Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-05-31
yUTRITIvE VALUE OF BEER.

Quantities was oxidized in the hu-
man system and produced heat, and
was therefore a food. After a long
and acriminous discussion, in which
he professor was called a number
81 hard names, 1t dawned upon his
detractors that this scientific fact
aid not in any way deny the evils OF
intemperance or oppose their advo-
eacy of total abstinence. 1t was, in
deed, merely a scientific truth, with
no moral bearing one way or the
other. A somewhat similar report
has just been made public by spe-
cial government commission in Eng
land, in which a good word is ut
tered for the nutritive value of beer.
The general idea that beer is primar-
lily an alcoholic drink is opposed in
this report, which holds that, when
well and properly made, it is a bev-
erage containing very small
amount of alcohol and a relatively
large amount of nutritive material
Says The Hospital (London, May u
IN an editorial about the report:
at is time that the erroneous view
that beer has no nutritive value in
itself, and merely consist of a bev-
erage upon which a certain portion
OF the community intoxicates itself,
should be exposed and discredited
The results of our Commission show
that beer is par excellence the nu-
tritive alcoholic beverage. All bev-
erages because they contain alcohol
should not be regarded in the same
light. The spirit-nipper is commit
ting quite a different act from the
beer-drinker; in fact, beer is much
farther removed, from the point of
view of it's alcohol content, from
some wines and all spirits than it is
rom ginger-beer.
when man drinks good beer he
drinks and eats at the same time,
Just as when he eats a bowl of soup.
The terms eat and drink are Curl
ously but inconsistency used as con-
noting the difference between what
Is merely quenching our thirst and
vhat is actually consuming nourish-
ment. Our Commissioners point out
q man might more properly be said
% eat beer than to eat certain kinds
Of soup, or indeed watermelon. Their
report will enable members of the
medical profession and the public to
understand clearly what constitutes
good beer, and where and how they
may obtain it. Beer-drinkers, the
numbers of whom we hope will in
crease considerably as the result OF
the researches of our Commission
ers, are now in a position to protect
themselves from bad beers, and we
hold the view that it would be infli-
nitely better for the well-being OF
the people of these islands as a
whole il they were to select beer as
their habitual drink, rather than
Wines or spirits. Climatic conditions
haye a good deal to do with the
dietetic value of substances used for
allaying thirst. Our Commissioners
properly drive, home that, when q
man drinks beer or stout habitually
ne is not only drinking but eating, q
TACT which has not been sufficiently
recognized in recent years. These
beverages contain all the element;
OF typical diet, with the exception
OF Fat. and in a proportion approx
mately physiological. Our Commits
aoners remind us that If the worth
OF a food is measured by its calori'
metric value. the fact is that a glass
OF good ale is approximately as nour
shing as a glass of milk, and that
quart of good beer is nearly equiva
tent to quarter of a pound of beef
Beer and stout. the writer goes OF
70 say. are. of course. not suitable
Tor the obese. or for those with rena
disorders. glycosuria, or diabetes
out where there is no counter-indi
cation their habitual use in moderate
Quantities is certainly more bench
eial than that of wines or spirits
We read further:
Another important medical as
peet Of beer and stout, and especially
u the latter. is their hypnotic &C
uon. Stout Is one of the most harm
ieSs and best hypnotics we possess
shd Is often far more efiicaeiOus il
NE treatment of insomnia thai
afuss. Part of their action is due
OAr Commissioners remind us. to tn,