The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-11-22
CTJRE FOR INEBRIETY.
The Taste for Alcoholic Stimulants Erad1-
Gated by Vegetarian Diet.

CUhL FUN
The Taste for Alcoholic Stimulants Erad1-
Gated by a Vegetarian Diet.
from the New York SUM-
1t was suggested some years ago by
Liebig that the use of cod-liver Oil
would have a tendency to promote
distaste for alcoholic stimulants. Ac-
cording to the same authority many
people had found they could take wine
with animal food, but not with farlna-
ceous or amylaceOus nutriment. A
well known man of science, Mr.. Charles
Napier, has undertaken to test these as
sertions, and the results of his expert
ments are set forth in paper read be-
fore the physiological section OF the
British Association, and which has at
tracted much attention in England.
The experience of Mr.. Napier's own
family had furnished a seeming proof
of the accuracy of Liebig's statement.
They had for two years adopted vege-
tartan diet, and although brought up in
the moderate use of alcoholic liquors,
now felt no inclination for them. More
decisive evidence, however, was sup
piled by the application of the theory
to twenty-seven cases, the more
striking of which may be briefly
cited. The first instance is that OF
a military officer, 81 years old, of an
aristocratic Scottish family, who had
contracted habits of excessive whisky
drinking while on service with his regi-
ment in India. We are told that his
custom was to eat scarcely any bread,
fat or vegetables, his breakfast consist
ing mostly of salt fish and his dinner al
most wholly of roast meat. During the
day he consumed from a pint to quart
of whisky, and was not sober more than
half his time. By Napier's advice he
was induced to return to the breakfast
of oatmeal porridge ON which he had
been brought up, and to adopt dinner
of which peas and beans formed impor-
tant ingredients. He does not seem to
have liked the change at first, and made
the significant complaint that he could
not ''enjoy his whisky" as much as for
merly. About this time there was a
panic among flesh-eaters in England
owing to the cattle plague, and, conse-
quently, the whole family was put on a
vegetarian diet. For some weeks the
husband grumbled very much, but his
taste for whisky gradually disappeared,
and in two months from the time he be-
came an entire vegetarian he relinquish-
ed alcoholic stimulants, and, according
to Mr.. Napier, has not since returned to
either flesh or alcohol.
Another case which merits special no.
tice was that of a gentleman of 60 who
had been addicted to Incorporate habits
for thirty-fve years, his outbreaks aver
aging one a week. His constitution was
so shattered that he had great difficulty
in insuring his life. After an attack of
delirium tremens, which nearly ended
fatally, he was persuaded to enter upon
a farinaceous diet, which, we are assur-
ed, cured him completely in seven
months. He seems to have been very
thin at the beginning of the experiment,
but by the close of the period named he
had gained twenty-eight pounds, being
then of about the normal weight for a
person of his height. We shall mention
but one other of the twenty-seven cases
reported by Mr.. Napier. 1t is that OF
an analytical chemist, 80 years of age,
who is described as a person of some
talent but of Incorporate habits. Upon
Liebig's statement being recalled to him
he expressed an opinion that farinaceous
food would not suit his own constitu-
ton, affirming that he felt he had eaten
nothing unless he dined largely upon
flesh. He consented, however, to test
the suggestion by months trial. Hi;
first dinner, which consisted principally
of macaroni, was eaten with little appe.
tite, but he perscvered, continuing to
stimulate desire for food by vigorous
outdoor exercise, and before the end Of
six weeks was total abstainer.
1t is not pretended that these expert
ments were numerous enough or per
formed under such diverse conditions az
Liebig's theory; but they certainly in
dictate that substantial results may b.
expected from an exhaustive application
of them. Among the articles of foot
which are specified by Mr.. Napier, as
pre-eminent for antagonism to alcohol
are macaroni, haricot beans, dried pea!
and lentils, all of which should be boil
ed and favored with plenty of butte
or olive oil. The various garden veg
etables are said to be hopeful, but die
mainly composed of them would not re
sist the tendency to intemperance so eff
fectually as one of macaroni and farina
cious food. From this point of view
highly glutinous bread would be o
great utility, but it should not be sour
such acidity being calculated to foste
the habit of alcoholic drinking. A ik
remark may be applied to the use 0
sailed food.
If we inquire the cause of a vegeta
rian's alleged dissemination to alcohol
liquors, we find that the carbonaceou