ALCOHOL AND INFLUENZA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 62, 7 December 1918, Page 7

ALCOHOL AND INFLUENZA

Sir, —Can alcohol bo used as t\ 6afe prevent! re of SpiuyslP influenza? When alcohol is taken it numbs ami kills ninny of the delicate cells that form the lining of the alimentary canal. It is quickly absorbed into the blood, whero it reduces (he efliciency of the white corpuscles by i injuring and destroying Iho delicate ' roll-substance. It is carvied 'in the blood to oil parts of tho body. It has a very harmful effect upon the liver colls,'and a still more harmful effect upon the brain,and norvo cells. Tho more highly specialised a cell is, the more delicate it is, and therefore tho more easily destroyed. Tho individual cells cannot do their work properly if the controlling factor, tho nerve ceils, is impaired. Microbes, on gaining access to tho. body, arc attacked by tho white corpuscles. If tho latter are strong onough to gain the ascendancy quickly, the fever or influenza is warded iiff.'if not, tho microbes multiply, and the victim suffers an attack. If Iho system is already partially impregnated with poisons, tho germs 'can multiply very quickly, and the new poisons generated arc less easily got rid of. Tho bust ivay fo pre veil I: disease is to so feed and treat the cells that they may work with the greatest etliciency. Does alcohol affect any useful purpose, in combating the disease? To effect a cure wo must assist the while corpuscles to do their work, and -must keep active those oells whoso work it is to eliminate waste products. "Alcohol does not holy, but retards both these processes. Besides the food value, barley contains very valuable mineral matter, which assists tho kidneys in tho ' elimination of waste. .Barley gniel■ ami •barley water 6hould bo