An enquiry into the effects of spirituous liquors upon the human body, and their influence upon the happiness of society / by Benjamin Rush, M.D. Professor of the theory and practice of medicine in the College of Philadelphia.

  • Benjamin Rush
Date:
MDCCXCI [1791]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An enquiry into the effects of spirituous liquors upon the human body, and their influence upon the happiness of society / by Benjamin Rush, M.D. Professor of the theory and practice of medicine in the College of Philadelphia. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    6/18
    E N Q_ U I R Y, 6fr. —<■<■•<-<•■<•{»>•>•>••>•■>—■ EY Spirits I mean all thofe liquors which are obtained by difttllation from fermented juices or fubftances of any kind. Thefe liquors were formerly ufed only in medicine. — They now coi.ititute a principal part of the drinks of many countries. Since the inrroduclion of fpirituous liquors into fuch gene- s'il ui'e, phyliciai.s have remarked that a number oi nfW difeafes have appeared among us, and have defcribed many iifw lymptoms as common to old dileaies. Spirits in their fii ft operation are ftimulating ii]>on the iy.ftem. They quicken the circulation of ilie blood, and produce fome heat in the body. Soon afterward, they become what is called fedative; that h, they diminifti the aelion of the vita! powers, and thereby produce langor and weaknefs. The effects of fpirituous liquors upon the human body, are fometimes flow in their appearance. A ftrong conitt- tution, especially if it be affifted with conftant and hard labour, will counteract the deftruclive effects of fpirita for many years, but in general they produce the following dif- eales: I. A fickntjs at the ftomach, and vomiting in the morn- ing. Tins diforder is generally accompanied with a want of appetite for breakfait. It is known by tremors in the hunch, infomuch that perlbns who labour under it, are hard- ly able to lift a tea cup to their heads, Mil they have a dole of fome cordial liquor. In this diforder, a pe- ilenefs, with i'mall red Streaks, appear in the cheeks. h of the face, at the lame time, has a peculiar tul-