New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-06-16
Your Health
How to Keep It,
Causes of Illness
BY DIR. MORRIS FIsHBEIN
Editor journal of the Amerhau
Medical Association and of HI.

Editor journal of the American
Medical Association and Of HI.
geia, the Health Magazine
The British Psychologist, Ernest
II. Startling. In a thorough consider.
alton OF the effects of alcohol on
the human body made in 1928. sum.
married all OF the evidence thus
far available as to what occurs
when this substance Ia taken into
the system.
He agrees with most other in.
vestigators that alcohol is with.
out doubt food especially val.
liable IN cases when ordinary
FOODS cannot be taken. On the
other hand. he says that the con.
centration Of alcohol in the blood
and tissues can be controlled only
by regulation of the amount which
Is drunk and that If this is not
exercised. any beneficial effect Of
alcohol as food Is more than
compensated for by Its deleterious
effects as a drug.
Has Depressing Effect
Tho idea that a plentiful use
Of alcoholic drinks is beneficial
for heavy workers." said Professor
Startling. rs misleading and mis-
chievous." He considers its chief
value as a food in certain cases
OF diabetes during the early
stages, although Joslin. who has
had one OF the greatest exper.
fences with diabetes in this coun.
try, Is inclined to consider the use
Of alcohol as food in diabetes in
general as not helpful. Mr.. Star
ling considered it also as a food
In the weakness Of old age, but
said that for the normal individ-
ual the food value Of alcoho, j,
not Of Importance.
DR.. Startling says that the &C.
ton Of alcohol from beginning to
end Is essentially depressant. Its
chief effect Is to dull the percep-
tion Of unpleasant feelings. of
surroundings, to diminish self
criticism and the fear Of UNDER
taking any action which may ex-
cite remarks or be regarded by
other people as not appropriate to
the situation. Thus. under the in
fluence Of alcohol, an individual
becomes more communicative, los
ing his suspicion. He Is more re-
ceptive and interested in the con-
versation and affairs Of his fellows
and his emotions are more easily
aroused.
Effect Varies
Under the Influence Of alcohol
the shy and diffident person be-
comes less fearful Of revealing
what Is pressing on his mind and
may even seem temporarily to be
brilliant conversationalist or a
witty speaker. 1t Is not surprising
therefore that alcohol should COM
monty be regarded as a stimulant.
However. the same action contin-
ued further effects the next lower
levels Of the nervous system. caus-
ing interference with the process
Of coordination and deteriorates
the intelligence so that II the dose
OF alcohol Is increased the witty
conversation will degenerate into
tiresome loquaciousness and the
blurred speech Of intoxication.
Alcohol is therefore unsuitable
for the highest mental efforts or
during the performance Of pro-
longed muscular feats. In some
people the control Of the body by
the highest nerve oentcrs is de-
veloped to an excessive degree. so
that their constitution may actu-
ally interfere with the carrying
out Of complicated acts acquired
by constant practice. To such In
dividuals alcohol acts as a relaxa-
ton, diminishing the nerve ten
sion. A man Of this type who
plays golf sometimes improves his
technic by a small dose Of alcohol