Distilled spirituous liquors the bane of the nation: being some considerations humbly offer'd to the legislature. By which it will appear, I. That the landed interest suffers nearly a million a year, by the distilling, compounding and vending of spirits ... II. A physical account ... of the nature of all distill'd spirituous liquors, and the malignant effects they have upon human bodies / [Thomas Wilson].

Thomas Wilson

Date:: 1736

Credit: Distilled spirituous liquors the bane of the nation: being some considerations humbly offer'd to the legislature. By which it will appear, I. That the landed interest suffers nearly a million a year, by the distilling, compounding and vending of spirits ... II. A physical account ... of the nature of all distill'd spirituous liquors, and the malignant effects they have upon human bodies / [Thomas Wilson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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[ 4? ] Life tolerable, Vapourijh, Hyfteriacal or By- tfi pochondriacal Perfons, who would be governed tc in their Diet, by the XJfe of other proper Means, if there was a Fund in Life, and no incurable Difeafe, complicated with Lownefs. Thus much the IVeight of the Subje6t forced 6g from me ; more than this, its Difagreeablenefs “ hinders me to fay* ” As the Legislature are the Guardians of our Lives, as well as our Liberties and For¬ tunes, from Them it is that we muft exped a Cure from this Evil, at lead to put thefe curfed Spirits out of the Reach of the lower Kind of People: The Rich and Great we muft leave to their own Reafon, and to the Advice of an honeft and skilful Phyfician, who will afliire them of the Truth of what I have faid , and will be able to prefcribe fuch Remedies as may reftore them to their Healths, provided Nature be not too far worn out, and they will refolve to forbear indulging in what they cannot but be conlcious is certain Poifon to them. We can do no more than fet the Danger before them, and intreat them, by all the Arguments of Reafon, Jntereft, and Religion, to leave off fo mifehievous a Cuftom : Which deftroys their Healths, ruins their EJiates, and is often the Caufe of Melancholy and Defpair, which ends in aPiftol, ora Dofe offomequicker Poifon. And if they have any Regard to Pofterity, they will never fufrer themfelves to be led into the drinking of Diftilled Spirituous Liquors, or Cordials9 which will certainly have a baneful Influence upon their Children, if they have any : H For

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