porter. The result has proved it to be the best means of quenching the violence of thirst, and securing them from the feverish heat produced by the immoderate use of fer mented liquors. They have persevered in this simple and wholesome beverage, with an evident benefit to their health, and with an increased ability of exertion." The above fact is related on the authority of Mr. Curwin, of Cumber land, an eminent agricultural writer of that day, who gives another instance at Workington, the place of his residence, in which milk had been introduced in the place of beer, with the happiest results. "They have given up small beer in its favour; and there has been a great diminution in the quantities made at the breweries."

Among other popular objections may be briefly noticed, the strong impressions which many labour under, in regard to the necessity of spirituous liquors while working in damp situations and in wet weather. The incorrectness of this opinion is well illustrated by the following exam ple-In America, one hundred workmen were employed during a considerable portion of the day, for a number of successive days, in building a dam across a river. They were most of the time frequently up to the middle in water. During the whole of this period, they refrained from the use of ardent spirits, and coffee and other warm drinks were given to them instead. At the expiration of their work, the workmen were so delighted with the result of the experiment, as to march in a body with their foreman.

* Good Advice for the Husbandmen in Harvest, and for all those who labour in Hot-berths, &c., by Dr. Beddoes, Bristol 1808.

Some equally strong facts are adduced by Dr. Cheyne, of Dublin. "I had once," remarks that physician, "the opportunity of inquiring into the habits of the workmen of a large glass factory; they generally wrought for twentyfour or thirty-six hours at a time, according as the furnace continued in a proper state, and I found, during this time, which was technically called a journey, that to supply the waste caused by perspiration they drank a large quantity of water, in the quality of which, they were very curious: it was the purest and softest water in the district, and was brought from a distance of three miles. There were three men out of more than one hundred, who drank nothing but water, the rest drank porter or ardent spirits; the three water-drinkers appeared to be of their proper age, while the rest with scarcely an exception, seemed ten or twelve years older than they proved to be." Letter on the Effects of Wines and Spirits, p. 5.

A friend of Dr. Cheyne's, in a letter addresed to that physician, adds the following corroborative testimony:-"Many years ago I was told by the men who attended the furnaces at the iron works at Merthyr Tydvil, in Glamorganshire, that they drank only water, while engaged in their work at the furnaces, the intense heat of which produced violent perspiration. Their health was generally good, as they said, but the wages being high, they soon retired from labour, and then grew very fat as might have been expected."-Ibid. Appendix.

at their head, and forthwith join the Temperance Society.* The simple reason of this may be found in the fact, that the individuals who laboured in this condition, were kept in a state of continual activity. By this means, such a condition of the circulation was induced as enabled the system. to resist the effects of damp and cold. This, indeed, is all that is required in such cases, with the addition of some warm and nutritious beverage, the effects of which, unlike alcoholic stimulants, do not quickly disappear, and render the body more than ever susceptible of injurious impressions.

On

On a candid review of the preceding observations and facts, it will surely be acknowledged, that the delusion in question has been one of the most fallacious, as well as deep-rooted and fatal, that ever took possession of the human mind. The consistency also of the facts detailed, with the physiological constitution of man, cannot escape the notice of the most superficial observer. Indeed, from the circumstances of the case, it would appear, that mankind have been too little inclined to give the Great Author of our being credit for providing against the contingencies to which he has made his creatures liable. The subject has, however, in every age been submitted to the test of severe examination, and innumerable experiments-the result of which is unvarying; and brings us to the inevitable conclusion that intoxicating liquors are of all other expedients the least calculated to preserve mankind from those depressing and injurious influences of circumstances and events to which most human beings in the course of their existence are more or less exposed.

* The Limerick Chronicle for 1837, contains the following equally decisive illustration:-" From the long continuance of wet weather, a field of mangel. wurzel, at Corbally, County of Limerick, the property of John Abel, was overflowed. Twenty persons of both sexes, were employed to get out the crop; and as the preservation of their health, from the effect of working in the water, and under almost continued heavy rain, required some stimulant, he had them supplied with half a pint of hot strong coffee three times per day. Although they were nearly a week thus employed, he had the satisfaction to find that their health had not suffered in the slightest degree." 2 F

CHAPTER XVII.

MEAN'S EMPLOYED TO REMOVE THE HABIT OF INTEMPERANCE IN INDIVIDUALS. THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TOTAL ABSTI

NENCE CONSIDERED.

Evil habits are so far from growing weaker by repeated attempts to overcome them, that if they are not totally subdued, every struggle increases their strength; and a habit opposed and victorious, is more than twice as strong as before the contest. The manner in which those who are weary of their tyranny endeavour to escape from them appears, by the event, to be generally wrong; they try to loose their chains one by one, and to retreat by the same degrees as they advanced; but, before the deliverance can be completed, habit is sure to throw new chains upon her fugitive. Nor can any hope to escape her but those who, by an effort sudden and violent, burst their shackles at once, and leave her at a distance.-DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON.

THE habit of intemperance may very properly be considered as a disease affecting both the body and the mind; and for this reason, therefore, any curative efforts, to be permanently successful, must be directed to the restoration of the natural functions of each. Hence arise some interesting reflections of the moral treatment required in the removal of this pernicious and melancholy vice.

Singular examples are on record, of the habit being removed, from some powerful and unforeseen impression either of shame, or conviction of guilt, produced on the mind. These instances, however, are of too rare occurrence and too uncertain in their issue to be depended upon or established as precedents of general reformation.

An individual in Maryland, America, who was addicted to habits of gross intemperance, on one occasion having heard considerable uproar and merriment among the domestics in his kitchen, had the curiosity, unseen by the latter, to place himself behind the door, and to ascertain the cause of the excitement that drew his attention. He found that they were indulging in most unbounded laughter, at a couple of his negro boys, who were grotesquely imitating the manner in which their master reeled and staggered, hiccupped and stumbled, when in a state of intoxi

cation. This humiliating exhibition produced so strong an effect on the mind of the individual in question, that from that day, to the joy of his family, he became a perfectly sober man.

The feeling of shame, has not unfrequently operated in a similar way. The following curious method was adopted by a naval officer, to remove the evil of intemperance from the vessel in which he commanded. It is found in a small treatise on Naval Discipline, published at no very distant period. "Separate, for one month, every man who is found drunk, from the rest of the crew; mark his clothes, 'drunkard,' give him six water grog, or, if beer, mix one half with water; let him dine when the crew have finished; employ them in every dirty and disgraceful work," &c. This had such a salutary effect, that, in less than six months, not a drunkard was to be found in the ship. The same system was introduced by the writer on board a ship where he subsequently served. When first-lieutenant of the Victory and Diomede, the beneficial consequences were acknowledged the culprits were heard to say, that they would rather receive six dozen lashes at the gangway, and be done with it, than be put into the "drunken mess," (for so it was named) for a month.

The fear of death, and the dread of eternal punishment, induced by an alarming attack of disease, has sometimes operated in the same way. Dr. Macnish states the case of a gentleman, with whom he was acquainted, who had an attack of apoplexy, in consequence of his dissipation.— Fortunately, however, the gentleman recovered; and such was the impression made upon his mind, from this circumstance, that, from that period until his dying day, he never tasted anything stronger than simple water.

*

Dr. Kain, of America, recommends in warm terms the use of tartar emetic, as a cure for habitual intemperance. He found it of considerable benefit in such cases as came under his own observation.†

Anatomy of Drunkenness, page 209.

"Possessing," he remarks, "no positive taste itself, it communicates a disgusting quality to those fluids in which it is dissolved. I have often seen persons who, from taking a medicine in the form of antimonial wine, could never afterward drink wine; nothing, therefore, seems better calculated to form our indication of breaking up the association, in the patient's feelings, between his disease and the relief to be obtained from stimulating liquors. These liquors, with the addition of a very small quantity of emetic tartar, instead of relieving, increase the sensation of loathing of food, and quickly produce in the patient an indomitable repugnance to the vehicle of its administration." "My method of prescribing it, has varied according to the habit, age, and constitution of the patient. I give it only in alterative and

Dr. Macnish states, that he has tried this remedy in several instances, and can bear testimony to its good effects.* Chambers's celebrated nostrum for the cure of intemperance, appears to have owed its virtues to the same powerful medicine. The administration, however, of this drug, should be regulated with great caution, otherwise unpleasant consequences may ensue.

Dr. Caldwell, of Lexington, Kentucky, has published an article, in which he presumes drunkenness to be altogether a disease of the brain. If his views be correct, the mode of treatment to be employed in such cases will require to be of a suitable character. His Essay is certainly deserving of attentive consideration.†

Some absurd methods have been proposed, in order to remove the habit of intemperance. One of these is to gradually reduce the quantity of liquor previously consumed. Dr. Pitcairn, for instance, endeavoured to break the habit in a Highland Chieftain, who was one of his patients, by persuading him every day to drop as much sealing-wax into his glass as would receive the impression of his seal. By this means the capacity of the glass diminished as the wax accumulated, and strange to relate, this individual was altogether (according to the statement,) cured of his bad habit.

These amusing cases, however interesting in their char

slightly nauseating doses. A convenient preparation of the medicine is eight grains, dissolved in four ounces of boiling water-half an ounce of the solution to be put into a half-pint, pint, or quart of the patient's favourite liquor, and to be taken daily in divided portions. If severe vomiting and purging ensue, I should direct laudanum to allay the irritation, and diminish the dose. In every patient it should be varied according to its effects. In one instance, a patient who lived ten miles from me, severe vomiting was produced, more, I think, from excessive drinking than from the use of the remedy. He recovered from it, however, without any bad effects. In some cases the change suddenly produced in the patient's habits, has brought on considerable lassitude and debility, which were but of short duration. In a majority of cases, no other effect has been perceptible than slight nausea, some diarrhoea, and a gradual but very uniform distaste to the menstruum." -American Journal of the Medical Sciences, No. 4.

* Anatomy of Drunkenness, p. 217.

Transylvania Journal of Medicine, and the Associate Sciences for July, August, and September, 1832.

Anatomy of Drunkenness, p. 212.

A similar anecdote is related by a Scottish literary character in the instance of a respectable merchant who became alarmed one day on discovering the uneasy feelings created by having been accidentally deprived of his accustomed potation. After fully determining to abandon the practice, he adopted the following expedient. He filled a bottle with his favourite liquor, and placed it near to his place of transacting business; on taking a dram the first morning, he supplied its place with simple water. The same method was followed the next morning, and so on, until the mixture became so insipid and nauseous, and produced such an effect on his palate, as caused him