Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-04
ALCOHOL AS FOOD AND POISON ]
/:
PROF. ATWATER'S EXPERIMENTS
AND lEIlIfCrIONS

PROF. ATwATER's EXPERIMENTS
AND DEDUCTIONS.
The recent experiments of Prof. At
water are of great interest 10 physiolo-
gists and chemists. since they throw
much light upon one of the doubtful
questions of physiological chemistry or
pharmacology. that of the metaDoilsm
of alcohol in the body.
1t is mistake. however, to think as
some people apparently do. that the re-
suit of these experiments should change
the teaching in the schools in regard to
the use of alcohol from hysienic point
of view The schools teach that the use
of alcoholic liquors as a beverage Is not
justifable under the laws of hygiene.
The results OF Prof. Atwater's experi-
uents do not contradict this teaching.
These experiments merely show that
the body can derive some energy from
alcohol. This does not in itself entitle
alcohol to be placed among the food
substances in the hygienic sense of the
term, which is the sense in which the
schools and people in general use the
term food. If ii did. such a violent poi-
son as muscarine, the active principle
of the poisonous plants of the mush-
room family, would have to be classed
with the foods, since 1t also is oxidized
in the body with liberation of its con-
tanned energy.
To class ii substance among the foods
we must know that the sum total eff
fects Of its use are beneficial to the
body. Muscariile Is not a food, because
its poisonous effects offset the benefit
of the energy which it liberates. Alco-
hol has poisonous effects, as Prof. At
water himself admits. The question as
to whether i Il can be considered as food
depends entirely upon whether
Its beneficial effects are great
Ter than its poisonous effects
Prof. Atwater's experiments dc
not prove this. Until this is proven the
burden of the proof is against those
who would include alcohol in the list OF
4 food substances. For scientific expert
melit SO far. experiments upon large
bodies of men in the ordinary conditions
and vicissitudes of life, in the armies
and in exploring expeditions where la.
Dor and exposure have to be endured
indicate that when the regular "moder
A alton" quantity OF alcohol is taken, tn,
harmful effects Offset the beneficial
ones and that the drinker is made les
tit rather than more fit to work.
And stronger still is the reason
against speaking as Prof. Atwater doe
fof alcohol as food in the same sense a
sugar. For people generally Will inter
Ipret this to mean that it is food equal
ly to be recommended with sugar am
: lordinary hygienic foods. And this. a
Prof. AtWater will agree. Is an entirei
false idea and one calculated to d
much harm. For while we get our en-
Leroy from sugar without risk of poison
2 ing, to get energy from alcohol We ru
{ great risk of poisoning, and to get an
e amount such as would be necessary t
t support life in ordinary conditions. W
t must take enough alcohol to poison OH
selves seriously. Cl3y poisoning is mean
some harmful effect upon the function
Z of the body.)
The above dangers in the use of al
e 5tSShol, also the possibility of the lorna
II ton of the alcohol habT,. make its us
s as beverage unjustifiab1e, even
e there Were no other arguments again:
Q it.
1t is unfortunate that the alcoh
question has been brought upon tn
technical ground. The question of IL
= hygienic status of the use of alcoh
/ does not depend upon the technic
n question of the definitions of a food ar
1t of poison. The controversy upon tn
T. point has produced statements upt
J. both sides which have given rise in u
!, public mind to great misconception
the truth.
Both sides in this technical controve
sly will agree in regard to the ma
N question. that children should be taug
- to look upon alcoholic liquors as da
or gerous substances, to be avoided fro
considerations of health and gener
welfare.
e. And in the present light of our expe
A. fence and OF scientific investigation. t
i, school books must continue to exclu
:, alcohol from the list of substances q
- sirable as foods, and to teach the avoi
u ance of this substance as good hyl
a. enic rule.
it H. F. HEwEs, NJ. d
at Boston, Mass, July 5, 1899.
ch