The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-09-19
QUERY FROM A soURPUss

QUERY FROM A SOURPUss
Recently the old crouch who con-
ducts this coulnn mentioned hay
ing received O number Of sourpuss
reproaches for saying In an article
here that many elderly folk should
have q daily ration Of wine or other
mild alcoholic beverage. Not that
resent such reproaches. ! can take
it-reproach, not alcohol. I'm moi
old enough yet to need O narcotic
Just between you and me @ gentle
rebuke skilfully administered does
me good. This one, for instance:
Dear Doc Brady:
Being one Of those "sourpuss'
to whom you refer In your answer
TO the question concerning the use
Of alcohol, I am interested In the
answer.
Your daily ration Of wine for
elderly people would naturally raise
the questions:
!. At what age Is one elderly
enough to begin to imbibe? This
age limit Is rather dreaded by most
Of us.
2. Just how much should one
take, ct what time or times, and
what kind Of wine or other alco-
holic beverage would be best?
.. II there are members Of the
younger generation In the home,
what would prevent them from con-
sidering themselves old enough to
begin, seeing such good example?
You, as doctor, must know that
this question Is only considered an
emotional one when II affects the
lives Of people. Otherwise, even we
sourpusses realize that II Is O
scientific question.
Yours truly,
The age at which an aged vaietu-
dinarian may advantageously take
an alcohol ration is whenever he or
she begins 10 be cantankerous,
peevish, difficult to live within
short q sourpuss.
It would be remarkable now II
many critics In the ardor OF their
depreciation do not distort my
teaching into an endorsement OF
liquor for general use. have
weighed that carefully before com.
hitting myself and I desire only 10
emphasize that I said many elderly
folk, not oil, should have O daily
ration OF wine or other mild alco-
holic beverage.
A dry sherry or claret In pref
eralbe for most OF these enfeebled
old folk. Beer, however, Is well
borne by the elderly individual who
does not drink II but takes o glass
leisureiy, slipping II little OF 0
time.
Wine contains from 0 10 20 per
cent Of alcohol, most American
wines about 10 per cent. Beer or
ole contains perhaps 4 per cent Of
alcohol. A large glass Of beer may
be reckoned the equivalent OF O
small glass Of wine In alcoholic con.
tent. WhiSkey or brandy contains
10 10 30 per cent OF alcohol. 50 q
tablespoonful OF whiskey or brandy
(one.half ounce ID nearly equiva-
lent 10 q winegiassful Of wine or q
half pint (eight.ounce) glass OF
beer In alcoholic content. Dilute
the tablespoonful OF brandy or
with water enough 10 I'll
the wineglass, or enough 10 I'LL tho
beer glass, and II makes no DIFF
ference which form OF alcohol you
take, 80 far as effects 70.
QUESTIONS q ANSWERS
When you told about potassium
chloride for hay fever, sinus trouble
and alergic sensitivity, ! tried 10 buy
some, but at two large drug stores
they insisted u must DO potassium
chlorate and tried 10 sell me that? |
70. IT,
Answer-Five grains OF potassium |
chloride taken dissolved In nearly q |
ylasful OF water, from four 10 six
times O day for several days, Ia
nearly tasteless and has brought |
marked relief In many cases OF hay
fever, sinus trouble, and other al
|ergio conditions. including aliergic
kin reactions such o. hives and
lcute eczematous outbreaks, Potas.
yium chloride Ia recognized In the
National Formulary; the chemical
% included In the standard trade