In a recent issue of that non-political and scientific journal, the Scientific American, we find an article that is worthy a thoughtful consideration by all men:
"For some years past a decided inclination has been apparent all over the country to give up the use of whiskey and other strong alcohols, using as a substitute, beer and bitters and other compounds. This is evidently founded on the idea that beer is not harmful and contains a large amount of nutriment; also that bitters may have some medicinal quality, which will neutralize the alcohol it conceals, etc. These theories are without confirmation in the observations of physicians and chemists, where either has been used for any length of time.
"The constant use of beer is found to produce a species of the degeneration of all the organism, profound and deceptive. Fatty deposits, diminished circulation, conditions of congestion, and perversion of functional activities, local inflammations of both the liver and the kidneys are constantly present. Intellectually a stupor amounting almost to paralysis arrests the reason, changing all the higher faculties into a mere animalism, sensual, selfish, sluggish, varied only with paroxysms of anger that are senseless and brutal. In appearance the beer drinker may be the picture of health, but in reality he is almost incapable of resisting disease. A slight injury, severe cold, or shock to the body or mind, will commonly provoke acute disease, ending fatally. Compared with inebriates who use different forms of alcohol he is more incurable, and more generally diseased. The constant use of beer every day gives the system no time for recuperation, but steadily lowers the vital forces. It is our observation that beer drinking in this country produces the very lowest forms of inebriety closely allied to criminal insanity.
"The most dangerous class of tramps and ruffians in our large cities are beer drinkers. It is asserted by competent authority that the evils of hereditary are more positive in this class than from other alcoholics. If these facts are well founded, the recourse to beer as a substitute for other forms of alcohol, merely increases the danger and fatality.
"In bitters we have a drink which can never become general; its chief danger will be in strengthening the disordered cravings, which latter will develop a positive disease. Public sentiment and legislation should comprehend that all forms of alcohol are more or less dangerous when used steadily."