The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-11-15
A Whisky Cure.


Ii was suggested some years ago b,
Lieblg that the use OF cod-iiver oil woulc
have tendaney 20 promote distast
Tor alcoholic stimuiants. According Il
the authority many people bad founC
they could take wine with animal food
but not with farina"eous or amylaceoui
nutriment. A well known man of sci
ence, Mr.. Charles Napier, has underta
ken 10 test these assertions, and the re-
suits Of bis experiments are set forth in
paper read before the physiological
section of the British association and
which has attracted much attention in
England.
The experience OF Mr.. Napier's own
family had furnished q seeming proof OF
the accuracy of Liebig's statement. They
had for TWO years adopted vegetarian
diet, and although brought up ia the
moderate use of alcoholic liquors now
felt no inclination for them. More de-
cisive evidence, however, was supplied
by the application of the theory to TWEEN
ty-seven cases, the more striking of
which may be briefly cited. The first
instance is that of a military officer, 81
years old, of al aristocratic Scottish
family, who had contracted habits of ex-
cessive whisky drinking while on SER
vice with bis regiment in India. We are
told that his custom was TO eat scarcely
any bread, fat or vegetables, his break
fast consisting mostly of salt fish, and
bis dinner almost wholly of roast meat.
During the day he consumed from a pint
70 quart OF whisky, and was not sober
more than half his time. By Napier's
advice be was induced to return to the
breakfast of oatmeal poyrldge on which |
he had been brought up, and to adopt q |
dinner OF which peas and beans formed
important ingredients. He does not
seem to bavs liked the change at fret,
and made the significant complaint that
he could NOT "enjoy bis whskey" as
formerly. About this time there was
panic smoug fesh eaters in England
owing to the cattle plague, and, conse-
quentiy, the whole family was pct on
vegetarian diet. For some weeks the
husband grumbled very much, but his
taste for whisky gradually disappeared,
and la two months from the time be be
came an entire vegetarian be rellnouish-
ed alcoholic stimulants, and according to
MIR. Napier, has not since returned TO
either flesh or alcohol.
Another case which merits special no.
tice was that of gentleman Of sixty who
had been addicted TO Incorporate habits
tor thirty Eve years, his outbreaks aver
aging one q weeg. HisconstitutIon was
40 shattered that be had great difficulty
in insuring bis life. After an attack Of
delirium tremens, which nearly ended
fatally, he was persuaded to enter upon
q fsrinaceoss diet, which, we are assur-
ed, cured him completely in seven
He seems 10 have been very
thin st the beginning of the experiment,
but at the close of the period named had
gained twenty-eight pounds, being then
Of about the normal weight for q person
Of bis height. We shalt mention but one
other OF the twenty-seven cases reported
by Mr.. Napier. II is that of an suslyt.
cal chemist, SO years Of age, who is de-
.cribed "a person of some talent but Of
Incorporate habits. Upon Liebig's state {
nent being recalled to him, he expressed
IN opinion that farinaceous food would
lot suit bis own constitution, affirming
hat he felt hc had eaten nothing unless q
30 dined largely upon flesh. He con-
ented, however, to test the suggestion I
" months trial. His first dinner,
which consisted principally of mscarcni, 3
sss eaten with little appetite, but be :
contriving to stimulate 3 {
esire for food by vigorous outdoor OK. a
reese, and before the end of elk weeks
PAS total abstslner.-New York Sun.