injurious, they are frequently beneficial, and even necessary, cannot be denied.

III. BY WHOM STIMULANTS ARE

NEEDED.

While it is true that no person in health requires stimulants, still, in the present state of society, there are so many causes operating to disturb the equilibrium of health, that a pathological state-often temporary-may occur, needing a remedy of a stimulant character; even in cases when there is not present a condition that would be regarded as one of illness, requiring medicine or a physician.

Foreigners say of us, that we are a short-lived, consumptive, lanky, palefaced, physic-taking race. With regard to the two first points, statistics show that they have nothing to boast over us; and the successful sale of quack medicines in England shows that we come honestly by our physic-taking propensities. That we are lean and pale-faced must be very apparent to one accustomed to look upon the ruddy faces of Englishmen, and to observe the fine color which distinguishes the countenances of English women, even up to an age which we regard as advanced. We are, to a remarkable degree, an overworked people. Our physical and mental energies are constantly taxed to the utmost. The first impression made upon the mind of a foreigner is, that we are always in a hurry. Our ambition induces us to undertake too much, and we are not content with moderate accumulation. We grudge the moments devoted to eating and, rest, and spare little time for relaxation or holidays. Thus a large number of our middle-aged people are invalids. They have accumulated money and retired rich, and devote themselves to the business of nursing an overworked and debilitated frame.

The results of medical investigation and the progress of science cause fewer diseases to terminate fatally, and protect the lives of the constitutionally feeble. We have, therefore, more invalids than in the days of simpler habits, when the community was made up of the sick and well. A very large number belong to a class who are neither sick nor well. It is difficult, therefore, to define a condition of health. The majority of mankind go on their way, complaining, from the cradle to the

Step

grave. How few there are who have no malady, acquired or inherited, which exposes them to illness. How few there are whose stomach and brain bear the labor which is rolled upon them, without furnishing evidence of uneasiness? Stand at the corner in some crowded thoroughfare; inquire of one, who knows every passer by, how many enjoy perfect health; and if you are able to collect the statistics, the result will surprise you, unless you have been accustomed to look in this direction. into the gallery of the church in which you worship; run your eye along the pews; examine each countenance, and you will find, alas! very few upon whom the cares of life do not wear heavily, or who do not secretly suffer under some of the many ills "which flesh is heir to." In the period of youth, all the functions of the body are usually well performed. He now scarcely knows he has a stomach, who, during most of the years of his life, afterwards, perhaps, must consider carefully with regard to every dietetic indulgence. Who has not looked back with wonder to the period of his boyhood, when a hatful of apples, or pears, or plums, frequently disappeared under the apron, especially when visiting forbidden ground, or when a whole afternoon was too short to satisfy the love of boisterous games, a quarter-hour of which would now exhaust all the physical energies? But this period of youth-ever the most delightsome and the most healthy-sometimes requires more than nature's efforts to sustain its vigor. The eruptive diseases of childhood leave the system exhausted and feeble, requiring stimulants to bring it up. A little later, the period of girlhood is often a very critical one, in which the aid of stimulants is eminently required. Still later, youth of both sexes develop unequally-growing rapidly in height, but otherwise gaining little-and require the judicious use of the same agents. To the mother, during the nursing period, they also afford material assistance. The dyspeptic finds their judicious employment of great service. And to him who regards himself as entirely well, unusual fatigue, extraordinary watchfulness, much care and anxiety, excess of labor, in body and mind, or both, may bring a condition in which it would be desirable to employ a tonic stimulus; while as yet he would hesitate to say he was sick, and required

medicine. To the valetudinarian and convalescent, as well as to the aged and infirm, stimulants furnish a grateful and valuable health-giving and life-preserving force, by means of which vigor is restored, new strength imparted, and the usefulness and comfort of old age extended and increased. In malarious districts, stimulants are especially required. Credible authority asserts that amid the terrible slaughter which has attended the building of the Panama railroad—an enterprise which cost more human life than many long campaigns and bloody battles-none enjoyed immunity from the disease except those who drank habitually, and freely. As a remedy for the bite of serpents, and many other accidents and diseases, stimulants are now and have ever been regarded, by physicians, as a valuable addition to the means of relief which Providence has furnished them.

In

In debilitated and exhausted conditions, there is no resource, in the present state of science, except in alcoholic and diffusable stimulants. this respect, they occupy precisely the same relation to the race which they ever have since the earliest period of their history. It is true their use requires the exercise of sound discretion; with regard to which, professional advice should be sought. To some, their use, in any quantity, is an evil. There are many who are constitutionally replete--every ounce of aliment becoming converted into the elements of blood-whose ruddy countenance and bonhommie make them favorites in society. This class need no stimulus; to them it is a manifest injury. A low diet, and abstinence from exciting drinks, and from much animal food, affords them the only chance of safely reaching the critical period of life, without being overtaken with some form of apoplexy, which frequently proves their first and last illness. It is the misfortune of this class that they usually desire just the food and drink which it is the least desirable they should employ; and they are frequently restrained with difficulty. Having never suffered illness, they laugh at their nervous friend, who complains much, but energetically pursues the business of life, and whose accomplishments are often incredible; yet, like the willow, he bends under the attacks of diease, and recovers, while his sturdy neigh

bor of iron frame is broken by its force.

There is a class to whom the world owes much, more, probably, than to any other, whose special mission in this life seems to be one of action. They are usually spare, below the middle size, nervous, ailing, cannot bear excessive fatigue of an unusual kind, their mental powers being often greater than their bodily abilities. Some of this class remind us of a frail steamer with too large an engine, which racks its framework, and while driving it to the accomplishment of its purpose, rapidly destroys its constitution. These are usually enthusiasts, and often make some particular matter the hobby and the business of their lives. They live just about long enough to make their mark and die. This class, of whom there are many examples in both sexes, frequently need mild stimulants to sustain them in their self-imposed labors. It is useless to advise rest and quiet; they cannot rest; inaction to them is intol erable. If they smoke, it does them injury. They find little time for social enjoyments; an hour spent in chatting or at chess would seem a total loss. With regard to them, there often arrives a time when the physician, or the judicious wife, or friend, would recommend the use of some gentle stimulus to relieve the over-taxed system from exhaustion, consequent upon unusual bodily labor or expenditure of mental energy.

There are others whose framework seems to be put together lightly; they are frequently tall in stature; while young, they are frail, though seldom ill; they lack energy, apparently from the want of bodily strength; as they approach middle life, they suffer from what, for the want of a name, is called "general debility." They are not characterized by great mental energy; the mind seeming to sympathise with the body. The heart seems unequal to the task of driving the blood to the farthest extremities. These people get great credit in this world for amiability, and a sort of negative excellence, which they surely possess to an eminent degree. Except dyspepsia, which, during the dyspeptic period, from twenty-five to thirty-five, seldom fails to give them trouble-especially if their habits are sedentary-they pass along feebly, because physically unable to be energetic;

and frequently sink at their meridian with some disorder, characterised mostly by debility. Females of this class suffer from the relaxing diseases peculiar to their sex, within a few years after marriage; and, if over-taxed with domestic cares, are worn out by the exhaustion which they produce. These people require stimulants more than any other, and their judicious employment will often tend to ward off disease, and relieve various disorders to which they are liable. Happily, persons of this habit are not disposed to their overuse; the majority of drunkards being found among those who require no stimulants. These long, lank, Cassius-looking persons, feel themselves physically unable to indulge, and experience constantly the necessity of employing moderation in all things. There is little merit in their prudence, because the least indulgence is followed by unpleasant consequences. One single night's rest lost, or one sumptuous meal, or a short period of labor, is succeeded by sensations of discomfort, entirely unknown to those more highly favored in point of physical capabilities.

For all these classes of persons, and for those in the peculiar circumstances we have described, stimulants may be pronounced necessary.

IV. WHAT KINDS OF STIMULANTS TO USE.

This is an age of adulterations. Our flour, mustard, vinegar, pepper, meat, tea, coffee, milk, sugar, butter, and medicines are adulterated to such an extent, that the very fastidious would scarcely dare to eat at all, if made aware of the full extent to which these practices prevail. The quality of intoxicating drink has much to do with its distressing effects upon the constitution of man. In other guise, poisons, such as prussic, sulphuric, and nitric acids, logwood, alum, lead, copper, and every other sort of astringents are imbibed, which are very deleterious to health and destructive to life. Who has not observed how rapidly the wretch descends who sinks into the use of whisky and common, cheap adulterated spirits? The mere stimulating effect the human system will long resist, unless the quantity be enormousbut a frame of iron and nerves of brass cannot withstand the influence of these

poisonous compounds, which, though sold as alcoholic, often contain scarcely any alcohol.

Tobacco is the most popular plant in the world, although introduced to its inhabitants but about 300 years ago. It is most consumed of all vegetables, and, next to salt, is the most used of all productions, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral, on the face of the globe. It is partaken of by saint, by savage, and by sage, from the Equator to the Pole, and no nation has declined adopting it. Two millions of tons are annually produced, and, notwithstanding all that has been said and written against it, the consumption has constantly increased. Although, to a considerable extent, injurious in many ways, its use, to some constitutions, is innocuous, and there are those who employ it with apparent benefit. Most persons have recourse to it who have been reformed from habits of intemperance, and it furnishes a comparatively safe substitute for the intoxicating cup. Opium is more employed, by far, than is generally supposed. Its influence is evil, and only "evil continually." Coffee and tea have their uses; but they are liable to great abuse. Alcoholic stimulants, though gratifying to some extent the same kind of desire, serve a much more valuable purpose.

On recently looking over the loose papers of a medical man, eminent in the last generation, we observed that he was constantly in dread of inflammation, which induced him continually to tap the veins to prevent mischief. Either this age has learned much, or has receded, or else the constitutions of our people have changed; for we oftener have reason to fear an atonic rather than a tonic condition; and more need stimulating than depleting. Good hearty food, and enough of it, is the best treatment for the healthy, who would keep so; and tonics and stimulants are valuable for the feeble, to bring up to par those who have sunk below it. If it is true that cases of incipient phthisis require not only nourishment, such as is procured from fats and oils, but also that the blood be driven through the lungs at a more rapid rate, in order to accomplish more perfect oxygenation, we require some trustworthy agent, of a stimulant character, for this purpose. Under these circumstances, good brandy and gin are especially useful. There is

an abundance of villainous, drugged, adulterated compounds, which are deadly counterfeits, constantly sold under the name of the various kinds of wines which they are intended to imitate. The manufacture of these articles has grown into a trade, and the adulteration commences at the very place where they originate. In view of the adulteration of port wine in the very vats, a writer, familiar with this subject, says: "If you would get pure Port, you must go to Oporto, make it yourself, and ride home on the cask." It is notorious that there is more champagne annually drank in Paris than the whole champagne country produces; the greater part must be adulterated. Brandy is very expensive, is most readily adulterated, and its habitual use congests the liver. Gin has fewer objections, but it is often, too, fiery and exciting. Rhine wine and London porter are frequently imported pure, but are very expensive. Scotch ale or porter, at twenty shillings a dozen, is no more available to the large number of persons, who require an article of this kind, than gold pills would be. With regard to our malt liquors, they are often prepared with a view of making them at as low a price per barrel as possible, and are frequently unfit for medical prescriptions. Native wine is not yet obtainable, except at a large price. In years when there has been a plentiful supply of Harrison and Canfield apples, New Jersey has furnished cider unequaled in the world for purity and excellence; this article supplies the required want in a large number of cases; but for several years the market has afforded no cider fit for a physician to prescribe.

There has recently sprung up a new kind of manufacture, which has seemed to supply, to a good degree, this want. It is "Lager Bier," or the wine of malt and hops, and is much esteemed in European countries where the soil is not favorable to the production of the grape. Many physicians have been in the habit of prescribing this article. It can only be preserved during the summer, in deep cellars, twenty-five feet under ground, every avenue to which is carefully closed. It is sent out in small casks, lined with resin, so as to be as impervious as a glass bottle. It is very weak in alcohol; the winter beer containing two and one

half per cent., and the summer four and one half, or about half as much as many of the light wines of Earope. Other malt liquors and cider contain, frequently, ten per cent., while Port and Madeira contain twenty-five per cent. "Lager Bier" is so called from its being laid away in cellars, the fermentation being arrested. The name signifies stored, or stock beer.

It is often useful in dyspeptic and hysteric cases, during convalescence from disease, for nursing-mothers, and in conditions of feebleness, when ordinary tonics would not be borne; it acts gently without producing excitement, does not cause headache, does not over stimulate when taken in moderate

quantities, does not produce acidity of the stomach, and acts freely upon the kidneys. In many of these respects it differs remarkably from all other maltliquors; beside, its manufacture requires cleanliness and purity.

An able writer on the subject of "American wines," in a former number of our magazine, illustrates the possibility that, before long, the world may be obliged to rely wholly upon this country for its supply of wine. The geographical limits of the United States are almost precisely the same as those in which are produced the finest grapes of Europe. By the patent office report of 1853, it appears that the value of the wines produced in the United States, amounted to two millions of dollars; ten thousand dollars more than the value of the tobacco crop.

There is not an indigenous grape in Europe; the stock is of Asiatic origin, and was originally introduced amongst the islands of the Archipelago by the Phenicians. The wild grape of Persia, having been propagated through many centuries by means of cuttings-a method of reproduction opposed to nature-has at length been attacked by one common, fatal disorder, called the "oïdium," which threatens to annihilate it, unless recourse can again be had to some native source.

In view of the apparently hopeless failure of the wine crop in Madeira and Portugal, in Italy, and other parts of the continent, and the adaptedness for the grape culture which is said to exist in every part of our Union, this subject assumes considerable importance. It is said that there are not less than a hun

dred sorts of grapes in this country,