ALCOHOLOGY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 84, 18 July 1910, Page 7

ALCOHOLOGY.

IS IT A'STIMPLAXT? (Published iby Arrangement). It is often pleaded in defence of the liquor and of the habit of using it that it is a stimulant, ar ' though admitted to be injurious in c jss, yet they say it is a stimulant. Ta.Jng the dictionary meaning <;f the word stimulant: "An agent which produces an increase of vital activity in the organism or any of its parts, and then testing the alcohol by that standard it may be clearly seen that it is not a stimulant, for it does not produce "an increase of vital force." When the defenders of alcohol are hard pressed they frankly confess that it is not needed by young persons or any who are in full vigorous health, but still they say it is a stimulant for the weak and the aged. This common idea that alcohol is a benefit in old age is far from the truth. The facts are that the use of alcohol at any age hinders the meta-| holism, the proper chemical processes, l of the body, and in consequence the! waste and worn-out portions of the] body which should be oxidised are retained in the body, to its injury. Then,! again, alcohol does not strengthen, but weakens the circulation of the blood. Dr Munro and Dr. Findlay, of Glasgow Boyal Infirmary, both say that "it has yet to be proved that the heart-muscle can be stimulated by alcohol." It is true there was a popular saying that "wine is the milk of the aged," but it is not even that, and Sir Thomas Barlow, M.D., says "it tends to produce cardiac weakness (in the aged), muscular and rheumatoid pains, and deterioration of the arterioles and blood-vessels." It is not then any stimulant—a force-giver—-to the aged. It may cause people mj middle life, or beyond it to increase in weight by the retention of superfluous tissue which should, and without the hindering effect of alcohol would, be oxidised or burnt away and got rid of; but that is a disadvantage rather than a benefit. It is sometimes said that a glass of spirits to a weary man »s like a whip to a tired horse, and there is some truth in that, because the whip irritates the horse and makes him go for a few minutes but certainly does not truly strengthen him or in any way strengthen him; hence the right word for the glass of .spirits is to say that it is an irritant —not a stimulant. It may here be asked how it comes about that the drinker feels stimulated after the glass of whisky. The fact is his impressions under alcohol are somewhat deadened and the drinker imagines himself to be stimulated, and has regular recourse to the drug when in any difficulty. This is particularly the temptation that comes to women at certain critical periods in life. Here it should be pointed out that there is great danger in giving wine or spirits to persons suddenly taken ill; harm is very likely to be done, though with the very best intentions. The question of stimulant* should not be left by simply saying that alcohol is no 1 true stimulant; it might reasonably be said: What can be safely used as a stimulant? Popularly tea, coffee, beer, wine, spirits, are all spoken of as stimulants. This is only confusion of thought since these things have totally different physiological effects on the'body. Tea, coffee and cocoa have no depressant after-effects. They stimulate without any reaction stage to follow, and they do not cause any degeneration of the tissues of the body, hence they are not stimulants Or. Clouston says: "So far as scientific experiment goes, tea is proved not to weaken but rather to stimulate the mental power of the brain cortex. Its use in moderate quantities is not followed by any injurious reaction, and i 3 not prejudicial to any of the functions of the bodv." pn the other hand, alcohol has a long 1 after-stage of depression, as the drinker invariably finds out co his cost. It is a mis-use of words to call alcohol a stimulant; it is an irritant and a depressant. As a last word: In this land of milk and honey it may be pointed out that the very best stimulant and reviver for the weary is a cup of hot milk and water just sipped, not taken at one big draught. This cheers at the time and leaves behind it a modicum of real strength. The glass of spirits is a mocker and a cheat.