Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-22

ally badly borne; and the fine ethers and
matured saccharine ingedients which give
old wines so much of their charm, seem ne.
cessary to communicate the full benefit OF
stimulation to some varieties OF constl-
tuition. 1diosyncrasy here plays Its
usually mysterious and unexpected part
and as a man is said to be a fool or physi-
clan at 40, we may expect him to have made
up his mind long before that how much ne
should drink, and what, in order to keep
up that equable balance of physiological
function which goes to make up sound
health.
Never Drink on an Empty Stomach.
But we may now give him some hints
how to drink. In the first place, lay this
down as a rule to which there is hardly any
exception, that alcohol should only be
taken with food, and preferably, and il
possible exclusively, with the principal
meal of the day, and that it should be di-
luted as far as palate and convenience will
allow. The reason of this is that the
destructive influence of strong drink on the
tissues is purely physical, and the intimate
structure of some of our organs is
hardened and compressed, much in
the same way as the anatomical
shelves of our museums But in order to
carry this out effectually, notIonly is pro-
longed immersion and soaking required, but
the fluid itself must be strongly impreg-
mated with spirit. 1t is worse than absurd
to compare piece of dead tissue suspended
in pure alcohol with a corresponding bit of
our own living body; for not only are the
princip piles of vitality and nervous function
elements which the labeled jar does not
contain, but the rapid torrent of the circu-
L. - l.. L .kk1.
artery to vein, and the soak and contact at
any given spot must be momentary and tran
sient But, in addition to this, the actual
proportion of spirit to the total mass of the
blood must be trivial under ordinary con-
ditions of moderation, and the blood as it
sweeps round on its ceaseless flow
deposits at various points of con-
tact sundry constituent parts of the spirit
which it contains. Thus, oxidation goes on
through the lungs and the skin; and the
liver and kidneys, in their turn, may take
part in converting alcohol into other things,
which account for its almost total disap-
pearance, and which entities it, as we shall
hereafter see, to rank as food. Il therefore
requires no more explanation to prove that
we should do our drinking in very sys-
tematic way. Shun, as you would the evil
one, all rash nips and casual drinks; let no
sherries and brandies and sodas between
meals tempt you from your rule, but mix all
your liquor with food, which shields the
tissues from its contact, and aids its safe
dispersion through the circulation. Then
either take weak wines, or. if they must be
stronger, dilute copiously, and be careful
to correct the acidity of some of
the more highly alcoholized beverages-
which interferes with salivary digestion
by the addition of any of the alkaline
waters in common use. We can thus en-
sure that the tissues shall be bathed with q
solution of alcohol so weak and so little
continuous as to be perfectly harmless, and
give a scientific denial to the oft-repeated
assertion of temperance reformers Of the
more 'rabid" class, that moderation in its
physical effects is only one degree less hurt
ful than excess. But, in order to make as
surance doubly sure, it is a good plan to
have an occasional alcohol fast, and to give
it up altogether for a day or two from time
to time. In this way We can ensure that
the blood is periodically and thoroughly
cleared from an abnormal ingredient, which
is known to be very quickly removed by
oxidation and elimination, and the slightest
risk OF saturation and injury is thus most
effectually prevented.
Alcohol Strengthening for Old People.
But there may BE- exceptions to this salu-
tary rule of restricting our alcohol consumpt
tion to mealtimes. A man has been wet
through, or thoroughly chilled, and comes
home cold and shivering. A smart little
nip, taken at once, will whip up his heart,
relax the vessels of the skin, take off the
spasm Of congestion, and send a warm glow
through him from end to end; and although
exact science tells US that this feeling of
heat is rather apparent than real, it is &C.
tually felt, because the warm blood flashes
freely through the surface vessels, and then
returns to stoke up the internal organs, and
light temporary fire which will probably
prevent the dangers from chill Or again,
when weak or over-tired man comes back
from his work, and sits down to dinner
without much restful pause, a lit
tie preliminary stimulant wills restore
his lost nervous energy, and help him
to enjoy and digest his meal. Thus we see
that in tropical climates like India sherry
and bitters and milk punch are usually |
handed around before the first course, and
the custom is quite defensible. For heat is
lowering. work goes on in the early part of
the day, and when the dinner table Is
reached, the vital force is running down,
and square meal is looked at with dis |
gust. But when the petit verre has been
tossed off, the vessels of the stomach begin
to fill, the mouth moistens, gastric Juice is
secreted when the additional stimulus of |
food arrives and then good digestion waits |
on appetite" And finally, there can be
''no possible shadow of doubt that weakly |
and old people are often the better for a |
night-cap. A glass Of whisky and water,
hot or cold, sets them to sleep, and |
gives fuel to the tagging fires of
life; and in this way we firmly believe |
that judieious stimulation directly predis-
poses to longevity. All the most healthy |
whom we have known take some |
wine oil. spirit; and Prof Sir g. Hum
phrey's interesting record of centenarians |
gives decided majority to the drinkers
over the total abstainers.
Alcohol for Medical Purposes.
Taking now the various actions of alco.
mol seriatin, popular attention is generally |
irst attracted to its stimulant propensities
disease is partly due to this; and every
medical man knows that, under certain
lefnite conditions of depression, or even of |
fictitious excitement, 1t acts like charm.
The heart steadies and strengthens, the drv
,ongue gathers moisture, The dull, stupefed
ook of fever clears away, delirium sub
'ides, and the crisis is over. And in other
widely varying states of deviation
rom health, its power is equally
obvious. The feebleness of convalescence,
he dreary dullness of dyspepsia, the acute
ness of neuralgia pain, all give way to this
patent charmer; and if habits of self-in-
lulgence too often follow the relief thus
obtained, this is only because the drug has
,een loosely used, and should be prescribed
With caution.
Dr. Mortimer Granville asserts that re-
,overy from acute illness was more sure and
rapid in the past drinking days than now.
This recalls an ancient controversy about
,he change of type in disease, in which