The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05

Is 1t the Result Of Meat Eating and
Too Much AIcOhOl:

A trustworthy book on the art of feeding
is provided by that talented lady, Mrs.
Ernest Hart, a former student of the
Faculty of Medicine at Paris and OF the
London School of Medicine for Women,
and the authoress of a list of works whose
sS ef Sre or Mrs aar treas e
in Sickness and HEALTH" and, on the high
authority of Sir Henry Thompson. who
writes an introduction and is himself the
author of a standard treatise on the sub
ject, she has produced a more complete
ePitome than is revealed by any work
which has yet come under his notice.
The impression left upon the mind of a
reader is that the Englishman is sadly
ignorant of the true art of feeding, and
that he eats far too much meat and takes
far more alcohol than are good for him.
on the subject of intoxicants Mrs Hart
sets forth the physiological effects of alco-
hol from the standpoint Of one who is
friendly towards its use in small quantities.
AS to the amount of alcohol that be
taken with impunity she says: There is
general consensus of opinion on the part of
physicians that from one TO one and half
ounces of pure alcohol is the maximum
amount which a healthy man should take
in twenty-four hours. Translated into COM
mon parlance, this means from two to three
ounces OF brandy or whisky, from four to
six ounces of port. or sherry. from ten to
fifteen ounces of champagne, or burgundy,
or from one to one and q half pintS Of beer
or porter. More than this is harmful. Per-
sons under forty years of age, in whom the
digestive functions are normally performed,
and who show no signs Of nervous distur-
bance or degeneration, do not generally re-
quire alcohol at all, and are healthier and
better, and are likely to live longer, with
out it. For persons over forty. in whom di-
gestion has become impaired by anxiety
confinement in close rooms and offices, or
by sedentary or unhealthy occupations, or
in whom nervous energy Is exhausted or de-
ficient, a small amount of alcohol in the
form OF wine or beer. taken with the food
is useful stimulant. By its influence the
secretion OF gastric juice is increased. and
digestion thereby promoted,
VIC iOrff a a fharr vie
than the PHYSICIANS and Mrs. Hart--doubt-
less TO their detr'ment, Here is a hint TO
the sedentary: IF an abundant dietary is
dangerous, unless carefully watched by
those who take daily active muscular exer-
else 1T is more than dangerous. it Is disas-
trous 10 those VINO lead sedentary lives
or who are brain workers. The great ma
jor:ty of our adult middle class population
in cities lead sedentary lives. and ii may be
said unhesitatingly that they, as rule.
consume far too much albuminous food,
butchers meat in particular. The albumin
ODDS OF the food, being not fully oxidized in
the body by muscular exercise. remain as
effete products. and ultimately give rise to
dyspepsia, liver complaints. govt and
Bright's disease.
lone deporable result of excessive meat
eating in England is the ill-temper which
is chronic moral complaint among us. In
no country. | believe, is nome rendered so
unhappy and life made SO miserable by the
| iIl-temper of those who are obliged to live
together as in England. If we compare do
nestic life and manners in England with
| those of other countries where meat does
not form such an integral article of diet. a
notable improvement will be remarked. In
less meat-eating France. urbanity Is the
rule of the home; in japan / never heard
rude angry words spoken by any but Eng
Iishmen I am strongly OF the opinion that
the iIl-temper of the English Is caused in a
great measure by a too abundant meat
dietary combined with sedentary life. The
ing in the blood. produce both mental and
moral disturbances"