The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-05-18
ALCOHOL HAS VALUE
IN DIABETES CASES
Limited Amount May Be Used as
Food, Says DR.. C. G. Jennings, at
D. C. M. Alumni Clinic.

IF there Is any one condition III
medicine that warrants the use oil
alcohol as a prescription 1t Is In the
treatment OF severe cases or dla
betes," was the interesting declara
ton OF Dr. c. G.. Jennings, In a clinic
on medicine in Harper hospital, Wed
nesday morning, which opened the
annual clinic week program OF the
Detroit College of Medicine alumni.
The statement caused some sur
prise among the younger doctors anu
the few laymen present, in view OF .
widespread belief that alcoholic
stimulants of any kind are deleter
ious to persons suffering from anec
lions OF the kindneys. DR.. Jennings
pointed out that there are seven cal
cries of energy in every gram OF al
cohol and that one and one-thlro
ounces of alcohol can be assimilateo
as food within "a hours, and convert
ed into energy. Therefore, he said
| from five to six ounces OF wine
which contains from 20 to 80 per cent
OF alcohol, or a moderate drink OIL
whisky, which contains upwards OF
90 per cent of alcohol, or moderate
amount of beer could be served a
patient suffering from diabetes, with
his meals, without injury to the sys-
TEN.
There was a large crowd OF senior
medics and out -of-town physicians on
hand for the opening clinic, and also
liberal representation OF local phy-
morning program was the clinic on
goitre conducted by DR.. A. j. Ochs-
ner, of the Augustana hospital, chi
cago, one OF the really great men
OF the profession in this country. he
IL famed all over the world as
diagnostician and his opinion mas
been sought In difficult cases by ply
sicians in all parts of the country
Dr. Ochsner Is probably best known
for having been the first to introduce
the starvation method or treating ap-
pendicitis. which has since come into
great favor. The starvation method
Is not necessarily intended to do away
with the removal OF the appendix by a
surgical operation, but 1t has proven
of great value in cases that have ad-
vanced too far for an operation. The
patient, under this treatment, almost
Invariably RECEIVERS, II Is said.
The goitre clinic developed several
interesting features The first sub
feet presented was Capt. ]. w. West
colt, the wellknown marine reporter,
whose case was a rare type. In this
instance the trouble developed as
result of Capt. Westcott being
struck by a bolt of lightning while
using a telephone. His case was
classified as traumatic goitre, and
rarely, said DR.. Ochsner, has goitre
developed from such cause.
II is also developed during the
hearing that the Lake region and the
vicinity OF Detroit, especially, was
one of the few sections in this coun-
try where goitre originates, and the
common source Is drinking water.
DR.. Ochsner told OF place In
Switzerland where there are two
boarding schools, not q mile apart
which attract students from all parts
of the country and from foreign
lands. Every student in one OF the
schools, leaves the institution with a
well-developed case Of goitre, while In
the other school goitre Is never heard
of. The difference is due to, the fact
that in the latter school all the drink
ing water Is boiled, while In the Tor
mer 1t is never boiled, the doctor ex-
planned. ~,
1.-The result is," he continued, that
one school Is building up a reputa-
ton and the other Is losing pres
tige."
DR.. Ochsner exhibited two cases Of
Graves disease, form Of thyroid en-
largment that is accompanied by spas
modic contraction OF the muscles and
other distinctive symptoms. One OF
the cases was that OF a woman 20
years old, whose symptoms DR.. Ochs-
ner described by saying that she
sits like a chicken and breathes like
a rabbit"