The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-20
WORRYING THE PRoHIB1T1oNIsTs.


:. 80. -. y u1..se. $780,
WORRYING THE PROHIBITIONISTs
Few scientific men have received SO
large g. measure of abuse and denuneia-
ton from the class of society which does
not affect to possess scientific knowledge
or training as has Prof. w O. Atwater.
His expressed opinion that alcohol in
small Quantities may serve the body for
nutriment7 and be. otherwise useful; that
1t is at times very valuable, at others ex-
tremely harmful, has succeeded in bring
ing down upon him the full measure Of
the wrath Of that somewhat intolerant
element of-society which confines its pub
lie activities mostly to the effort to pre-
vent the manufacture or sale of iutox-
icants.
But Mr.. Atwater evidently does not feel
at all deferred from pursuing his course
of investigation in this particular direc-
ton, or from giving very. free expression
to his opinions along this line as far
as and in. whatsoever direction his ~inves-
legations lead him. He contributes an
article to the current number of Harper $
Magazine on the same general subject, in
which he amplifies the views already ex-
pressed. In. that article he quotes the
opinions of physicians, that there are
many cases in which the bodily functions
are maintained and life is even saved. by
alcohol when ordinary food could not be
endured.
Giving his concurrence to this general
conclusion, Prof. Atwater appears to dis
count his former views by the extent to
which he. goes as the result of his recent
researches. Among other things, ne says:
f.Frerl the standpoint of the physio-
logical ,ehemist;v this effect of alcohol
would seem entirely natural The bodily
functions are weakened and the power
of digestion is impaired. While the pa
tient is. lying still the labor required
of the muscles is not large, and the
chief need Is fuel to carry the body
through. the time Of stress What is
wanted is a material which will not have
to be digested, can be easily absorbed,
is readily eXidized, and will supply the
requisite energy. L know of no other
material which would seem TO meet these
requirements so naturally and so fully
as alcohol. II does not require digestion,
is absorbed by the stomach, and pre-
sumabiy by the intestine, with great ease
Outside Of the body it is oxidized very
readily, within the body it appears to be
quickly burned, and it supplies a large
amount of energy. Why it should have
less effect upon the nervous system in
some forms Of illness than in health is
perhaps hard to say, but that,it should
Under these circumstances be an in
valuable source Of energy is easy to be-
lieve. But here again only suggest a
theory"
The challenge could not be thrown
down With, more decision or emphasis
than it is in these sentences Those who
ask that alcohol shall be put under the
ban as something which is curse to
society must regard such conclusions as
these, reached by so eminent a man and
concurred in by so large and important
an element among scientists, as involy
mg an almost insupera bic obstacle placed
in the path Of their convictions and pur-
poses in public life. 1t cannot be safely
accepted without placing the discussion
purely on scientific basis and brushing
aside all the influences of emotional feel
ing which have played 50. important a
part in the controversy and in the sus-
tainment of the main position assumed
by the prohibitie1gfstssss 4-ay@
Prof Atwater is doing much good. He
is helping to put this whole subject of
the use of alcohol on its true basis for
public consideration. Until those who adj
vocate prohibition are willing to confront
the actualities of science and human ex-
perience, they cannot hope to win the
public sustainment. 1t is against the
abuse, rather9than the use, of the nuid
that they7 must make war, unless they
are determined to set themselves in open
warfare with certain of the accepted
truths of scientific teaching and sacrifice
all reasonable hope OF becoming effective
agents inathesspreade temperance.