The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-08-18
w. c. T. U. COLUMN
CONDUCTED BY MRS. N. L. HOBBS.
Prof. Atwster'S Experiments and the
Teaching in Regard TO the Alcohol
Question in the Schools.

The recent experiments 81 IIol +
Atwater are of great interest 10 phys
biologists and chemists since they
throw much light upon one of the
doubtful questions OF physiological
chemistry or pharmacology, that Of
tae metabolism OF alcohol IN the
body.
1t is a mistake however, To think
Is some people apparently do, that
he result OF these experiments
should change the teaching in the
schools in regard to the use Of alco-
mol from a hygienic point Of view
The schools teach that the use OF
alcoholic liquors as a beverage i
not iustifiable under the laws OF hy-
giene. the results Of Prof. Atwater' :
experiments do not contradict this
teaching.
These experiments merely show
that the boiy can derive some ener-
" from alcohol. This does not en-
|title alcohol TO be placed among the
TODD substances in the hyglenic
sense OF the term, which j. the sense
n which the schools and people in
general use the term food. Ii II did
such a violent poison a muscarlne-
he active principle Of the poisonous
plants OF the mushroom family
would have to be classed with the
foods, since it also is oxidizsd in the
BODY with Liberation OF it, contained
energy.
To class a substance among the
foods we must know that the sum
otal effects Of Its use are beneficial
10 the body. Muscarine Is not q
food because its poisonous effects
offset the benefit OF the energy which
Il liberates. Alcohol has poisonous
fleets a Prof. Atwa'er himself ad-
nits. The question a TO whether
t can be considered a food de-
pends entirely upon whether IL
beneficial effects are greater than il:
poisonous effects. Prof. Atwater
experiments do not prove this
Unit. this is proved the burden cf
the proof is against those who would
include alcohol in the list OF food
substances. For scientific experi-
ment so far, experiments upon large
bodies Of men in the ordinary con-
iitions and vicissitudes cf life, in
the armies and in exploring expedi-
lions where labor and exposure have
o he endured, indicate that when
the regular moderation" quantity
# alcohol is taken. the harmless
fleets Offset the beneficial ones and
that the drinker is made less iii
rather than more tit for work.
And stronger still i the reason
against speaking a. Prof. Atwater
ioes, Of alcohol a. food in the same
sense a. sugar. For people gener-
Ally will interpret this to mean that
il is a food equally to be recon
mended with sugar and ordinary
|hygienic foods. And this a Prot
Atwater will agree, l. an entirely
false idea and one calculated 10 do
much harm. For while we get our
energy from sugar without risk of
poisoning. To get energy from alco-
hol we run great risks Of poisoning
and to get any amount, a. would be
necessary to support life in ordinary
condition, we must take enough al
cohol to poison ourselves seriously
{ By poisoning Is meant some harm
iul effect upon the functions OF the
body)
The above dangers in the Use OF
alcohol, alsl the possibility Of the
formation of the alcohol habit.
make it, use a. a beverage unjusti
liable even if there were no other
arguments against it.
1t is unfortunate,th.t the alcohol
question has been brought upon
this technical ground. The gues
ton of the hygienic status of IL,
use Of alcohol does not depend upon
the technical question OF the dehni-
liz ns Of food and Of poison
rhe controversy upon this point
has produced statements upon botl
sides which have given rise in lhs
public mind to great misconcepiion
of the truth.
Both sid : in this technical con-
troversy will agree in regard to ths
main question, that children should
be taught to look upon alcoholic
liquors a dangerous substances, {,
be avoided from considerations OF
health and general welfare.
And in the present light Of oui
experience and OF scientific investi-
CATION, the school books must con
|tinue to exclude alcohol from ths
It;us cf u,.ku.ancaz desirable a. fnn1-