The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-10-03
w. C. T U. COLUMN.
EDITED BY THE LADIES OF THE KE-
NosHA w. C. T. u.

SSSGG>SSSSSSC.SS5S>SScS.
RELATIVE NUTRITIvE PROPERTIES OF
ALCOHOL, WATER AND OXYGEN.
DR.. Fl. S. TANNER.
The International Medical Congress
met in Philadelphia few years since.
In response to request from the tenn
perance ladies of that city for an ex-
preston of its views as Congress on
the value of alcohol as food, 479 out
the 480 present Endorsed the following:
"Alcohol is not shown to possess any
definite food value by any Of the usual
means Of chemical analysis or physi-
illogical investigation. Notwithstand-
ing the verdict of this Congress (the
highest medical body in the civilized
world), the brewers and distillers at
their annual conventions never omit to
laud the products of the brewhouse and
still as highly nutritious and healthful,
and the manufacturers Of the vile COM
pound sold in the market as "bitters"
annually expend $20,00O,0O0 to edu-
cate the masses in the pernicious doc
trine
Upon inquiring for the authority up
on which the assumption is based, [
find that large number who champion
the doctrine hold in great reverence the
theories Of the world-renowned German
chemist, Liebig. His theory that al
cohol unites with oxygen within the
body, and that this union gives rise to
the formation of carbonic acid and wa
ter Ga heat-forming aliment), held the
scepter IN Continental Europe, and also
in this country, for number of years.
Assuming, as many do, that Liebig is
the "alpha and omega" of chemical sci
ence, it was, and still is, held by many
conservative physicians in very high
favor, but the day has gone by for it
to pass muster on its former credentials.
The later researches of DIR. Edward
Smith, DIR. B. w. Richardson, F. r. S.
P. S. of London; and the no less cele-
brated French physicians, M. M. Lolle-
mond, Duroy and Perrin, have utterly
destroyed this whole fabric of theory.
All these gentlemen thoroughly inves-
tigated Liebig's claims, and they all, af-
ter mature deliberation and research,
stated, positively, that the products of
the still and brewhouse are in no sense
a food; that they are neither trans
formed nor destroyed within the organ
ism, but reappear again in compare
lively short time, unchanged in the ex-
cretions.
Liebig's theory has been exposed over
and over again, but so long as doctors,
brewers and distillers continue to laud
the products of the still and brew house
as the "elixir of life," so long it will be
necessary to expose the fallacy over and
over again, as new race of dupes need
to have their eyes opened to the truth.
The results of the experiments of the
English and French physicians referred
to were considered as conclusive of the
question by majority of the physicians
of England and France, and were not
barren of good results on the profession
in Germany. Yet there are many of
the conservative class in all these coun-
tries who still adhere to the old idea
that alcohol serves as food.
Prominent among the conservatives in
England was the late Prof A. E. Ans
tie, OF London. Anstie does not cham
pion Liebig's theory of alcoholic ali
mentation. Of the chemistry of its ac-
ton in the body, he candidly admits he
knows nothing. He does not attempt
to explain away the evidence that so
seriously invalidates his claim by any
argument. He does not deny that the
results of the experiments made by the
English and French physicians were as
stated by them. He attempts no point
ed criticisms on the methods of investi-
cations adopted. He speaks respect
fully of Drs. Smith, Richardson, Lolle,
mond, Duroy and Perrin; gives them
proper credit for untiring energy and
perseverance in pushing their investiga-
tions, but concludes that his own per-
sonal investigations at the bedside, and
elsewhere, are or more consequence than
the unrelenting logic of facts these ex-
periments developed
Now if we put this champion of
"clinical experience" on trial, and sue
coed in invalidating his claims by clint
cal experience-we think it ought to
silence the legion of conservative doc
tors who, parrot-like, repeat what they
are taught in the schools.
In his work entitled "Stimulants and
Narcotics Anstie says: The first case
which attracted my attention to the pos
sibility of the human organism subsist-
ing under certain circumstances for a
long time upon alcohol only Cor prac-
tically so). was that of an old man who
became my patient in 1861, in West
minister Hospital. It happened that in
prescribing for him, the subject of
stimulants was mentioned, and appre-
hending that as matter of course I