Smyrna times., 1855-09-26
Alcohol is Mot Food.

! we DhbS oHOWu III Il lOElleT ltIdt Get
tain principles of food subserve the purposes o
nutrition in the living system, and are ulti
mately resolved into force by decomposition
of the uestss which they form. Other part'
foOd-those containing no nltrogen--are dcVO
ted to simple combustion III the body for the
production OF animal heat, and are hence called
the respiratory ailments. As heat is force,
these almentary Iples-sugar, starch, OILS
aud the like-are is" producers OF iofcr, but
IN different way from the plastic al Lheuls.-
These give rise 10 nutrItVe turce, whhe The
respiratory principles produce calorlhc force, or
heat. The one class resolves into muscular
motroi, mechanical power, and the other lulo
warmth oil the body. Now alcohol, as has been
shown, S Incapable Of nourlshIug thc tissues o.
OF mtnlstcrlHg to the nutrluve operutions; yet
1t Is Claimed that it may take rank as a resp
ratory allnent. We shall discover that tins
claim is groundless by considering the nature
and Influence of the respiratory powers.
Oh all the endless variety OF organized prln-
cpes winch nature produces, those ieW only
are adapted tor TODD winch are so bland and
neutIdI ,neu t,Owcrs, and IN chemical and
physical properties So exqulstel, adjusted to
their purpose, that They may be wrought INTO
the living sys,em, and there decompOsed and
expelled from 1t without the slightest INTERRUPT
tlou OF disturbance Of the vital processes. The
breaking down and rebuilding II The body tahen
place CO slantiy uurlng lie at Il most RAPID,
thorough, equable and uniform rate, while the
lnLIVldudl Is totally unconsc GUS Of the changes
Tne all-destructIve, al-lmpellIng agent Is oxy-
gen gas introduced from the air by breathing,
aud distributed throughout the system by the
Circulation, so that it is in universal contact
with every part of the organization, and per-
petually acts upon it to decompose and destroy.
From that vital oxydaton-this slow, measured,
regulated combustlon-lite results. The Inf
mite Chemist has graduated with omnlscient
exactness the reciprocal powers and atfnites
OF The gases We lnhaie and the Iood we digest.
The natural rate OF Reaction constitutes The
equilibrium of health. Now, If any manner
this equilibrium be disturbed, either by alter
ing the acton of the food on the one hand, or
of the oxygen on the other, disturbance and de-
rangement, both physical and Intellectual, are
the consequence. Ii, for example, we reduce
below is normal point, as by breathing over
anI over the air II Close room, all the life.
torces, mental and bodily, are depressed
There may be abundance of food, but it will
i po -, hnoausa Ia ,,of
Client oxygen 10 effect its development. Or il
nitrous oxyd Coughing gas) Is breathed-con-
tanning large proportion OF oxygen-and be-
| ing very soluble III the Ood, 1t Is rapidly ab-
sorbed into the system and over-oxydzes 1t, the
consequence being a preternalural exaltation
of all the functions, intellectual and physical
Combustion within the system is heightened
and both brain and muscles are excited to the
development Of extraordinary force. Thu,
nitrous oxyd inhaled is force; and yet, who il
snnple enough to assert that it is therefore
food 2 But whether the equilibrium of vita
combustion be overturned by charging the sys
TEN with one extra dose of oxygen, or, on thu
other hand. by supplying matters upon whlcl
oxygen is to take effect, which are more com
buBlIble than ordinary food, the effect is pre-
cIsay the same--the burning process is aug
mented, all the functions OF the fabric ar
qulckened 'to an unwarranted speed, and W
have result which simple food ls totall inca
Bile OF producing. Such is the case with alec
hol An artificial compound, not brought int
existence by the hand Of nature through cor
strJctve growth, as are all true almeAts, bu
coming by the route OF deadly mlasmas an
pestdential exhalations, the putretal ture deca
, OF organic matter, coming from tood by prs
CESS OF decomposition which destroys the al
meat dud feplaces 1t by new and necessa ril
different suO,,ance, the presumption is stron
that th.s tactllious principle can in no iu
. sense be cIassed with foods. But, when v
n examine it's physical and chemical properlie
= the case becomes still clearer. Among tn
8 ailments which nature prepares for US, she hi
n established fixed graduation Of combustibilit
}. The plastic or tissue-forming principles, ,aboun
= ing IN nitrogen, are least combustible, bul
/ slowest; while the fats and oils among resp
|
e matory-the other alimentary substances beir
n intermediate. For the utmost natural necess
70 ties of the system in the way of calorifcatlo
nature has provided the oleaginous compound
is The leading fiery ingredient of all organic
], substances is hydrogen; and there is more
g this in the oils than in any other kind OF foe
But in alcohol this element is in still great
\ excess. which places it quite beyond the lin
: assigned by nature for our physiological necs
:; sites. Beside the heating qualities which
suit from it's composition, the conclusive caE
bility is increased by its mobile, diffhsab
ID penetrating nature, which is favorable to
lk rapid oxydation in the body. Now, when
20 consider that the fundamental event of {
animal economy is the introduction and diff
sion throughout it Of oxygen gas, and that
rd the complex and multi torm functions OF /
IL living being, hov immediately from the vi
combustIye process, il will be perfectly esid,