* * * * *

USES OF ALCOHOL—­concluded.

You see alcohol is very useful for some purposes; but do people ever drink it?  Some of the children think not, and we grant that no one is foolish enough to drink raw alcohol, because it is too strong.  It would take only a little to make them drunk, and only a few ounces to kill them instantly.

We ask the pupils if they have ever seen a drunken person, and what made that person drunk?  We soon obtain an answer, and place upon the board “Rum, gin, whiskey, brandy,” as the names of drinks which will take away the good sense of those who drink them.  To these are added “Wine, beer, ale, lager, and cider.”

We explain that all these have alcohol in them, as may be known by smelling them, or by smelling the breath of those who have drunk even a little of them; and that because they contain alcohol they are called alcoholic liquors.  If a person drinks any one of them he will be poisoned, more or less, according to how much he takes.  The children are astonished at the word poisoned, but we explain that the very word, intoxicated, means poisoned.  So a drunken man is a poisoned man.  If enough alcohol, or alcoholic liquor, is drunk by anyone, he will drop down dead as quickly as if he were shot by a cannon ball.

When told that alcohol is not a food, but a poison, the class readily understands what we mean, and we have no difficulty in having the following statements prepared and memorized: 

* * * * *

FOOD.

That which makes the body grow, and helps to keep it alive.

POISON.

That which hurts the body, and makes it die.

ALCOHOL.

QUALITIES.  GOOD USES. 
Water-like, looks like To melt gums.
water.  To make varnishes. 
Transparent, may be seen To burn in lamps.
through clearly.  To make camphene, etc. 
Odorous, has a smell.  To put in thermometer
Pungent, has a hot, biting tubes.
taste.  To preserve meats, insects,
Liquid, will flow in etc.
drops.  To make perfumery. 
Poisonous, hurts the In making jewelry.
body. 
Intoxicating, takes away the BAD USE.
senses; makes drunk.  To drink. 
Absorbent, takes up or
absorbs water. 
Inflammable, burns with a
flame. 
Uncongealable, will not
freeze. 
Innutritious, not good for
food.

* * * * *

ABOUT FERMENTATION AND FERMENTED LIQUOR.

ALCOHOL.—­Alcohol may be obtained from any substance which contains sugar or starch, or both sugar and starch, as apples, pears, grapes, potatoes, beets, rice, barley, maple, honey, etc.