The evening times., 1899-06-14
ALCOHOL NAY SERVE
As 4 FOOD SUPPLY
Theories Set Forth by q Wes.
leyan University Expert.
Prof. Atwater Makes Experiments
to Prove His Position.
Moderate Doses Of Spirits, Wine, OF
Beer Oxidise and NOnrish the
Body, HdAsserts.

Middletown, Conn., June 14-At the
meeting of the Middletown Scientific As
sociation last night Prof. W. G. Atwater.
of Wesleyan University. made further re-
ports on his experiments with alcohol's ef-
fects on the human system. some of which
have been already published.
He gave a summary Of the results OBJ
tanned from experiment upon a mar in the
respiration caloTimeter. These expert
ments were conducted by committee Of
fifty for the investigation OF the drink
problem. up-s
The progress Of the experiment is off,
cially described as follows:
pure alcohol was administered with
water or coffee. The alcohol was taken
with an ordinary diet Of meat. bread, but
ter, milk, sugar and the like. The amount
per day was equal to about two and n half
ounces OF absolute alcohol. about as much
as would be contained in five or six ounces
or three average glasses of whisky, or In
a bottle of claret or Rhine wine.
1t was given in six doses. three with
meals and three between meals.
Three important results were observed.
First, the alcohol was oxidized. that is.
burned as completely as bread. meat. or
any other food.
Second. in the oxidation all of the po-
tential energy of the alcohol was trans
formed into heat and muscular power. In
other words, the body made the same use
of the energy OF the alcohol as Of that of
sugar starch, and other ordinary food ma
terials.
Third. the alcohol protected the mate
rial of the body from consumption just as
effectively as the corresponding amounts
of sugar and starch. That is to say. wheth-
er the body was at rest or at work, II held
its own just as well with the one as with
the other" .H-.
The fact that alcohol In small quantities
may serve as food does not make II a de-
sirable food for common use. UnQuestiona-
bly, ii is used by many people in small
quantities without harm and often with
positive benefit. but taken in larger guam
titles its action upon the brain and nerves
Is such as 10 counteract its food value
Too often moderate use leads to excess.
and that excess results In physical. mental.
and moral ruin.
The apparatus used in the experiment
was of the same kind commonly employed
in food experiments on human beings.
1t is a small chamber with metal wallis
I feet long. feet WIDE and s 1-2 feet
high. In it are folding-b bed. table, chair
and stationary bicycle for experiments In
muscular work. There are also arrange
ments for heating. lighting and passing
in food and drink. The subject lives in
entire comfort.
Everything eaten and drunk are weighed
and all that is given on is likewise meas
ured. even the air that has been breathed
The energy given of by the body is
measured. too. BY varying the food and
work II has been found possible to accu-
rately determine the energy from any CIV
en- food
Prof. Atwater was not surprised to find
that the moderate use Of alcohol. in the
form of whisky. wine. beer. or in any
produced energy and prevented waste.
Food has two chief uses said Prof.
Atwater. One is to build up the body
and keep it in repair, the other is to sup
ply It with energy for warmth and work.
Alcohol is similar to the fats. starch. and
sugar. in that II cannot form tissue. but
1t does yield energy II cannot be used to
build the bodily machine or to repair it
as it is worn out by constant use, but it
can and does serve for fuel
Prof Atwater startled his hearers at
the meeting when he declared that al
cohol in moderation was a food and not
a poison. He asserted positively that the
pulpit talk against strong drink was only
the fault of erroneous experiments.
They are directly opposed to the re-
suits of the latest and most reliable re-
search he said. and to the consensus
OF the leading authorities the world over.
One essential for the success Of true tenn
perance reform is that what is taught as
science shall be placed upon the basis of
demonstrated fact"