hosphates, heat and nerve force. In other
words, its presence diminishes all the physical phenomena of
life.

"I say, then, that from the facts hitherto adduced, whether from
accurate experimental investigations in different countries,
from the pathological results developed in the most scientific
societies, from the most reliable statistics of sickness and
mortality, as influenced by occupations and social habits, or
from the life insurance records kept on a uniform basis through
periods of ten, twenty, thirty or even forty years, it is
clearly shown that alcohol when taken into the human system not
only acts upon the nervous system, perverting its sensibility,
and, if increased in quantity, causing intoxication or
insensibility, but it also, _even in small quantities_, lessens
the oxygenation and decarbonization of the blood and retards the
molecular changes in the structures of the body. When these
effects are continued through months and years, as in the most
temperate class of drinkers, _they lead to permanent structural
changes, most prominently in the liver, kidneys, stomach, heart,
blood-vessels and nerve structures, and lessen the natural
duration of life in the aggregate from ten to fifteen years_.
Consequently there is no greater, nor more destructive error
existing in the public mind than the belief that the use of
fermented and distilled drinks does no harm so long as they do
not intoxicate.

"Another popular error is the opinion that the substitution of
the different varieties of beer and wine in the place of
distilled liquors promotes temperance, and lessens the evil
effects of alcohol on the health and morals of those who use
them. Accurate investigations show that beer and wine drinkers
generally consume more alcohol per man than the spirit drinkers;
and while they are not as often intoxicated, they suffer fully
as much from diseases and premature death as do those who use
distilled spirits. Again, the beer drinker drinks more nearly
every day, and thereby keeps some alcohol in his blood more
constantly; while a large percentage of spirit drinkers drink
only periodically, leaving considerable intervals of abstinence,
during which the tissues regain nearly their natural condition.
The more constant and persistent is the presence of alcohol in
the