Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-12-04
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
ERRONEOUS BELIEFS.
"a. Eject Of Alcoholic Liquors on the
Bodily system.

,biszv-is in some way OF Oenent To
~ bodily economy. They discount
tenapce its immoderate use, but think
Ustin smaller quantities it is bene-
feial. This error is supported by many
rbysicians. especially those Of eonserya-
he IDEAS. who do not keep up with the
amid strides their profession is making.
me HIGHEST medical authorities of this
country and OF Europe are agreed that
s1cobol is never a food, and that as
Medicine its place can largely be sup
,5ied by other safer and better rem
e3ies. The most of the conservatives
oaotea theory proposed many years ago
f6aL up to a certain point-from an
ornce IN to an ounce and a half daily
aIcobol is consumed in the human sys-
lem. and that up to this point it is not
epIy harmless, but acts the part of a
food. You will find this theory quoted
to-day. IN defiance Of the fact that its
taIlaev was clearly proved years ago.
Let MS examine the effect upon the
orrans OF the body of the Introduction
Of alcohol. in any form Of rum-for no
one would think OF drinking rum if il
was not for the alcohol in it. 1t must
take its place among the following Ave
classes.
First-As one of the true foods,
which supply new material to build up
the bodily tissues:
Second As one Of the accessory foods,
which, while not performing the Office
Of true foods, yet facilitate nutrition,
Ike salt or the acid principle OF fruit.
Third As medicine, to correct im-
paired functions OF some organ Of the
body
Fourth As a poison, producing in.
furious effects upon the bodily functions
or tissues.
Fifth-Asan inert body, which passes
through the alimentary canal without
being absorbed or producing any effect
whatever, as do small seeds, for in
stance
These classes cover the case of every
article taken into the stomach, and al.
cohol necessarily comes under one Of
Them Every one knows that il does
net come under the fifth class; this IS
self-evident, from the effect it pro-
duees Under which of the other four
classes does il come? To test this let a
capsule be filled with rum and swal-
lowed. or course not particle touches
tongue or mouth. In short time its
odor can be perceived on the expired
breath, showing that it is being thrown
off by the lungs. A chemical examina-
rion Of the Precipitation and urine shows
that they contain it in an unchanged
state. Therefore three excretory organs
Of the body-the lungs, kidneys and
skin-set to work as soon as alcohol gets
into the blood to get it out of the sys-
TEN, and it comes out unchanged
This excludes it from the first class.
Il can not be food, for all the foods are
assimilated by the system, and. after
performing their function Of producing
heat or force, or building up tissue, are
excreted in an entirely different chem
zeal form from the original one. Sugar,
for instance, is a heat-producing food.
Il is thrown of from the lungs, not as
sugar but as carbonic acid gas-and
from the other excretory organs in
various combinations but not as sugar
The same is true of all other true foods
No one Of them is thrown off in an
unchanged form.
Nor is it an accessory food one that
facilitates natures processes The medi-
cal verdict is that it does exactly the
opposite. IL binders digestion, for eX-
ample. Now in this we know the popular
opinion is just the opposite. At state
dinner. for instance. when a very large
quantity of food is taken into the
stomach, the general idea is that liquor
Of some kind wine or brandy facili-
tates digestion by aiding the stomach
ia the work of getting rid of the mass of
food The fact is. however. that it does
nothing of the sort II deadens the
nerves OF the stomach. so that we lose
consciousness Of the uncomfortable load.
The process Of digestion is retarded by
two or three hours.
1t is proved that alcohol-and Of
course rum-diminishes the rapidity of
tissue change Now this in a healthy
man, is an evil for it keeps in the sys-
tenn molecules OF matter which, having
fulfilled their Office are but a burden,
and need to be thrown off. But alcohol
prevents this: hence the unhealthy
load Of fat which the bloated and
blotched drunkarl carries about with
him. il he have plenty Of foot to eat.
Alcohol suspends animatiOn-puts on
the brakes slows up tissue change, and
eonduces to passivity, or a sort of life
which is perhaps more nearly allied to
death than to true living DIR. Parkes
found that even moderate amounts Of
alcohol administered to 4 laboring man
deranged the hearts action and greatly
iessened his working power.
Not being a food, either true or acces~
sorry, it must belong under one Of the two
remaining classes medicine or a poi
son But nearly all medicines are poi
sons when taken in excessive doses. Dr.
toote, of New York, speaking on this
point says:
The origin Of alcohol viii give Us a strong
sue as 10 It's nature it is the product Of pu-
tfelactive processes found more in dead than in
A3ihg tissues. and its main source is the fer
Meniation due TO the activity OF a low form Of
animal life. II appears 70 be am excreAentory
product and IL physiological action also con-