agents and organs of the Temperance Society). Having received a taste of it himself, we trust it will lead him to a revision of his opinion. The foul insinuation of Mr. Larkin reminds us of a refutory fact highly honorable to Prof. Carpenter, viz. that having written his Essay out of love to the Temperance Cause, he declined to receive the proffered hundred guineas. We may also add, that Dr. Carpenter had two years before avowed the same doctrines in an able and lengthy article in the British and Foreign Medical Review, on which we had occasion to comment in our last volume. It is only needful to remark here, that the parts to which we objected most in the article, have been omitted or corrected in the more elaborated essay. The character and course of Dr. Carpenter's argument are well indicated in the Preface, wherein he has given the results of his enquiries. "In the first place,―That from a scientific examination of the modus operandi of Alcohol upon the Human body, when taken in a poisonous dose, or to such an extent as to produce Intoxication, we may fairly draw inferences with regard to the specific effects which it is likely to produce, when repeatedly taken in excess, but not to an immediatelyfatal amount. Secondly, That the consequences of the excessive use of Alcoholic liquors, as proved by the experience of the Medical Profession, and universally admitted by medical writers, being precisely such as the study of its effects in poisonous and immediately-fatal doses would lead us to anticipate, we are farther justified in expecting that the habitual use of smaller quantities of these liquors, if sufficiently prolonged, will ultimately be attended, in a large proportion of cases, with consequences prejudicial to the human system,—the morbid actions thus engendered being likely rather to be chronic than acute in their character. Thirdly, That as such morbid actions are actually found to be among the most common disorders of persons advanced in life, who have been in the habit of taking a [so-called] 'moderate' allowance of alcoholic liquors, there very strong ground for regarding them as in a great degree dependent upon the asserted cause; altho the long postponement of their effects may render it impossible to demonstrate the existence of such a connection. Fourthly, That the preceding conclusion is fully borne out by the proved results of the 'moderate' use of Alcoholic liquors, in producing a marked liability to the acute forms of similar diseases in hot climates, where their action is accelerated by other conditions; and also by the analogous facts now universally admitted, in regard to the remotely-injurous effects of slight excess in diet, imperfect aeration of the blood, insufficient repose, and other like-violations of the Laws of Health, when habitually practised thrö a long period of time. Fifthly, That the capacity of the healthy Human system to sustain as much bodily or mental labor as it can be legitimately called upon to perform, and its power of resisting the extremes of Heat and Cold, as well as other depressing agencies, are not augmented by the use of Alcoholic liquors; but that, on the other hand, their use, under such circumstances, tends positively to the impairment of that capacity. Sixthly, That where there is a deficiency of power, on the part of the system, to carry on its normal actions with the energy and regularity which constitute health, such power can rarely be imparted by the habitual use of Alcoholic liquors, its deficiency being generally consequent upon some habitual departure from the laws of health, for which the use of Alcoholic liquors cannot compensate; and the employment of such liquors, altho with the temporary effect of palliating the disorder, having not merely a remotely-injurious effect per se, but also tending to mask the action of other morbific causes by rendering the system more tolerant of them. Seventhly, That, consequently, it is the duty of the Medical Practitioner to discourage as much as possible the habitual use of Alcoholic liquors, in however 'moderate' [properly small] a quantity, by all persons in ordinary health; and to seek to remedy those slight departures from health which result from the 'wear and tear' of active life, by the means which shall most directly remove or antagonize their causes, instead of by such as simply palliate their effects. Eighthly, That while the habitual use of Alcoholic liquors, even in the most 'moderate' amount, is likely (except in a few rare instances) to be rather injurious than beneficial, great benefit may be derived in the treatment of Diseases from the medicinal use of Alco hol in appropriate cases; but that the same care should be employed in the discriminating selection of those cases, as would be taken by the conscientious practitioner in regard to the administration of any other powerful remedy which is poisonous in large doses." We do not ourselves agree with every phrase and argument of the book,-we even think some portions defective, and others needless, and can well conceive how the small fry of critics would nibble' at a paragraph here and there, but looking at the Essay as a whole, we must say, that it does in our judgment clearly and triumphantly refute every reason that can be urged for the use of alcoholic drink as an ordinary element of human diet. Tho there is nothing absolutely original or novel in the book, except some valuable testimonies of experience, while several available experiments are omitted,-yet the most important facts and principles bearing on the author's theme, are brought out with great distinctness, eloquence, and power. As a specimen of style, we will give sections 103-107, which embody the personal experience of the author, and form part of the evidence supplied in answer to the question, 'Whether mental exertion is better borne under the system of stimulation, or under 'that of abstinence?' "103. All that has been said of the influence of Alcoholic liquors on the development and sustentation of Physical-force, will equally apply to Mental-power; since, whatever may be our views as to the relation between Mind and Matter, it is not now questioned by any Physiologist, that the Brain is the instrumeut by which all mental power is exercised in Man's present state of existence, and that the continued development of this power is consequently dependent upon those conditions which are favorable to the maintenance of the functional activity of the nervous system in general :-viz. (i.) The healthy nutrition of the nervous substance; and (ii.) The due supply of highly oxygenated and depurated blood. The former process is certainly not dependent upon the assistance of alcoholic liquors; and it seems in the highest degree improbable that they can be of the least advantage to it. The latter cannot in any degree be improved, but must be rather impaired, by the use of fermented liquors; which, as already stated, tends to deteriorate the quality of the blood, and to obstruct its oxygenation. "104. That the use of Alcoholic stimulants, however, is attended in most persons with a temporary excitation of mental activity,-lighting up the scintillations of genius into a brilliant flame, or assisting in the prolongation of mental effort when the powers of the nervous system would otherwise be exhausted,-may be freely conceded; and it is upon such evidence as this, that the common idea is based, that it supports the system under the endurance of mental labor. This idea, however, is probably as erroneous, as the no less prevalent fallacy of regarding alcoholic liquors as capable of increasing the power of physical exertion. No physiological fact is better established, than that of the depression of the mental energy consequent upon the undue excitement of it, by whatever causes that excitement may have been occasioned; and the rapid and brilliant flow of thought which may have been called forth by the alcoholic stimulants, gives place, usually after a few hours, to the opposite state of languor and despondency. "105. The influence of Alcoholic stimulants seems to be chiefly exerted in exciting the activity of the creating and combining powers; such as gives rise to poetical imaginations, to artistic conceptions, or to the sallies of wit and humor. It is not to be wondered at, then, that men possessing such powers, should have recource to alcoholic stimulants as a means of procuring a temporary exaltation of them; and of escaping from the fits of depression to which most persons are subject in whom the imaginative and emotional tendencies are predominant. Nor is it to be denied, that many of those mental productions which are most strongly marked by the inspiration of genius, have been thrown off under the stimulating influence of alcoholic liquors. But, on the other hand, it cannot be doubted that the depression consequent on the high degree of mental excitement thus produced, is peculiarly great in such individuals, completely destroying for a time the power of mental effort; and hence it does not at all follow, that either the author of the productions in question, or the world at large, have really benefited thereby. Moreover, it is the testimony of general experience, that where men of genius have habitually had recourse to alcoholic stimulants for the excitement of their powers, they have died at an early age, as if in consequence of the premature exhaustion of their nervous energy; Mozart, Burns, and Byron may be cited as remarkable examples of this result. Hence, altho their light may have burned with a brighter glow, like a combustible substance in an atmosphere of oxygen, the consumption of material is more rapid; and tho it may have shone with a soberer lustre without such aid, we cannot but believe that it would have been steadier and less prematurely quenched. "106. We do not usually find that the men most distinguished for that combination of intellectual powers which is known as talent, are disposed to make such use of Alcoholic stimulants for the purpose of augmenting their mental powers; for that spontaneous activity of the mind itself which it is the tendency of alcohol to excite, is not favorable to the exercise of the observing and purely reasoning faculties, or to the steady devotement of concentrated attention to any subject which it is desired to investigate profoundly. Of this we have a remarkable illustration in the habits of practised gamblers; who, when about to engage in contests requiring the keenest observation and the most sagacious calculations, and involving an important stake, always keep themselves cool,' either by entire abstinence from fermented liquors, or by the use of those of the weakest kind in very small quantities. And we find that the greatest part of that intellectual labor which has most extended the domain of human knowlege, has been performed by men of remarkable sobriety of habit, many of them having been constant water-drinkers. Under this last category, it is said, may be ranked Demosthenes and Haller. Dr. Johnson in the latter part of his life took nothing stronger than tea, while Voltaire and Fontenelle used coffee; and Newton and Hobbes were accustomed to solace, not excite, themselves with fumes of tobacco. In regard to Locke, whose long life was devoted to constant intellectual labor, and who appears, independently of his eminence in his special objects of pursuit, to have been one of the best-informed men of his time, the following very explicit and remarkable testimony is borne by one who knew him well:-'His diet was the same as other people's, except that he usually drank nothing but water; and he thought that his abstinence in this respect had preserved his life so long, altho his constitution was so weak.' "107. Having for several years past been himself performing an amount of steady mental labor which to most persons would appear excessive, the writer may be allowed to refer to his own experience, which is altogether in favor of Total Abstinence from alcoholic liquors as a means of sustaining the power of performing it. Having been brought up as a water-drinker, he never accustomed himself to the habitual use of alcoholic liquors; scarcely ever tasting them, except when occasionally led to do so by social influences, or when he believed that a small amount of stimulus would improve the tone' of his system, which is liable to a peculiar relaxation in certain states of the atmosphere. On determining, about four years since, to give up the occasional use of wine, etc., as a social indulgence, he still held himself free to employ it when he might think it likely to increase the general powers of his system; and for some time he continued to have recourse to alcoholic stimulants (never exceeding a single glass of wine, or half a tumbler of bitter ale) when he felt himself suffering under the peculiar depression just referred to. He gradually, however, found reason to doubt the utility of the remedy; and has for the last two years entirely given it up. During these last two years, he has gone thrö a larger amount of mental labor than he ever did before in the same period of time; and he does not hesitate to say, that he has performed it with more ease to himself than on his former system ; and that he has been more free than ever from those states of depression of mental energy which he was accustomed to regard as indicating the need of a temporary support to antagonize the depressing cause. In fact, he now finds, that when these do occur, use of alcoholic stimulants (taken in a very small amount) is decidedly injurious to him; diminishing, rather than increasing, his power of mental exertion at the time; and leaving him still less disposed for it after their effect has gone off. He attributes this change to his entire disuse of alcoholic liquors under all other circumstances; and he cannot but believe that the results he experienced, and which led him to relinquish these stimulants altogether, are the natural effect of them upon the healthy system; and that the benefit which some persons consider themselves as deriving from their use, arises from their simply removing for a time the depression which results (at a long interval it may be) from their previous employment." the EURYDICE. ('Orpheus' Sweetest Song.') BY W. J. LINTON. ROM out the thick shade of a laurel grove a The burthen of that sorrow: but anon These words came sobbing forth from a burst heart, Gushing in full flow of abandon'd grief, "Eurydice! mine own Eurydice! O Earth o'er which her music footsteps moved; a Eurydice was one of the Nymphs, and married to Orpheus, the music of whose lyre charmed all animate and inanimate things. Flying from the importunities of Aristæus, Eurydice was bitten by a serpent, and died. Orpheus descended into hell, and with his potent song won from Dis the grace of Euridice's return, provided he did not look back. In his eagerness he forgot the condition, and she vanished from his sight. It is said that the Thracian women, enamored of him and enraged at his coldness, tore him to pieces and flung his head into the Hebrus. Still his lips repeated the one word-Eurydice! Eurydice! as his head was borne to the Ægean sea. His lyre became a constellation. S Than her thought-shadow'd depth of seriousness; "Ye Hamadryads, with brown arms enlaced, The smooth-cheek'd pebbles slides the creamy foam. Of Nature, once so dear, my heart is deaf "Eurydice! my lost Eurydice! No more thy bounding limbs are eloquent. |