, 350,000 broke it, proving that a moderate use of alcohol is proper for man ; the experienc,e of the hydropathic establishments shows an enormous increase in the use of food. If we only drink water, our con
sumption of farinaceous and animal food must be very largely extended. The effect of alcohol is to arrest the destruction of the tis.sues, and to utilize the constituents of life ; and therefore, under the present conditions of modern life, where the nervous system is liable to so much waste, alcoholic substances, as the most portable form of accessory diet, are more than ever necessary. lf, a.s is the case in infancy, the only purpose of life were to ve,the complementary diets of an imal,farinaceous, and leguminous food would be sufficient to sustain life ; but so soon as man begins to work and think, alcohol, as preventing and arresting tho destruc tion of tissue, is the cheapest food. If a man have a shilling to spend on food, he will do a better dity'S work on nine pennyworth of bread and meat and three pennyworth of beer, than on six pennyworth of bread, six pennyworth of meat, and sufficiency of water. Another iinport ant fact is, that total abstinence from stimulating drink actually predisposes to certain diseases.