The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-13
IS ALCOHOL A FOODp

met at Philadelphia in the autumn OF last year
was ono OF the most representative bodies ever
convened in the United States. consisting Of
some COO delegates One Of the questions dis
cussed wns the value Of alcohol as a food. and
the conclusions presented in the report Of Dr.
Ezra NJ Hunt seem TO have been quite unani-
mously adopted. and are now published.
1t was not. Of course. the province of this CON
gross to TX the relation Of voluntary associa-
tions or Of rcguativc or prohbitory legislation
to the use OF spirits. Since. however. the
amount Of alcoholic solutions consumed in the
United States in 1872 had reached $50 900. 900 Of
gallons. and was apparently increasing. 1t was
pertinent to inquire what influence this i'm
mcnsc absorption might he exerting on the pub
lie health.
Naturally the first search for ts efficiency was
among those heterogeneous substances which
chiefly contribute to the welfare and production
OF tissue. But with no nitrogen Of its own. and
with no ascertainahlc action, such az is quito
definite in the casc OF the usual albuminoid or
heterogeneous ailments. 1t Is not surprising that
almost with common consent u Was dismissed
from the plastic or ccll-forming varieties 81
food. II, on the other hand. we seek 10 classify
il among the heat <, nerut.ng and forre-prora
gazing clements. we find that the intrrro-ai on
point which Lichig sct oppos ite to alcohol. In
into wcll-authorizod doubt ~ to it, calorii
properties. Animal temperature is diminished
by II rather than increased; carbon oxide ana
watery. pulmonary vapor are not affected t.
any dcternlnHtc and uniform extent These
latter facts. which are csta.l shell by seicntii.
experiments contradict "a WIDESPREAD imprts-
sion. hut il may be noted that practical cNpc-
rioncc il beginning ~ confirm them. The US
Of spirits IL no longer san toned N the casc ~
armies exposed g. the privniions and in 'lcmcn-
cics OF n campaign. or for exploring cXpcdi-
tons destined 10 operate in high latitud,s. l.
If nowsc astonishing. however. that heat pro
ducing power should be popularity attribut.dt
alcohol. since. according to Anstie its ant-py-
rctic or cooling cflect was nov'r even suspected
by medical practitioners until within the last
few years
The opinions Of Dupra. Anetic. Hammond
and others. who are not disposed To denyto al
cohol n certain nuirtivc or calorihc function.
are carefully analysed in this report. and thu
dcdu tions from wcll-csi"ulishod ia'ts dis rim
mated from mere hypo'hc :. For example
one writer, Dr. Hammond. thinks II possible
that alcohol might even at a. a ccll-huildiu-
food through combining with tile products ~
decay in Tissues. and, under certain cirfum-
stances. yielding hcp nitrogen 10 the constric-
ton OF now tissue. But II is pointed out 10y this
repor' that the suggestion. however ingenious
is a random gu, -. and that no parallel IN or
ganic iransmuiat.on nor any evidence in ami
nal chemistry surround II with the areola Of q
probable hypothesis. Again. an increase OF
fatty matter has been put forward 10y some ply
slcians H. proof of nutrition. hut it seems that
this in reuse If not yer fed when pure alcohol
u fed. and Is not IN accord with experience ~
10 animals. Moreover If for n time accumula-
tf al ftI -. I
would not demonstrate healthiul nutrition in
the same degree ~ would increase Of other
tissue or 81 muscular force. because alcohol is
known to favor fatty degeneration and might
very possibly store up temporary fat amid NAL
nutrition. And here we are reminded that aug
mcnted weight il not OF itself nt'st OF noursh-
mcnt since 1t may bc induced by constipation
or 10y The growth - a fatty tumor
The form however. In which the theory Of "a
foodyalue in alcohol Is now mos, prominently
advan ed ~ tl.s Il Ia som" way delay the q =
Indignation Of material. and 80 eN"r'is. = a fun
tion rqu l'ut - nutrition. Nodouli II sound
conservative of health to say ~ a -uletanrc that
1t checklist the breaking down oft -suc. unless W.
keep IA yiow the Importance OF thus process e.
the maintenance " lie. II il prcciscly Through
this de~truotivc. or. as the do tors call it, re-
gr'ssiNc. assimilation that force IL generated
mus lbs contract. thoughts are developed. or
guns svcreie and eXcretc. Now, according t.
to the port Of This Medical Congress. there j.
no evidence to show that al .ohul ia any wise
AZ the oau-. Of undue and parnieiou- M &
nmOriho~is of tissue. such H. occurs In SOM.
forms OF disease. On the contrary. what W..
know Of IT. usual Interference IL Just in thu
other direction than that Of repair. We may
add TIM i sounds somewhat paradoXical /,
claim that an agent r,tards decomposition wh n
lluus and Increasing the a Invites 81 The body.
Il seems that the word mcttmorpho-!s has been
made 10 shelter good many yagaries and un-
Substantial assertions, 10 VIII. the writer ~
this report applies the query IN one of DRYDEN 5
| plays: What. my noble tolon'lf In meiamnr-
| uhoS~ On wAat ot,gls .on are you trans .ormrdf
| There II no DOUBT % tendency IN the pulhr
mind. and even among some rract itioner-. t.
scout At and discard scientific drdu tion@ viii u
do NOT agree with their personal observations.
Yet il viii bee conceded that the results of Irip'-
| teal experience need probing and collation. NJ
Jess than the experiments Of the chemist. 1t
viii not do to certify alcohol food 10y anirminl:
| that exp ren'e shows all nations dcsire It.
This is denied. but. If true, might only prov,
! that man has morbid cravings ;and We may add
! 'hni the same argument would demonstrate the
Immortality II the soul. or make ol sin virtue.
| y ther Will Il DO 10 lite ca-o- in which alcohol
docs no appar NJ harm. for there arc persons
| who live amid malaria and are unaffected. And
| finally. We cannot speak of cXpcricn - demon
| stglting % food vulu. IN alcohol whore enough
of unqu STONED nutrinl ut has 'on used W IN
| il ~ Sustain life. Wh'n We cous ia the d
| pl rahr evils which attend the abuse 81 tins ar
| trlr. and the astounding proportions which its
| consumption has Huain II, We must evu snnr-
/ thing b. tor than superb 'ial obs rryutlon 10 vim