Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-02-22
Alcohol is Not u Food.


field (Mass.) Summer Conference Of Chris
tian Workers, August II, 1899, to investi-
gate the statements of Professor Atwater,
pf Wesleyan University, on the nutritive
value of alcohol, has made an exhaustive
report in II sixteen page pamphlet entitled
"An Appeal to Truth"
This committee acted in cooperation
with the Advisory Board of the National
Temperance Societies, the Presbyterian
Woman's Temperance Association, the Per-
manent Committee on Temperance of the
General Conference OF the Methodist Epis-
eopal Church, the Permanent Committee
~ Temperance OF the Presbyterian Church,
the National Womans Christian Temper
lnce Union, the Massachusetts Total Abs,i-
nence Society, the National Department of
Scientific Instruction and the Non-Parti-
san National Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union.
Under these auspices the data furnished
Cy Professor Atwater as the result OF his
experiments at Middletown were subjected
to II searching analysis by leading experts
in physiological chemistry, and the follow
ing deductions are made:
First-Professor Atwater says his expert.
ments proved that alcohol is oxidizet in
the body. This is not denied, but it is
denied that Professor Atwa.er's claim
proved alcohol to be a food. Many posons
besides alcohol are oXidized in the body.
The Middletown experiments are said to
prove that alcohol in being oXidized in the
body furnishes heat and energy. This,
again is not deniei. But the assertion is
made that the claim proves nothing in
favor of alcohol, because its injurious ac-
zion ut the same time fur outweighs the
value OF the heat and energy it liberates.
as is the case With other poisonS oxidized
II the body.
Second-Professor Atwater in his expert
On ents proved that alcohol protects the
materials OF the body from consumption
Just as effectively rs corresponding
amounts OF sugar starch and fat. But
eminent scientific authorities testify that
these statements are not supported by his
own figures in the tables OF his first official
data, bulletins, published by the Depart
nent of Agriculture in 1899. This is the
testimony OF professors occupying the
chairs OF pathological chemistry in the
University and Bellevue Hospital Medical
Society, New York; of physiology in the
Medical School OF Northwestern University,
chicago; OF hygiene in the Medico- Chic-
lrEical College, OF Philadelphia, and of 8
former professor in the Philadelphia Poly
clinic aud College for Graduates.
Third--These scientists, after careful
study of Professor Atwater's report, came
20 the same conclusion viz, that his tables
10 not show that alcohol protected the
oody material, but show, on the contrary,
4 distinct loss OF nitrogenous material
when alcohol was administered. The en-
tire testimony in an Appeal to Truth"
does show that, according to his own ia
)les, Professor Atwater's costly expert
nents have produced no evidence to sus-
tain his charge OF error against the present
temperance teaching that alcohol Is not
food, bnt II poison.
Fourth--The report says of Professor At
waters unpublished experiments: IF they
show the same loss of nitrogen in the man
who took alcohol as do bulletin No. 60,
such unanimity would by SO much refute
the statement that alcohol protects the
rt,lg ~ fI,ah hnHx for tha lnt
II they should vary, that variation would
prove such data inadequate, for to be
worth anything for generalization there
,hould be uniformity in the results OF such
limited number of tests made under the
conditions SO unusual to everyday expert.
ence."
An English Soldiers Testimony.
An English soldier recently returned
from India, and at temperance meeting
he attended said that he had only been
home few hours but was proud to bear
testimony in favor OF total abstinence. He
had been In engagements on the frontier,
marched under the burning rays of an In
dian sun, camped and lived on the Hlma-
layas where the snow was ever present,
represented his country IA swimming,
cricket and football matches, and amidst
1t all enjoyed good health and had not
tasted drop OF intoxicating liquor. Drink
was the greatest enemy a young soldier
had TO contend with in India. 1t untitled
him for action rendered him more liable to
fall into vicious habits, and was most dan
gerous to health. As Secretary OF the Army
Temperance Association in his regiment,
he had carefully compiled the returns OF
crime, sickness, ETC., and but for the drink.
crime would almost be unknown and the
hospital cases reduced more than one-hnlf.
The teetotal soldier was more to be de-
pended upon when dangerous work had to
be done, and his superior officers used to
select men from the members OF the A. L.
A. on sucn occasions, and these men were
not ashamed to be known as 'Havelock's
Saints"
New Method of Temperance Work.
This has been started by the Illinois
Christian Citizenship League. 1t consists
OF series OF meetings, at least four, and IL
children's meeting. At these meetings the
people are asked to come forward and sign
Il pledge to the effect that they will do all
in their power to prevent the sale OF in
toSlcating and malt liquors in their own
town. except 1t be for medicinal and chemi-
cal purposes. On each signer u bit OF red
ribbon is pinned; also OH the children at
their meetings, when they promise to help
The Crusade in Brief.
IF you wish to keep out OF debt, keep out
OF the saloon.
The way to prevent drunkenness is to de.
stroy the cause.
Drink revenue is wet with tears and
stained with blood.
A good example is set by the Boston Fire
Department, in that any member of the
force Is subject to dismissal who enters .
saloon while In uniform.
A woman was the first person to cause
"A VII Tor nf a