The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-05-03

N'lTp54R(2p7E9
FOR MODERATE DRINKERS.
Alcohol and It's Derivatives Are Too
ThoughtlessIy Used-COmments
ON Aty5ater's Experiment..

/ have read with much interest Prof.
-Atwater's report of the experiments
which he has conducted at Middletown.
Conn, under the auspices of the COM
'mittee of so for the investigation of the
drink 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.
Atwater simply demonstrate that the
human body can oXidize-use as fuel
creating energy-2h ounces of alcohol
in day. tits urged that the alcohol
can be more readily converted into
energy than the hydrocarbons men
toned ordinarily used as food, and
may subserve purpose in an emer-
gency where rapid evolution of force is
imperative. Unlike any other hydro
carbon used as food or as a beverage,
alcohol has a peculiarly subtle effect
upon the nervous system, forming a
habit which becomes maniacal and I'M
comfortable in character before the
habitue is at all aware of it. | am as
ssured from observation extending
through so years of professional life
that 2h ounces of alcohol or the equiv
alent in the finest brandies, WHISTLES,
wines or ales, used daily for period of
time at all extended, will not fail to
make an alcohol habitue of the most
finely endowed man or woman in the
world. The nervous system surely reg
listers the abnormal impression, no
matter how carefully the 2h ounces of
alcohol may be taken. Once habitue
and under the control of the alcohol
mania the strongest man or woman
becomes impotent to escape from the
tyranny of its power.
In a neighboring town three years
ago Is patients were reported cured of
the alcohol habit. Thirty-six years
ago two of the noblest physicians, men
of fine native ard physical powers
commenced the use of two tablespoon
fuls 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 drunkard's
grave; the other, possessing great ma
tive hardness of constitution, fingers
yet, hopeless and helpless alcohol
habstue. 1t is far more difficult to
treat traumatic injuries, fevers, infu-
enza, pneumonia and prevailing cpl
rdemic diseases when the patient is a
very moderate drinker, than to cure
a total abstainer of equal vitality. l
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
formed, and there is no work | regard
with greater satisfaction.
l 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
refined, sensitive or diseased brain US
ing habitually even the smallest
amount of alcohol are in great danger
The most active and susceptible quail
titles 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 very temporary neces-
sary eXpedient in an emergency or seri-
Gus illness. 1t should then be conscien-
tiously withdrawn by the attending
physician at the earliest moment when
the 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. [ find many persons using no
more and even less than two and half
ounces of alcohol a day, or its equiva-
lent, who are unconsciously habitues.
The 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 decided en-
largement of the capillaries in these
localities. If this vascular distension
ieS ldrANil JitiNC III tllC tOllStl anu lcSS
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
vanced stage of the alcohol disease.
The deceived victims, however, regard
themselves as very temperate users of
alcoholic stimulants, and no amount
of argument can convince them that
they are in any danger of becoming
habitues. 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
ulation of the energies, as the nervous
system after little time imperatively
requires increased stimulation.
Two and one-half ounces of abb
solute alcohol are equal in volume
to five tablespoonfuls. This amount
of alcohol is found in ten table
spoonfuls of the purest whisky or