Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-14
BEER AND DIGESTION
What DIR. Hare, Of the University oil
Pennsylvania, Says About 1t.

Dr II. A. Hare. demonstration OF experimental
therapeutics and instructor In physical diagnosis
In the University OF PENNSYLVANIA, says the physi
clan IL frequently puzzled when prescribing for
convalescent as TO which alcoholic beverage OF
mia and pleasant character he can recommend
with tho least fear OF "upSetllns" the stomach.
The writer has, therefore. attempted 10 decide
this question.
Before psssing TO n direct consideration or the
methods employed and the results obtained u Is
necessary that n few physiological aad therapentf
cal points be brought forward Every one KNOWS
that alcohol reards digestion In the test tube but
aids IL In the stomach ana while these facts seem
somewhat paradoxical. they are, In reality, per-
fectly logical, for the following reasons
In the test-lube we have a given quantity OF
digestive fluid on which the alcohol may act, and
VIC cannot have any increase In the quantity OF
that uld because IL Is surrounded by glass walls
In the stomach the alcohol acts quite as much on
the digestive ferment rs IL does on the tes'inoe'
butit also by the presence OF that viscus excites
the gastric glands to such an extent that an excess
ofas,ric Juice Is secreled sufficient 10 ccunterbal
ance any antldlges;lve Influences In other
words the action OF the spirit on the living tissue
Is greater than Its action on the digestive ferments
Theoretically, alcohol should never be used in
practically. every physician OF experience or edu'
cation gives alcohol under Just these circuu,'
stances aad very properly, too gives the stronger
alcoholic preparations instead OF the weaker. In
typhoid fever we give brandy or whisky In the
first stages. almost solely for the purpose OF In
creasing digestion.
IL Il also known, by those Interested In such
matters In the profession that beer aids digestion
but little or at ALL by means Of Its alcohol. since
tina; constituent; i present In diluted form and
In such small quantity that IL can neither aid d.
geston TO any extent by acting the coats OF the
stomach nor rc;ard Il by influencing the digestive
fluid IL should not h. forgotten that while all "
cohoc nlas theoretically retarl digestion.
that beer docs 50 much lessthan brandy or whisky
owing 10 its small amount OF alcohol, and while, n,
has already been shown this fact rather obtains
against ITS practical use. that thlsis overcome by
the carbonIc acid and bitter principles fthe beer.
which stimulate excite and act bitter tonic, on
the gastric glands.
Beers 10 be wholesome. should. therefore, con
tain carbonlc acid and bitter principles to n TAI T
| degree the alcohol taking a subaervient and al
most useless role 80 far rs digestion Is concerned.
To SUN up the results OF these experiments, we
dad that the beers examined varied In thclr action
ua much o. liity.nnn minute. and that white mos;
beers do no: retard digestion In all probability In
the stomach. that Others such a. those mentioned
In the first part OF the table. aid digestion
| terIally.
Thus IN the case OF the BERGNER & ENGFt
| BREWING CoMPANY'S Tannhaeuser II will be
noted that even In the test.tube the average delay
| In gastric digestion equaled but