PALMERSTON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 246, 18 December 1915, Page 3

PALMERSTON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.

FORM VI.—PRIZE ESSAY. “Happy the State whose people learn in youth To conquer evil with the sword of truth.” How much happier w e shi aid all be if everyone learnt to conquer one of the worst evils in this world, —the evil of alcoholic drinking*. How much sin, misery, poverty, and crime would be saved if the people all learnt to conquer the habit of intemperance! For that intemperance is one of the curses of mankind is well known. Therefore, if so much suffering is caused through this alcohol, why does not everyone strive to keep right away from it. The evil effects of taking alcoholic beverages are easily discerned in the state of the human body. There is nothing which acts with more serious consequences than does the effect 01 intoxicating liquors. If only a small amount of alcohol is taken into the body, it can be oxidised and turned into energy an 1 heat. Even so, however, it is valueless as a food, and must be considered as a poison. First, let us consider how it impairs the digestive system. Alcohol taken into the stomach soon plays havoc. It causes an extra flow of gastric juice, which is of no use in digestion, because there is not sufficient food taken into the body for the extra juice to act on. It causes inflammation of the walls of the stomach, and the mucous lining of the stomach becomes ulcerated. Thus digestion is made more difficult. Then the effect of alcohol on the liver is just as serious. The action becomes slow, congested and torpid, so that digestion is difficult. Fatty substance collects round it, and after a time the liver becomes shrivelled and h.ird, so that it cannot aid in the process of digestion. Let us now consider the evil effects of this alcohol on the brain. It becomes partly paralysed, with the result that the* rapidity to re- eive external impressions, the discrimination of the senses, and the power of concentration is considerably lessened. With the continual use of alcohol, the effect is subsequent insanity. Then there is the heart to be considered. Since the heart is one of

the vital organs of the body, should we not think of the* danger we aie incurring in taking in alcohol? The action of the heart is increased for a time, so that we are often under the impression that alcohol strengthens the heart. Rut this is a very wrong idea, for after a time fat collects round the heart, and the heart-beat is slackened, with the result that it cannot perform its work properly. How many cases of death irotn heait disease are due to the taking in of alcohol into our systems! Again, continued use of alcohol causes deterioration of the tissues of the body. Thus th** changes which old age brings about are hastened, and life is shortened. Consider also the serious effects on the corpuscles in the blood. The white corpuscles fight down the germs; therefore, if we take in alcohol, they lose their power, so th.it germs of disease find an easy entrance into the body. Then the red corpuscles are soon worn out, and the blood becomes impure. When we drink alcoholic beverages, it deadens the nerves in the blood and in the skin, and causes flushing. This gives a sensation of warmth, but it is a mere fallacy, for the body really loses heat in this way. Then there is the danger to the kidneys. The filtering power of the kidneys is lessened, and all kinds of ailments result. lhe kidneys are of much importance, and this alcohol impairs their work so much! How many people, as a result of this alcohol, suffer from Bright’s disease! Thus it can easily been seen how dangerous is alcohol to the system, and never has it been so clearly seen as it is now in the present war. Kitchener is earnestly entreating the people tc give up ihi> great curse. If the people would resist the temptation, poverty, sin, crime, insanity, and misery would be exchanged for a brighter and happier life. Thus we should all strive to leave alcohol entirely alone, and always bear in mind Lord Wolseley's saying, that “Drink kills more than all oui newest weapons of warfare ”