The Washington herald., 1909-03-22
SCIENTISTS PREACH
Dr.. Wiley and Others Warn
of Dangers of Alcohol.
ARGUMENTS FOR PROHIBITION
Physicians Who Attended Session OF
American Society for study OF
Narcotics Address Congregation at
Waugh and Douglas Memorial
ChHpeIS-PathetIc Cases cited


Temperance in all its scientific phases
was discussedin two Washington churches
yesterday by physicians who for years
have studied the question.
The morale Of intemperance was not
touched upon by the speakers. but their
word pictures Of the havoc wrought on
the human system were intended as
strong arguments Tor the cause Of prohi-
bition.
In the morning addresses were made
before the congregation OF Waugh Metho-
dist Episcopal Church by Dr. Harvey W
Wiley. government chemist; Dr. 7. d.
Crothers, OF Hartford. Conn. superin-
tendent OF Walnut Lodge Hospital and
Dr. l. ID. Mason Of Brooklyn. \ Y,
vice president ~ the American Society
f0r the study OF Alcohol and Other Drug
Narcotics Dr. c. Il Benton. Of Chester.
W Ia, superintendent OF Sterling Worth
sanatorium. spoke at Douglas Memorial
| Chapel
Scientific facts concerning alcohol
the subject Of DR.. Wiley's address. lie
/ described the ingredients used in the
manufacture Of alcohol. and the proper
/ ties of starch, sugar, and ceuulose- The
! process OF fermentation was Illustrated
I by the chemist by telling Of the manufac-
I ture OF yeast abroad. He said every
housewife who raises bread with yeast
| produces alcohol and Carbonic acid In
equal quantities. Il is these substances.
I he said. IN the form Of gas which expand
under the heat Of baking. and make the
bread light
Tells Of DfsIiIIatiOn.
! The manner IN which alcohol Is recov-
/ cred from the fermented mash. and the
/ process Of distiIlation WAS described by
/ Or. Wiley He told o. the percentages OF
! alcohol IN various beverages. In beer. he
said. there is from 70 per cent alcohol;
/ In cider from 20 per cent; tn wine from
/ : 20 Is per cent. and In whisky. brandy
ard rum, an average Of from IS 20 55 per
/ cent or alcohol
( The industrial uses OF alcohol were gone
/ into by the speaker. He told OF the man
! ufacture of ether and smokeless powder.
/ containing alcohol and how denatured al
/ cohol IS made
/ Alcohol as a food product is only a
4 partial food product" said Or. Wiley.
I 1t furnishes heat and energy only. and
4 Is not capable Of building up tissues or
/ repairing waste. The toxic effects. when
/ taken in excess, cause the tissues 10
/ harden and result in an accelerating ef-
/ feet in bringing on age and decrepitude.
! "Oid age is a precipitation Of the pro-
/ tcplasm OF the cells which IS accelerated
/ by alcohol used in excess Of the amount
I thar can be Oxidized. The maximum or
| alcohol that mans system Is capable of
/ oxidizing is not more than two or three
/ ounces a day said Dr. Wiley.
! DR.. Crothers took as HIS subject The
! future OF the alcoholic problem" and
made the startling statement that should
I the use Of intoXicants continue to spread
1 as in recent years. without some check.
! alcohol would make Of the nation. or
/ Of that high percentage Of citizens who
/. Use IL. anaemic. weak, and degenerate
/ creatures possessing inferior mental quail
I tiles and moral stamina DR. Crothers
! corrOborated many OF the statements OF
/ Or. Wiley as 20 the eject OF alcohol on
] the human system. and gave figures
/ showing the percentage Of drinkers ruined
/ by the effects OF alcoholism.
/ The urgent needs for inebriates'- was
the subject chosen by Dr. Mason. He
told the need OF legislation 10 restrain
/ inebriates and gave an outline Of The
kind OF laws used in many Of the States
relating 10 alcoholics.
Pathetic Cases Cited,
Striking and pathetic instances OF
homes and lives wrecked by alcoholism
were given by the speaker. He spoke OF
alcoholism as the chief cause u the in
generation Of many persons in the in
sane asyIums. After touching upon what
has been done by state legislatures and
what remains 10 be done by them for
the welfare Of these Unfortunates. DR..
Mason told Of the effect Of the narcotic
on the mentality Of man.
The process OF disintegration OF the
brain cells. weakening Of the nerve pow
ers, and destruction of tissues were de-
Scribed by Dr- Mason
| At Douglas Memorial Church DR.. Ben
ton told Of the necessity Of temperance
not only as regards the consumption OF
alcohol. but with relation 10 foodstuffs
He said oyerfeeding tends to make the
system fertile or in a ready state "a
consume alcohol
DR.. Benton said in part:
/ PIactical t6mperancs is not an illusion although
from standpoint Of general demonstration u would
De regarded Only ideal condition ueyeFtheIaSs
an ideal condition which has much possibility q a.
taiUmCut not easily 50. but bT hard diliggnt rCr
sislenCe- This. YOU VII observe. c0Vers a I4rse
I range Of physical neeessities. Sc vel as social
customs in which do not always observe the
Necessary moderation Shile observing the strict
est moderation In one direction. one particular
appetite or desire, we may Tamuer others 20 the Ge
gree of enslayemeut. and this many times with
out recognizing IL as a fault.
The practical Temperance is expressed in TIE
attainment Of the highest possible cCmmensyrste
I degree q mental moral. and physical conditions
ia individual Practical Temperance Is both
the means and the result of correct living. II
/ may be inherited or acquired. but is usually &C
quired. and that BY careful study and experiment
! Practical Temperance is so simple that il c1n bs
acquired hy any child through education euTi
roument but IL Is much u0re dlfiCult % accomplish
after desires and appeltes have been rampered ntc
passions OF gTester less degrees Practical TEN
perance, applied 20 different individuals WouId
necessarily vary 10 the ratio as persona
idiosyucases, and must be accurately conceived and
[ adjusted % conform % the needs and require
ments Of each SEPARATE individual Practical TEN
perance. ike religiOu is purely personal matter
II refers % every act and condition o. our dsil,
Il life: should control orr eating. drinking sleep
ing mental and physical eXertions. diversions
anasements. recreations AID our mental moral. and