Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-05-03
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
WHY LIQUORS ARE INJURIOUS.
Strong Testimony from Authorities ON
Dietetics.

Strong Testimony from Authorities on
Dietetics.
We have in two previous articles dis
cussed the point that Intoxicating
liquors act injuriously upon the hui
man body; that they are not true
foods, and do not perform any food
function, save in degree so small as
to be imperceptible; and that the ae-
tion of the alcohol which is their
principal constituent is always more
or less harmful. But in these papers
we have by no means exhausted the
high scientific authorities who have
spoken or written upon this subject.
Sir Henry Thompson, perhaps the
greatest authority on dietetics in this
country, in his work. ''Diet in Relation
to Age and Activity" published in
London in 1886. says: Enough, and
more than enough, perhaps has been
uttered concerning the prejudicial
effects on the body of habitually using
alcoholic beverages. II is rare now to
find anyone. well acquainted with. hui
man physiology, and capable OF OBJ
serving and approaching the ordinary
wants and usages Of life around him.
v no does not believe that, with few
exceptions, men and women are health
Ter and stronger, physically, intellectu-
ally and morally without such drinks
than with them.
Perhaps one of the most distressing
direct effects of drinking is the injury
70 the digestive organs. Doctors Iodd
and Bowman, in their physiological
anatomy, state positively that ''al-
eohol retards digestion by coagulating
the pepsine, and thus interfering with
its action The most recent discus
sion Of this branch of the subject is
that Of Sir William Robert in his
Lectures on Dietetics and Dyspepsia"
in which he says that ardent spirits
as used dietetically. do not hamper
saliyary digestion, but rather promote
it, by causing and increased flow Of
saliva" but That both the stronger
and the lighter wines show a power
ful inhibtory effect on salivary di-
Restion. Even SO small a proportion
as ! per cent OF sherry or hook was
found TO paralyze saliva almost com
pletelv Malt liquors were found TO
hamper salivury digestion exactly in
70 their degree Of acidityn
With regard to stomach digestion.
Sir William says that his experiments
indicate that ardent spirits, as usual
IL employed dietetically, by temperate
persons, act as pure stimulants To gas
,ric digestion, causing an increased
How Of gastric juice. The less concen-
trated kind Of alcoholic beverages. |
wine and beers. have nm effect on pep |
lie action which differs Importantly
from that of the distilled spirits.
rheir inhihitory influence is greatly |
,ut of proportion to the dosage OF alco-
lol contained in them But il will be |
noted that he carefully points ont
hat distilled liquors act as stimulants |
o gastric digestion, by causing an in |
'reased flow of gastric juice. Is this |
Tot certain to lessen, if continued. the
ecreting power of the glands, nv over |
Xerting them? Its use is like whip
ling a willing horse. causing him to
,ver exert himself ANY horseman
,nows that il this We're made habitual
I would ruin the animal
Prof + A. Parkes. speaking Of the
feet Of alcohol on bodily labor, saws
the differences were that even anv
mount Of alcohol. although ii did not
,roduce symptoms OF narcosis, would
ct injuriously by increasing unneces-
arily the action of the heart which
he labor alone had sufficiently aug
lented These experiments are in oc-
or with common experience, which
hows that men eng ged in very hard
ibor, as iron-puddlers. glass blowers,
avvies on piece work, and prize-hght-
rs during training. do their work more
asilv without alcohol OF the gener-
! use of alcohol, he says; "In health
is certainly not a necessity, and
lany persons are much better with
Mt IL"
With this mass of evidence before us,
is foolish for anyone to controvert
ne views expressed. Those who are
to fight the battle of tenn
erance should see to it that the
rmory of facts here presented is eff
.ctively used in their warfare When
ne masses of the American people I'M
erstand the truth about alcohol, they
i'll prove willing allies in the effect
, pulverize the rum power Toledo
lade.
SOME SOUND ADVICE.