The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-05
C0CA-COLA NOT HARMFUL.
SEVERAL PHYSICIANS TESTIFY
IN DEFENSE OF DRINK.
Says He Has Taken Six Glasses Daily
Since 1895 With no Serious Effect
Another Likes 1t.

Chattanooga, Tenn, March 3O.-A
deposition from DR.. j. G.. Gooding, a
druggist, was read at today's session
Of the trial Of the coca-cola cases.
The defendant stated that he had been
selling coca-cola for II or Is years
and that he made it business to re-
fuse to sell more than one glass of
the beverage TO a customer at one
time. On cross examination he stat
ed that the reason Of his refusal was
the same as that for which he would
refuse to give two doses Of laudanum
or morphine to a customer.
DR.. HI. A. Hare of Philadelphia tes-
titled that he had written several
medical books and was one of the
authors of the Pharmacopaeia.
He declared that he was a constant
user Of caffeine as drug taking one
to four grains Of the pure caffeine a
day regularly. Aside from this, he
said he was coffee drinker to the
extent Of two or three cups day and
that he drank from one to four glasses
Of coca-cola each day. He said that
he could not discover any harmful
effects. DR.. Hare declared that caf-
feline was not poison and that 1t
was not a habit-forming drug. He
said that while the pharmacopaeia
fixed the dose Of caffeine at one grain,
his own book placed 1t at two grains.
On cross-examination, DR.. Hare ad-
mitted that caffeine In coffee acted as
stimulant. Being confronted with
his book he admitted that he had
written that caffeine affects the
nerves and would make people nerv-
Gus.
He admitted that caffeine to the
amount Of seven and one-half grains
would cause intoxication similar to
that produced by alcohol He admit
ted that he had written in his book
that caffeine was a stimulant Of the
brain and that a brain driven along
by caffeine ultimately would break
down In concentration in a single ef-
fort. He stated that persistent use of
caffeine would cause such delirium as
that resulting from the use Of alcohol.
Dr
testified that he had analyzed coca
cola syrup and found it to contain
11-15 grains Of caffeine to each ounce
or the usual drink as served at foun-
tains. He had also analyzed "mer-
chandise No. g." the principal ingre-
dient Of the coca-cola syrup, and
round trace of tannin and other
extractive matter. He was unable to
say how much tannin from coca
leaves, kola nut or California wine
was contained In the syrup
DR.. w. S. Haines Of the University
Of Chicago told Of conducting expert.
ments with caffeine on guinea pigs.
The pigs not given caffeine showed
the same condition as the caffeine
fed pigs under post-mortem examina-
ton. he said.
DR.. F. K. Reickefus Of PHILADELPHIA
testified that he had taken six glasses
of coca-cola a day since 1895 with
out serious effect.
DR.. Raymond Wallace, a Chatta-
nooga physician. testified that he be-
lieved coca-cola not only not harmful
but beneficial.
An effort was made to impeach his
testimony by bringing out the fact
that charges had been filed against
him in the local medical society for
unprofessional conduct. He admitted
the charges, but declared that they
were unjust and he was exonerated.
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