The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-06
The DANGER OF ALCOHOL.
DIR. Hewes Takes Issue with Prof At
water i'm Regard TO the Effects.


The recent experiments of Prof. Atwa-
ter are Of great interest TO Psychologists
and chemists since they throw much light
upon one Of the doubtful questions OF
physiological chemistry or pharmacolo-
gy, that Of the metaboIlsm OF alcohol in
the body.
1t is a 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 a hygienic point
of view. The schools teach that the use
of alcoholic liquors as a beverage Is not
justihable under the laws OF hygiene.
The results Of Prof. Atwater's expert
ments do not contradict this teaching.
These experiments merely show that the
body can derive some energy from alcohol.
This does not In itself enutie alcohol to
be placed among 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 1t did, such
a violent poison as muscarine, the active
principle Of the poisonous plants OF the
mushroom family would have TO be class
ed with the foods. since it also Is oxi-
dized in the body with liberation Of Its
contained energy.
To class a substance among The foods
we must know that the sum total ell
fects Of its use are beneficial TO the body.
Muscarine is not a food because its pol
sonous effects Offset the benefit of the
energy which it liberates. Alcohol has
poisonous effects as Prof Atwater him
self admits. The question as TO whether
IL can be considered as food depends en-
tireiy upon whether its beneficial Ell
fects are greater than its poisonous ef-
fects Prof. Atwater's experiments do not
prove this. Until this IS proven the bur-
den OF the proof Is against those who
would include alcohol in the list OF food
substances. For scientific experiments 50
far, experiments upon large bodies OF
men in the ordinary conditions ahd vicis-
STUDIES Of life, I'm the armies and IN eX-
ploring expeditions where labor and ex-
posture have TO be endured, indicate that
when the regular moderation quanuty
of alcohol is taken, the harmful effects
offset the beneficial ones and that the
drnker is made less iit rather than more
lit to work
And stronger still IS the reason against
speaking as Prof. Atwater does. Of alco-
hol as food in the same sense as sugar.
For people generally, viii interpret this 10
mean that it is a food equally 10 be re-
commended with sugar and ordinary ny
gienic foods. And this as Prof Atwater
viii agree Is an entirely false idea and
one calculated 10 do much harm. For
while we get our energy from sugar with
out risk of poisoning. to get energy from
alcohol we run great risk of poisoning
and 10 get any amount such as would be
necessary to support life in ordinary con-
diiions, we must take enough alcohol 10
poison ourselves seriously. by poisoning
Is meant some harmful effect upon the
functions Of the body)
The above dangers in the use Of alco-
hol, also the possibility Of the formation
Of the alcoholic habit, makes its use as a
beverage uniustihable even II there were
no other arguments against IT,
Il is unfortunate that the alcohol ques-
ton has been brought upon the technical
ground. The question of the hygienic
status Of the use of alcohol does not de-
pend T. ~ the technical question Of the
definitions of a food and OF a poison. The
controversy upon this point has produced
statements upon both sides which have
given rise I'm the public mind TO great mis-
conception OF the truth.
Both sides in this technical controversy
will agree in regard 20 the main question,
that children should be taught 10 look
upon alcoholic liquors as dangerous SUBJ
stances. TO be avoided from consideration
OF health and general welfare.
And IN the present light OF our eNper-
ience and N scientific investigation the
school books must continue 20 exclude
alcohol from the list Of substances de-
sira5ie as foods. and 20 teach the avoid
ance Of this substance as a god hygienic
rule III. j. HkN Is NJ. ..
Boston. Mass. July 5, 1890.