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Alcoholism In The 1800s

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Alcohol has widely been used in America since its creation and arrived well before the 20th century. In the early 1800’s there was a big push to limit the consumption of alcohol called the temperance movement. Many states in the Union were dealing with issues that stemmed from the overuse of alcohol, so they established laws to help curb the consumption. Massachusetts was the first state to pass a law in 1838, which banned the sale of alcohol in quantities less than 15 gallons. To follow Massachusetts, Maine was the first state to pass any form of Prohibition law, which was in 1846. Then by the beginning of the 1900’s, temperance societies were the norm across America, due in large part to women. Some of the strongest activists in the …show more content…

To begin, the physical damage alcoholism can have is astonishing. The central nervous system is the first to be damaged and the first sign is slurred speech. Alcohol inhibits the brain to communicate with the body and makes balancing, coordination, and speaking more difficult. After slurred speech, comes numbness in certain extremities as well as the ability for rational thought. Ultimately, short-term memory loss or brain damage can result if continued overdrinking occurs. After the effects on the nervous system, alcohol starts to damage the body’s digestive system. The digestive enzymes within your pancreas build up which causes digestive issues with and end state of pancreatitis. Diarrhea and bloating are also common side effects of heavy drinking and people often develop ulcers or hemorrhoids. To add to the digestive system, alcohol can also cause severe damage to the circulatory system. “More than two drinks a day can increase your change of developing high blood pressure.” (Sutton, 2007) This high blood pressure can cause irregular heartbeats, difficulty with the flow of blood through the circulatory system, and can ultimately cause a heart attack or heart failure. The liver is next to be severely impacted by alcohol. The liver is fundamental to the process of maintaining a healthy system. “The liver stores vital energy and nutrients, manufactures proteins and enzymes necessary for good health, protects the body from disease, and breaks down and helps remove harmful toxins, like alcohol, from the body.” (Sutton, 2007) If the liver becomes damaged, the person will develop muscle cramps, fatigue, jaundice, and even reduced brain function due to unfiltered toxins in the blood stream. In the most serious

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