The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-03
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF lNTEMPERANcE.
Alcohol Not q Medicine - DR.. KeiloEe
Points Out tho Results or Latest and
Best InvestIgations-Baneiu Effect OF
Alcoholic Medication.


Points Out tho Results OF Latest and
Best InvestIgations-Baneiu Effect OF
Alcoholic Medication.
At the meeting OF the Medical Temper
ancc Association at Saratoga DR.. J. II.
Kellogg read paper entitled The Banc-
full Effect of Alcoholic Medication as
Shown by Recent Experimental Observa-
tions." The basis of DR.. kcllosgs paper
was the facts recently presented in the
New Voice in the article. Alcohol as 4
Brain Killer These facts nT. kellogg
developed and demonstrated at length,
citing the latest and best scientific author
ities, and arrived ut conclusions which he
expressed as follows:
"These observations certainly have I
very practical bearing uron the question
Of alcoholic medication. II it is true that
alcohol. even in small dcses. acts as an an
aesthetic by crippling the ncurons at the
centres OF activity and control. it is very
evident that no positive good can be ex-
pccted from its use. the same influence
which. through paralyZinR the vaso-motor
centres results in dilatation OF the peri.
pheral vessels. thus lessening the work OF
the heart, at the same time lowers vital
tote and lessons vital resistance and i'm
pairs every organic function through the
toxic influence Of alcohol upon the ncu-
rons of the centres which control these
functions. Alcohol promotes sleep simply
by causing retroaction Of the neurons of
the anterior lobes OF the brain through its
toxic influence upon. them. rather than by
removing the cause OF the sleeplessness,
which may be an excess OF blood in the
brain or irritability OF the cerebral cells.
1T is true that alcohol lessons the worl;
OF the heart, but at the same time it di-
minishes the power of the heart to work.
so that this might easily be the source of
more mischief than benefit.
"Kleefeld's experiments show that the
injurious effects OF alcohol are immediate:
that as soon as the poison enters the blood
it begins its mischievous work upon the
delicate protoplasmic structures of the
BODY which are bathed by the blood and
lymph. That most taneful effects are not
Immediately observed is due. rs has been
shown above, to the remarkable power of
resistance of the neurons OF the automatic
centres. which yield only very slowly to the
influence Of alcohol. fact which is equally
true of other poisors as well.
Progressive medical men cannot close
scientific research has brought out and
which speok in unmistakablc terms OF the
toxicity of alcohol and its nselessness in
evcrv form and in all conditions to which
the human body is subject in health and
disease. After centuries Of devotion to the
use nf this baneful agent. which perhaps
has been more extensively employed than
any other drug. the medical profession is at
last coming to recognize that alcohol is not
an elixir OF life as supposed bv the nuacl:.
ish Pa-acelsus. its promoter. but rather a
death-dcaiing product Of micropic activity.
differing in no essential particular from
other toxic substances secrctcd or other
wise formed BY micro-organisms. They ore
slowly learning that vital energy is to be
derived only from food. and that we can
onlv aid nature in her work OF cure. rs
we'll as in the maintenance of normal life.
by tho employment OF those nhvsiologiral
agents which promote vital activity and in.
crease vital resistance. Curative power is
not to Re found in champagne bottles or
brandy TASKS: health.givirs mower is in the
hodv itself. in the blood. in the TISSUES.
Said Dietl. the pupil of the great Rokitan-
sky. half century ago: Mature alone ran
cure: this is the highest law Of practical
medicine and the one to which we must
adhere. Nature creates and maintains;
she must therefore be able to cure"