Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-05-12
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FOR MODERATE DRINKERS.
alcohol and Its Derivatives Are Too
Thoughtlessly Used-Comments
ON AtwRter'S Experiment

Farink problem. 1t has long been
well known that the hydrocarbons,
The oils, fats, saccharine substances,
starch and alcohol are heat-producing.
and sources of energy in the human
body. The recent experiments by Prof.
iAtwater simply demonstrate that the
human body can oxidize-use as fuel
icreating energy-21a ounces of alcohol
IN q day. tits urged that the alcohol
Jean be more readily converted into
ENERGY than the hydrocarbons men
fioned ordinarily used as food, and
fmhy subserve a purpose in an emer-
igency where rapid evolution of force is
imperative. Unlike any other hydro
carbon used as food or as a beverage
talcohol has a peculiarly subtle effect
upon the nervous system, forming a
yhabit which becomes maniacal and I'M
tcontrollable in character before the
fhabitue is at all aware of it. am as
.fursd from observation extending
II. cough 30 " AIS of professional life
that 2h ounces of alcohol or the ec;,iv-
alent in the finest brandies, whistles,
wines or ales, used daily for per-. i of
time at ell extended, viii not ISL. to
Ie1~~hNO az aAOOAOL n1b1Lu0 OF u
sfneiy endowed man or woman Il the
world. The nervous system surely reg
listers the abnormal impression, no
Fmatter how carefully the 2h ounces of
alcohol may be taken. Once n habitue
and under the control of the alcohol
mania the strongest man or woman
becomes impotent TO escape from the
ityranny of its power.
in neighboring town three years
ago is patients were reported cured of
ifhe alcohol habit. Thirty-six years
ago two of the noblest physicians, men
of fine native and physical powers,
tcommenced the use of two tablespoon
iauls of the purest whisky to induce
sleep when overworked. They were
younger than myself. One gradually
lost his standing and practice, and
died four years ago, filling a drunkard's
grave; the other, possessing great ma
tive hardness of constitution, fingers
yet, a hopeless and helpless alcohol
Fhabatue. 1t is far more difficult to
treat traumatic injuries, fevers, influ-
ienza, pneumonia and prevailing cpl
'demic diseases when the patient is
very moderate drinker, than to cure
total abstainer of equal vitality. /
have been able to relieve permanently
a number of persons, some of whom
were women, who, in the earlier stages
OF moderate drinking, were struggling
against the alcohol habit, unwittingly
Horned, and there is no work / regard
with greater satisfaction.
have always felt it imperative to
enjoin upon these patients the neces-
Sity of total abstinence for life, as
their only security, except in the direst
medical extremity. Persons with "A
refined, sensitive or diseased brain US
ing habitually even the smallest
amount of alcohol are in great danger.
The most active and susceptible quail
tiles of mental activity readily take on
an unnatural excitation.
Two and one-half ounces of alcohol
should never be used by any individual
daily, except as a very temporary neces-
sary eXpedient in an emergency or seri-
nus illness. 1t should then be conscien-
hously withdrawn by the attending
physician at the earliest moment when
She necessity for its use has passed.
Facts everywhere demonstrate that
untold mischief results from the daily
use of what is usually regarded as a
small amount of the purest alcoholic
liquors. 1 find many persons using no
more and even less than two and half
ounces OF alcohol day, or its equiya-
lent, VINO are unconsciously habitues.
dhe eyes and the skin of the cheeks.
nose, ears and neck show heightened
coloring. This is far from being an in
dication of health. The use of an ordi-
nary hand lens reveals a decided en-
largement of the capillaries in these
localities. If this vascular distension
has taken place in the denser and less
important structure of the skin, WHY
must it not have occurred even to a
greater degree in the far more numer-
Gus and more delicate capillaries of the
cerebral tissues? The permanently
heightened color indicates an adj
Eanced stage of the alcohol disease.
Hhe deceived victims, however, regard
themselves as very temperate users of
Alcohohc stimulants, and no amount
OF argument can convince them that
they are in any danger of becoming
ARbitues. In such cases the observ-
ant practitioner cannot fail to discern
evidences of serious organic changes
In the cerebral, hepatic and other It's
sues. The exhaustion that follows the
burning out of the active fire kindled
with small amount of alcoholic slim
ulant is evidently in excess of the slim
niation of the energies, as the nervous
system after little time imperativeIy
requires increased stimulation.
Two and one-hah ounces of alb
solute alcohol are equal in volume
to five tablespoonfuls. This amount
OF alcohol is found in ten table,
Spoonfuls of the purest whisky or
brandy. have recently secured
the services of two eminent chem
ssts who have analysed six vari-
Eties of the finest wines. native and inn