The Press., 1888-05-17

no living person has been able to recover more than small per cent. of the amount taken, from the excretions of these organs. What becomes of the larger part of the al- cohol, which is never excreted, and never found It IS evidently used up in the body. It Is probably burnt or oxidized, and thus furnishes heat to the body. It must consequently come within our defini- ton of food, for when it is oxidized in the body it must furnish force. It may prevent some of the constituents of the body. being destroyed in order to furnish the heat necessary for the working of the vital machinery, The work on temperance hygiene used in the public schools of this town will tell you that alcohol is not food; many temper ance lecturers assert the same. These as- sertioDs, however, like good many other statements regarding alcohol, are not based upon facts. The evidence that has been adduced to support this position is of the himsiest character, and wilts immediately when subjected to the light of scientific criticism. All the volumes in my library, devoted to the physiological action of drugs-ail written by the highest authori- ties-teach that alcohol must be regarded as a food The writers of these books know whereof they speak. They are dis tinguished both as practitioners of medl- cine and as experimenters in the labora- tory. They have weighed the evidence, and drawn their conclusions accordingly. We cannot say that alcohol is ever convert ed into any of the tissues of the body, but we are by no means in a condition to deny the possibility of such an occurrence. We have seen, however, that all food does not become a part of the body. The fuel ot steam engine might be called the food of the engine, but it never becomes part of 1t. It generates heat, it furnishes motive power, but it never supplies the worn-out parts of the machine. Sugar is food but is burned in the body to furnish heat and other kinds of force, and we have excellent reasons for believing that the same is>true of alcohol.
 But alcohol is much more than fuel it is an active drug. particularly affects the nervous system, and for this reason It can never be recommended as food fo" the healthy. It can be classed ill the group of narcotic poisons. In small doses it st1m- ulates, and in large doses it paralyzes the nervous system. It has an especial .ac- tion on the functions of the brain. It IS unnecessary for me to describe this action. Those of us who have not experienced 1t are familiar with the behavior of those
 
 facilitate the mental processes for time. It may enable the mind to jog along a little more lively for while, as your whip may impart additional speed, but not ad- ditional strength, to your tired horse. In large doses, however, 1t robs the mind Of its divine attributes of reason and judg ment, and converts the man into the brute. Experiments with alcohol are so common in our no-license town, and the results are so frequently manifested on our streets that it would be superfous fol. me to dwell upon the characteristics of drunken man. We know that he is always an intolerable nuisance, and frequently more, than this dangerous Iunatlc Healthy men do not take alcohol for food, they drink it because they ikes.i jefects. They eDjoysthe sen- sations that it excites. Men do not always eat from stern sense of duty, to meet an obligation that they owe to their corporeal frame. If they did they would eat less mince pie and more graham bread. The same is true of their drinking. People drink alcohol for the same reason that they drink tea and cotfee-for the collaboration that they experience. The teetotaler who drinks three cups of strong coffee at break fast occupies the same plane as his neigh bor who arouses his stomach with morn
 
 commit physical sin. Theimoderate and reasonable use of tea and coffee Is probably harmless, and very likely the same can be truthfuIly said of alcohol. The ancient Greeks have become the school masters. of the world. They attained a physical and intellectual perfection that has been the marvel of all succeeding ages. But wine was their common beverage. They had no distilled liquors, and they generally drank their wine diluted. They taught us les son in temperance. I am not, however, an advocate of even the moderate use of alco- hol as beverage. Anything that Is very attractive to man is source of danger to him, and this is preeminently true of alcohol. Alcohol is siren ;fits music is sweet, but 1t lulls to destruction. It may be wisest and safest to initiate Ulysses to stop the ears and tie ones self to the mast, and sail resolutely by. Nature has endowed man with sufficient number of troublesome'appetites to control, and there is no necessity for his setting himself de- l1berately to work to create another. No healthy, robust person requires alcohol. "Those that are whole need not physi- cian,' and those that need no physician need no alcohol.
 Although alcohol is very probably oxi- dized in the body and thus gives rise to heat, it seems to interfere with the com bustion of other substances thus, after large amounts of it have been taken, the temperature of the body may be consider ably diminished. It does not protect against cold, but has contrary effect. It dilates the blood vessels of the skin, there by enabling more of the warm blood con- ing from the interior of the body to flow through them and be, cooled by the sur rounding atmosphere. And so, if any of you ever go in search of the north pole, it will be wise for you to keep at respectful distance from the demijohn.
 am afraid that should weary you if I were to spend much time in discussing the physiological effects of alcohol. Even if could interest you, I doubt if the time would be we'll spent, for we should soon get into the region of uncertainty and conflicting statement Much remains to be learned of the action of this substance. We must wait patiently for the slow accumulation of facts that shall enable us to speak with more authority and confidence of it's be- havior in the normal body.
 Alcohol is of great service to the physi- clan, and in his hands it has saved many lives. It is certainly very valuable drug. There is probably only one that is more valuable and of greater service to mankind, i and that is opium. Opium is the king and alcohol the crown prince of the naateria 9neHicn Tn many wasting diseases alco-