ALCOHOL AND HEALTH

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1928, Page 1

ALCOHOL AND HEALTH

WHY DOCTORS USE IT. (London Daily Mail.) In the first of two articles, Sir W. Abruthnot Lane makes an important contribution to the old, and still undecided, controversy over the health value of alcohol . Citing as evidence the use which doctors themselves make of alcohol, Sir William gives it as his personal opinion that alcohol, used rightly, is one of the most useful foods we possess. IivSIR W. ABRUTHNOT LANE, Bart. While much 'abuse has been heaped upon me by a very small but singularly active section of the community because J have expressed views in favour of alcohol, this lias been much more than compensated by the approval of a vast common-sense majority of the community. Medical men are generally regarded as competent advisers in the question of alcohol. Tt is possible to arrive at their views by observing how they carry their precepts into practice. J dine not infrequently with large bodies of members of my profession, which comprises men of varied intelligence. I also dine with very select groups representing the best brains in medicine and surgery.

SOLACE, REST, AND COMFORT. The number -of those who abstain from alcoholic drinks in the larger gatherings, amounting to several hundreds, is, so 1 am assured by those who are able to form an opinion, exceedingly small. And teetotallers are practically completely absent from among those whose' names' are household words. If alcohol in any quantity is a poison and'.is.of- no use'torus' as a foody it'is a strange thing that those men..upon whom rests the greatest possible responsibility—namely that of life and death—should find considerable solace, rest, and comfort in taking it in moderation.

I may add that, during many years’ experience of such dinners in the company of- members of my profession, 1 cannot recall a single instance in which anyone took alcohol to excess. RESULTS OF EXPERIENCE.

11l spite of this experience, and in spite of the evidence of a long life spent; 1 trust, to the advantage of many of the public, I am assured that the medical profession is opposed to the use of alcohol, and that alcohol is had for our race because a certain number of ill-fed, unhealthy people have recourse to it in excess to meet the misery and ill-health their depreciated vitality entails. -- ■ Notwithstanding any criticism, which lias not produced arguments strong enough to exert any influence whatever on my views, which are the results of many years’ experience, I' still assert that alcohol in one form or another is one of the most useful foods wo possess. ’ In doing so I would state that this opinion is purely personal, and-in no way represents that of the New Health Society, many members of which are staunch teetotallers. [Second article will appear in next • i--;.,: issue.] ' 1