The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-05-05

NOT A sTIMULANT, BUT AN ANARsrHETIO.
IT IMPAIRs MENTAL AND MUSCULAR Ell
FICIENCT IT SHORrENS LIFE
elements that control the emotions, the
play instinct. the tendency to mix with
ones kind In reia King good fellowship.
Something might be said for alcohol
as an agent for suppressiug that part
OF the brain which is overworked in
the daily struggle for existence and
thereby affording opportunity for the
nervous balance to be restored by exer-
else OF the simpler faculties.
That some influence liz necessary to
preserve proper nervous and mental
pOise is evidenced by the example Of
philosophers and scientists who have
become mentally "iopsided." as II were.
by overuse of one portion of the brain
or disuse Of the other portion. Oar
wins loss Of the aesthetic faculties and
the power OF appreciation OF music and
poetry Is familiar Instance. His
weird taste In literature. which enabled
him to enjoy the lightest and trashiest
novels. was merely the call OF his sim.
pier brain elements. neglected and sup
pressed by the constant exercise OF the
higher reasoning powers. But In It nec-
essary to employ a poisonous drug for
such purpose7 1t would appear not.
10 Alcohol . Fsedf
Atwater showed that alcohol In
small quantities was utilized BY the
body as a food. II has long been
known that alcohol In burned I'm the
body With the production of energy.
but poisonous mushrooms also furnish
uOurfshment. Likewise. ~ Atwster
states. human nesh 10 digestibls and
nourishing. but that In no reason for
using il as food.
Experience Of Life Insurance..
Life insurance companies are quite
particular to exclude not only heavy
drinkers. but those whose habits show
a trend In this direction. They are TAX
ing no chances with alcohol. and they
do not want TO insure people who
feed" on It, THIS Is business mat
ter with a life Insurance company. and
the moral phase Is. not considered.
which means that It's action is based
upon the facts developed by expert
ence.
The most comprehensive experience
that has been published is that OF the
United Kingdom Temperance and Gen
eral Provideut institution. In that
company the total abstainers were sep
arated from the temperate drinkers in
the mortality experience, with the re.
suit that a difference Of 80 per cent
was shown in favor OF the abstainers.
Alcohol IL no longer used in medicine
as q direct heart stimuiant 1t Is of
some value as a rapidly available tenn
porary food In the crises Of severe Ill
ness. fever, etc. when It supplies ener.
gy to carry on the body work. but even
here It must be used with caution be-
cause Of its toxic effect on the heart
muscle and the fact that II lowers the
resistance of the body to the potsons Of
disease.
Excluding the moral phase OF this
question. therefore, medical judgment.
considering solely the scientific evi-
dence available. must pronounce
against the daily use OF alcohol.
Whether the occasional use OF alco-
hol as a relaxing beverage or anaes-
thetic for overacuve brain ceuters is
permissible each man must decide for
himself 1t is right. however, that the
grave risks OF even occasional indul-
gence should be known and remem.
bered. Certainly no man Of feeble
Will power or neurotIc family history
can afford to take the chances.
Narcotics.
Opium. cocaine. chloral, bromides,
all are employed either to relieve bod
IlY pain or stIne the overinsistent and