Rush- Effect of Spirituous Liquors

BR-2023.055

Containing An Enquiry into the Effects of Spirituous Liquors upon the human body, and their Influence upon Happiness of Society

From Catalog II

Rush's extended argument for temperance -- less graphically dramatic than the Thermometer but more analytically detailed -- traces the physiological mechanisms through which alcohol damages the body (stomach, liver, nervous system) and the social mechanisms through which habitual drinking destroys families, communities, and civic life. The pamphlet reflects Rush's characteristic method: clinical observation in the service of moral argument. He had seen the effects of alcohol abuse at the Pennsylvania Hospital for decades; this pamphlet translates those clinical observations into a reform program addressed to the public rather than the medical community.

Accession: BR-2023.055
Date: ca. 1790
Author / maker: Rush, Benjamin
References: Fox 1784-2, Austin 1636, Evans 22865, Sabin 74241
Notes: From Fox: An Enquiry into the Effects of Spirituous Liquors upon the Human Body, and Their Influence upon the Happiness of Society. By Benjamin Rush, M.D. Philadelphia: Printed by Thomas Bradford, [1784?). 11 pp. This undated tract is referred to in a letter of July 1784, though it could have been published earlier. Rush had it reprinted in newspapers many times, including in the Pennsylvania Gazette no. 3029 (18 June 1788), where, according to Butterfield (Letters, 521, n. 1), "it usually appeared about this season each year." It was included in Volume 2 of Medical Inquiries and Observations (see 1793-13), and has been very extensively reprinted and distributed by the American Tract Society and other publishers. It also appeared in the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol 4 (1943): 325-41. (For Rush's earlier treatment of this topic, see 1782-6.) Comment in Butterfield, Letters, 272-73, n. 1. 1786-5. Philadelphia: Bradford, [1786]. 1787-7. 2d ed. Philadelphia: Dobson, [1787]. 1790-5. (with an addition) Boston: Thomas and Andrews, 1790. 1790-6. 3d ed. with additions. Philadelphia: Bradford, [1790]. 1791-3. 3d ed. with additions. Philadelphia: McCulloch, 1791. 1791-4. Edinburgh: Inglis, 1791. 18 Part One 1804-3. (rev. and enigd. ed. with "Drunkards Earble's Philadelphia: Henkel, 1804. 18044. (with "Effects of Ardent Spirits* title) Palses "Dobson, (1804] 1805-1. (with additions) New Brunswick (N.J.J: Blauvel, I 1805-2. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Dobson, [18052). 1808-3. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Dobson, 1808. 1809-4. (in collection) Trenton (N.J.J: Fenton, 1809 1810-2. 4th ed. with additions. Philadelphia: Dobson, [18105 1810-3. Edinburgh: Tumbull, 1810. 1811-3. Sth ed. with additions. Philadelphia: Printed for grain distribution, [1811?). 1811-4. 6th ed. with additions. New York: Davis, 1811. 1811-5. 6th ed. with additions. New York: Printed for b Subscribers, 1811. 1812-2. (with "Drunkards Emblem* title) New-Marke Nil Hemkel, [1812?). 1812-3. 6th ed. with additions. New York: Davis, 1812. 1812-4. 7th ed. with additions. Boston: Manning and Loring, In! 1812-5. Middlebury: Vermont Religious Tract Society, 1812 1813-2. 6th ed. with additions. Raleigh: 1813. 1813-3. 7th ed. with additions. New Brunswick [N.J.J: Dar, 1813. 1814-1. 8th ed. with additions. Brookfield [Mass.J: E. Marie. 1814. 1814-2. 8th ed. with additions. Brookfield [Mass.]: B. Moria 1815-1. (with different title) Trenton, N.J.: Sherman, 1813 1816-1. (extracts) Philadelphia: Kite, 1816. 1816-2. 8th ed. Springfield, Mass.: Dickman, 1816, 1917-1. Sthed, with additions. Springfield, Mass.: Dickmas, It 1818-1. 2d ed. (extracts) Philadelphia: Kite, 1818. 1819-1. 8th ed. with additions. Exeter IN. H.J: Richardso, Is 1823-1. (extracts) Philadelphia: Kite, 1823. 1823-2. 8th ed. with additions. Boston: Loring, 1823. 1827-2. (extracts) Philadelphia: Kite, 1821. 1833-1. (extracts) Philadelphia: Tract Association of Fricad, I 1845-1. (New York]: American Tract Society, (18453). 1934-1. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Doran, 1934.

In the catalogs: Catalog II, The Moral and Physical Thermometer (Cat. VII.2)

Cite this object as

“Rush- Effect of Spirituous Liquors.” The Soiferman Collection, BR-2023.055, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. EIS LIBRIS, https://eislibris.com/objects/rush-effect-of-spirituous-liquors (accessed [date]).