The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-07-31
IS ALCOHOL A Foopq



Saloon Drinks Not So Onen Adultsratsd
- Il supposed-The Quality Of Alcoholic
Drinks-A Medical Opinion.
Alcohol. in small quantities, writes
DR.. j. S. Christison. has been COM
monty regarded as a food. This as
sumption has been chiefly supported by
such experiments as the late DIR.
Anstie, OF London, performed with
dogs Dogs alike in age. size, weight
and kind, fed precisely the same diet
and with the same environment are
examined daily as to their weight
strength, activity, excretions, etc.
and all changes in their condition
noted. After week or more a meas
ured quantity Of alcohol is substituted
for a portion Of the food Of some Of
the dogs, while the diet of the others
remains unchanged and daily observa-
tons are conducted as before for
number of weeks The experiment will
disclose the most notable facts,
viz: O that most of the al.
cohol administered has been trans.
formed, as but a very small pro-
portion is found in the excre-
tons combined; and (2) that the
dogs given the alcohol maintain their
weight, at least for a considerable
time 1t is also found that dogs given
nothing but water will die of starva-
ton sooner than those given little
alcohol with their water. Thus alco-
hol, like numerous other stimulant
narcotics Gas chloroform, opium, etc.,
is thought to have food power. But
the fact is ttat such experiments do
not necessarily prove any thing more
than it retards tissue change by its
perverting effect on the blood ele-
ments, as illustrated by DIR. Harbey's
experiments previously referred to.
All animals continuously fed on foods
containing alcohol for example, brew
ers' horses) only gain in weight to lose
in strength. A food, strictly speak
ing, contributes to the quantity of
normal blood without involving the
principle of "robbing Peter to pay
Paul. Alcohol can make no such
claim, for at best it mitigates one evil
by instituting another.
THE QUALITY OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS.
On this subject the British Medical
Journal has the following editorial:
1--WE are not surprised to see that
the eighteen samples OF beer pur-
chased at the request of Mr.. Quilter
by Government agents, in the expec-
tation of proving his thesis that nox-
ious adulteration of beer largely pre-
walls, resulted in quite another con-
clusion. All the eighteen samples
turned out to be free from adultera-
ton. Some years since the British
Medical Journal went into the subject
of the alleged adulteration of beer and
spirits very thoroughly. A large num-
Der of samples of spirits were pur-
chased for analysis from a number of
public houses in the East End. The
result was to show that these alco-
holic liquors were not adulterated,
but that they were of a common de-
scription and immature. Mr.. Quilter
is disposed to believe that the results
obtained were owing to the samples Of
beer having been purchased without
due precaution to conceal the identity
of the purchase. That probably was
not the case. At any rate, in the case
CT the inquiry which we prosecuted all
precautions were used, and the result
was as we have stated. The fact is
that it suits the interests of brewers
and distillers to represent that the
frightful results that accrue from the
undue use of alcoholic liquors and the
violence of intoxicated persons are
due to the impurity OF the spirits and
the authorizations; and they endeavor
to parry the claim for restriction on
the trade in alcohol by the allegation
that the chief evils are due to adul-
iteration. This is all pure nonsense
Adulteration plays very small part
indeed in the trade in alcohol, and
that part probably quite innocuous.
MEDICAL OPINION.
In 1S47 over two thousand physi-
clans and surgeons Of England signed
the following declaration:
1--WE, the undersigned, are Of opin-
ion; l. That very large portion OF
human misery, including poverty,
disease and crime. is induced by the
use of alcoholic or fermented liquors
for beverages. 2. That the most per-
feet health is compatible with total
abstinence from all such intoxicating
beverages, whether in the form OF
ardent spirits, or as wine, beer, ale,
porter. cider, etc. 8. That persons
accustomed to such drinks may with
perfect safety discontinue them entire
ly, either at once or gradually, after a
short time. 4. That total and uni.
versal abstinence from alcoholic liq-
uors and beverages Of all sorts would
greatly contribute to the health, the
prosperity, the morality and the hap.
piness of the human race"
Among the signatures Of this docu-
ment in London were those OF DR.. Ad.
Olson, DR.. Mel Arnot, j. Moncriefl
Arnott, Esq, DR.. b G. Darlington. DR..
Beattle, Sir j. Rsdon Bennett, DIR. A.
Billing, Dr. John Bostock, DR.. Golding-
bird, DR.. Black, DR.. r Bright, w.
Bowman, ESQ.,, Sir b c. Brodie, Sir
w. Burnett, DIR. G. Budd, Sir G. Bur-
rows, DR.. W. B. Carpenter. DR.. w.
F. Chambers, Sir w. Ferguson, Sir j.
L ID n T. n