The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-05-17
ALCOHOL HAS VALUE
IN D|ABE TEs 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 in
medicine that warrants the use Of
alcohol as a prescription it is In the
treatment of severe cases of dia-
betes," was the interesting declara-
tion OF DR.. c. G. Jennings, in clinic
on medicine in Harper hospital, We'd
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 and
the few laymen present, in view of a
widespread belief that alcoholic
stimulants of any kind are deleter
ious to persons suffering from affec-
tions 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-third
ounces of alcohol can be assimilated
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 moderate drink OF
whisky, which contains upwards OF
so per cent of alcohol, or a moderate
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
a liberal representation OF local ply
sicians. TIL principal feature of the
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
is famed all over the world as a
diagnostician and his opinion has
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 of 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
surgical operation, but il 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
ject presented was Capt j. w. West
colt, the wellknown marine reporter,
whose case was a rare type. In this
instance the trouble developed as a
result of Capt Westcott being
struck by a bolt Of lightning while
using a telephone. His case was
classified as traumatio goitre, and
rarely, said DR., Ochsner, has goitre
developed from such a 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 couil-
try where goitre originates, and the
common source is drinking water.
DIR. Ochsner told OF a place in
Switzerland where there are two
boarding schools, not a 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
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 for
mer IL Is never boiled, the doctor ex-
planned
''The result is" he continued, that
one school Is building up a reputa-
ton and the other Is losing pres
tige."
DIR. 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 25
years old. whose symptoms DR.. Ochs-
ner described by saying that she
sits like chicken and breathes like
a rahhit "