Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-11-16

In6 Now IOfk ouH D6S fcNfNcd ~
old suggestion Of Liebig's, made some
years ago. that the use Of cod-iiver oil
would have . tendency to promote a
distasts for alcoholic stimulants. Ac-
cording to the same authority many
people had found they could take wine
with animal food. but not with farina-
ceous or amylaceous nutriment. A
well known man of science, Mr.. Chas.
Napier, has undertaken to test these
assertions, and the resultso Of his exper-
imeuts are set forth in 3 paper read be-
fore the physiological section OF the
British Association, and which has at
tracted much attention in England.
The experience of NJ. Napier's own
family had furnished . seeming proof
Of the accuracy OF Liebig's statement.
They had for two years adopted Q veg
etarian diet, and although brought up
in the use Of moderate alcoholic
liquors, now felt no inclination for
them. More decisive evidence, how
ever was supplied by the application Of
the theory to twenty-seven cases, the
moro striking OF which may be cited.
The first instance Is that Of . military
ofhcer, 81 years old. Of an aristocratic
Scottish family, who had contracted
habits Of excessive whisky drinking
while on service with bis regiment
in India. We are told that his Gus.
tom was to eat scarcely any bread. fat.
or vegetables, his breakfast consisting
Of salt fish, and his din ner consisting
wholly OF roast meat. During the day
he consumed from . pint to = quart of
whisky, and was not sober more than
hall his time. By Nspier's advice he
was induced to return to the breakfast
OF oatmeal porridge, on which he had
bsen brought up, and to adopt a din
ner Of which peas and beans formed
important ingredients. He does not
seem to have liked the changs at first,
and made the significant complaint
that he could not ''enjoy his whisky"
- much as formerly. About this
time there was . panic among flesh
Gators IN England, owing to the cat
tie plague. and consequently the whole
family was put on q vegetarian diet.
For some weeks the husband grunl-
bled very much, but his taste for whis-
key gradually disappeared, and in two
months from the time he became an
entire vegetarian he relinquished alco-
holic stimulants, and. according to Mr..
Napier, has not since returned to
either flesh or alcohol.
Another case, which merits special
notice, was that Of a gentleman of so,
who had been addicted to Incorporate
habits for thirty five years, his out
bursts averaging one . week. His
had great difficulty in insuring his
life. After an attack of delirium tre-
mems, which nearly ended fatally, he
was persuaded to enter upon a farina-
ceous diet, which, we are assured,
cured him completely in even months
He seems to have been very thin Al
the beginning of the experiment. but
by the close of the period named had
gxinsd twenty eight pounds, being
then Of about the normal weight for q
person Of his hight. We shall men
ton but one other Of the twenty seven
cases reported by MIR. Napier. 1t is
that of an analytical chemist, 80 years
OF age, who il described as a person oil
some talent, but Of incorporate habits.
Upon Liebig's statement being recalled
70 him. he expressed an opinion thai
farinaceous food would moi suit his
own constitution, affirming that he felt
he had eaten nothing unless he dined
largely upon flesh. He consented
however, to test the suggestion by q
months trial. His first dinner, which
consisted principally OF macaron',
wa eaten with little appetite, but be
perssvered. continuing to stimulate q
desire for food by vigorous outdoor
exercise, and before the end of six
weeks was . total abstsiner.
1t IL not pretended that these expei'
iments were numerous enough or per-
formed under such diverse conditions
n to completely demonstrate the truth
Of Liebig's theory; but they certainly
indicate that substantial results may be
expected from IN exhaustive applica-
ton Of them. Among the articles Of
food which are specified by Napier as
pre-sminent for antagonism to alco-
hol are macaroui. haricot beans. dried
peas, and lentils. all OF which
should be we'll lboiled, and favored
with plenty Of butter and olive oil.
The various garden vegetables are
said to be helpful, but q diet mainly
composed Of them would not resist
the tendency to intemperance 70 Of
fectually - n of macaroni and far
inaceous food. From this point of
view. highly glutinous bread would be