Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-11-01
FOOD OR POISON QUESTION.
summary of Exhaustive Treatment
OF Atwater TheOryby a vienna
Processes.

In view of the discussion called forth
some time ago by the report of Prof
Atwater's experiments, which were
intended to throw light on the ques-
ton: Is alcohol food or a poison ?
paper in the latest number of Pflu-
gers Archiv is of more than passing
interest. This periodical is the lead
ing physiological journal of Germany
II not of the world. The paper re-
ferred to is by Prof. Kassowitz, of Vi
emma. 1t consists of 80 pages of care
tuliy discriminating review of the sci
entlhc evidence on the question, I'M
der the title: Food and Poison: A
contribution TO the Alcohol Question"
The position of the author and the
place of the publication would lead
one to expect rigidly scientific treat
ment OF the subject, not a prejudiced
polemic, and certainly not a harangus
from the point of view of the profess
slonal temperance reformer. For this
reason the paper is one of unusual inn
portance, and ought TO be read by
those who profess TO speak on the
matter from scientific standpoint.
Ihe author sums up at the close the
mann conclusions to be drawn from the
results of all reliable Investigations
up TO the present time. 1 give below
the g1st of the greater part of the
summary, presenting the general ideas
rather than literal translation:
L. The assumption of a nutritive ae-
ton of alcohol rests upon the suppo-
sition that part of the food is con-
sumed by direct chemical change with
out first taking part in the upbuild-
ing of the protoplasmic substance.
Z. The logical consequence of this
supposition, that substances of equal
fuel values can take the place one of
another in the chemical changes i'm
the living tissue, is contradicted by
reliable experiments. The same can
be said of the superstition that food
can be of use through its direct de-
struction without any intermediate
protoplasmic steps.
B. The single remaining possibility.
that all food material is assimilated.
!. e, is applied TO the building up of
chemical units, agrees very well with
all the ascertained facts and stands
in contradiction to none.
4. According to this conception of
the nature of food the proptoplasmic
molecules are highly complex and
hence chemical changes are extremely
easy TO bring about in them.
5. Evey stimulus and every chemical
ly acting poison causes n disturbance,
destruction of chemical units of the
protoplasm.
o. Since alcohol as stimulating and
poisonous substance destroys the pro-
J toplasmic molecules, it cannot at the
same time be assimilated and applied
as food material. A substance can
not simultaneously act az a food and a
poison.
Z. After short period of STIMULI
tion, alcohol acts as a paralyzing agent
TO the nerve centers which innervate
the muscles; the muscles are thus less
eihciently excited through the action
OF the nerves and less carbon dioxide
is produced.
8. The reduced amount of carbon
dioxide excreted indicates no economy
OF the tissue substance, but Is an in-
direct consequence of the poisonous
action of the alcohol.
.. In agreement with the above con-
ciusion is the fact proved by expert
ment that If for a part of the nom
heterogeneous food a quantity of aIco-
hol of equal fuel value is substituted.
there results a reduction of working
power and a loss of body weight.
10. The nutritive value of a sub
stance does not depend simply upon
the fact of its oxidation In the body.
=, o, " N-~ SSNJ'
II. The practical conclusion to be
drawn from the known facts both on
theoretical and empirical grounds, is
TO the purport that for purposes of
nutrition alcohol should be employed
neither for the well nor for the sick
D ,. Maxwell, in Chicago Standard.