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Stimulants and Narcotics
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robbed of home comforts, education, and training, living in terror of
him who should be their pride and protection, thrust into the world,
bearing the brand of shame, often with the hereditary curse of the
drunkard’s thirst.
Think of the frightful accidents that are every day occurring
through the influence of drink. Some official on a railway train
neglects to heed a signal or misinterprets an order. On goes the train.
There is a collision, and many lives are lost. Or a ship runs aground,
and passengers and crew find a watery grave. When the matter is
investigated, it is found that someone at an important post was under
the influence of drink. To what extent can one indulge the liquor
habit and be safely trusted with the lives of human beings? Only one
who totally abstains can be trusted.
The Milder Intoxicants
Persons who have inherited an appetite for unnatural stimulants
should by no means have wine, beer, or cider in their sight or within
their reach, for this keeps the temptation constantly before them.
Regarding sweet cider as harmless, many have no scruples in pur-
chasing it freely. But it remains sweet for a short time only; then
fermentation begins. The sharp taste that it then acquires makes it all
the more acceptable to many palates, and the user is loath to admit
that it has become hard, or fermented.
There is danger to health in the use of even sweet cider as ordi-
narily produced. If people could see what the microscope reveals in
regard to the cider they buy, few would be willing to drink it. Often
those who manufacture cider for the market are not careful as to the
condition of the fruit squeezed, sometimes including even wormy or
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decayed apples. Those who would not think of using the poisonous,
rotten apples in any other way will drink the cider made from them
and call it a luxury; but the microscope shows that even when fresh
from the press, this pleasant beverage is wholly unfit for use
Intoxication is just as really produced by wine, beer, and cider
as by stronger drinks. The use of these drinks awakens the taste
When the author wrote this in 1905, it was common practice to manufacture cider
as here described. But today where cider is produced under sanitary conditions, using
good, sound fruit, this comment may not be applicable.—Publisher.
