BACCH US. PART I. CHAPTER I. NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF INTEMPERANCE, "To set the mind above the appetites is the end of abstinence, which one of the fathers observes to be not a virtue, but the ground-work of virtue."-DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON. "Nothing is so great a friend to the mind of man as abstinence; it strengthens the memory, clears the apprehension, and sharpens the judgment, and in a word, gives reason its full scope of acting; and when reason has that, it is always a diligent and faithful handmaid to conscience."-DR. SOUTH. THE term INTEMPERANCE, according to its general signification, is indefinite and unsatisfactory. In the present day, however, it is almost exclusively and universally employed in reference to excess in the use of intoxicating liquors. The limits of lawful indulgence have, in all ages of the world, been variously defined. In a primeval state, man had few wants. His occupations were simple in their character and influence. The produce of the field, and the fruit of the trees yielded him suitable nourishment; water supplied him with a refreshing and innoxiously inspiriting beverage. In this state of virtuous simplicity, man had few temptations to lead him astray. In progress of time, however, new and unlawful sources of enjoyment were discovered, luxurious habits began to prevail, intoxicating liquors were produced, diseases were generated, and vicious habits followed in their train. Luxury, in its early approaches, has, in general, been characterized by its slow and insinuating progress. Virtuous habits gradually yield to the forms and practices of B sensual gratification. A deterioration of the moral sense, has invariably been found to follow concessions to sensual indulgence. The history of the nations of antiquity, and in particular of the Greeks and Romans, demonstrates the truth of this statement. The effects of strong drink were known to the ancients as inimical to freedom and national prosperity. To prevent intemperance laws were framed against the introduction of wine. The ancient Suevi, for example, would not allow wine to be imported into their country, believing it to be pernicious to the vigour, both of the body and of the mind.* Similar laws are found among the primitive regulations of other nations. Until influenced by impure motives, these sanative enactments were rigorously enforced. As an increased taste for luxury began to prevail, the primitive aversion to wine however, gradually wore away. The deadly enemy became a cherished friend. Those admirable laws which had once been the safeguards of national virtue and prosperity were finally modified, relaxed, and virtually annulled. The consequences were degradation and ruin. From the experience of every age it is manifest, that the prevailing notions concerning the nature of temperance and intemperance, have arisen and taken their tone, from the moral condition of the existing age. The inclinations and appetites of mankind insensibly influence their opinions, and from such a source, has the world too frequently derived its notions of the subject under consideration. Democritus, as Pliny informs us, wrote a volume with the design to show, that no person ought to exceed four or six glasses of wine. Epictetus advances the following opinion:- "That man is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses; and though he be not drunk, he hath exceeded moderation.+" In comparatively modern times, striking examples are presented of the morals of the age, influencing considerations concerning the nature of tem * Vinum ad se omninò importari non sinunt, quòd eâ re ad laborem ferendum remollescere Homines, atque effoeminari arbitrantur.-Cæsar de Bell. Gall. lib. 4. + Fragments, No. 3. Carter's Transl. 1758. p. 112. perance. A society, for instance, established about the sixteenth century, for the promotion of temperance, had its fundamental law constituted on the principle, that none of its members should drink more than fourteen glasses of wine daily. A certain general, in one of his regulations, ordered, that no officer who dined at his table should exceed two bottles of wine. Dr. Trotter, who adverts to this circumstance with somewhat of astonishment, records it as an honour to the British Navy, that in his time, the commanders in chief never allowed more at their tables than half a bottle to each guest. * The institution, in the present century, of Temperance Societies in this country and in America, forms a striking illustration. Many of these institutions had merely an ephemeral existence. Of those established, one class had for its object the advancement of temperance, by inculcating the moderate use of all kinds of intoxicating liquors. Another class still in operation, has for its fundamental regulation the moderate use of fermented liquors, but abstinence from ardent spirits. Each of these, however, evidences the existence, not only of erroneous notions concerning the nature and effects of intoxicating liquors, but the very general and deep-rooted appetite which exists for artificial and stimulating drinks. An examination of these facts, irresistibly forces the conviction upon all unprejudiced minds, that the inclinations and appetites of mankind have invariably influenced their opinions in relation to the nature and limits of temperance. The consequences of these latitudinarian notions, are witnessed in the free use of strong drink in the present day, by those who deem themselves temperate and sober members of society. To this class of men has been very appropriately assigned the appellation of sober drunkards." It is not drinking spirituous liquors," remarks Dr. Trotter, "to the length of intoxication, that alone, constitutes intemperance. A man may drink a great deal-pass a large portion of his time at the bottle, and yet be able to fill most of the avocations of life. There are certainly, many men of this description, who have never been so *Trotter's Essay on Drunkenness, p. 157. transformed with liquor as to be unknown to their own house dog, or so foolish in their appearance, as to be hooted by school-boys, that are yet to be considered as intemperate livers. These "sober drunkards," if I may be allowed the expression, deceive themselves as well as others; and though they pace slowly along the road to ruin, their journey terminates at the goal, bad health.” A further examination of this subject, leads us to the astounding, but incontestible fact, that that part of the community in general termed temperate, consumes a larger proportion of inebriating liquor, than those individuals who are usually denominated drunkards. A great proportion of those who are known to be drunkards, in general are not habitual slaves to this most debasing vice. During their fits of intemperance, they consume a large quantity of intoxicating liquor. On ordinary occasions, they do not indulge in the use of strong drink to any serious extent. The former section of society, however, drink considerably less at stated times; but, by the accumulating amount of habitual and frequent repetition, consume a quantity, which, on calculation, appears almost incredible. The individual, for example, who indulges in but one glass of ardent spirit, or what amounts to the same thing, in two or three glasses of wine daily; consumes, in the course of ten years, not less a quantity than thirty gallons of pure alcohol, or spirits of wine; a poison well known to be most dangerous and fatal in its character. The consumption of this quantity, however, is far from being considered either as improper or intemperate. The most strenuous advocates of the moderate use of intoxicating liquor, would not, it is presumed, object to the daily apportionment of a pint of ale to each adult member of the human family-an allowance, which, in the course of one year, would amount to forty-three gallons, or about twenty-five gallons of proof spirit! These, and similar illustrations, sufficiently demonstrate the fact, that those individuals, commonly denominated drunkards, do not invariably consume the largest portion of alcoholic stimulants. From the preceding observations, it will be seen how * Trotter on Drunkenness, p. 177. impossible it is to arrive at a correct definition of the nature of intemperance, from the uncertain and ever-varying opinions and practices of the age. Chemical and physiological knowledge alone supply us with the requisite data. The most important distinction between the temperate and intemperate employment of articles of food and drink, consists in the relative use they are of, in supplying the system with its natural requirements; in other words, in affording to the human frame, suitable food or nourishment. Some substances are proper as articles of diet, when used in moderate quantities, or to such an extent as nature may require: others, on the contrary, are useful as medicines only, and when employed occasionally, and with judgment. The great distinction between these two divisions, obviously consists in the circumstance, that the one contains matter capable of becoming a part of, and, consequently, of adding nourishment to, the corporeal system. The other, exercises a specific or medicinal influence on some part or parts, of the human frame; but it does not become assimilated with it. Arsenic, for example, has a powerful and peculiar influence on the human system; but it is not capable of being assimilated with it. Alcohol, in whatever combination, is similar in its operation. It stimulates or increases the action of the parts with which it comes in contact; but it is not added to, or identified with them. The use of alcohol, according to this unerring test of dietetic value, is found to be directly opposed to the natural actions of the system; because, like all medicinal agents, it can only be employed with beneficial results, when the system is in an unnatural or unhealthy state." Nourishing substances," remarks a distinguished writer, "require to be of a similitude with the substances to be nourished; and the constituent materials of man, and the whole of living creation, contain no such compositions as those fermented and spirituous liquors. Such liquors, cannot therefore, be reckoned useful, in the way of nourishing or maintaining the principal materials of the human frame."* The universal tendency of intoxicating liquor is to debilitate the intellectual, and to deprave the moral powers of * Lecture on Fermented Liquors, by A. Carlysle, M.D. |