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ALCOHOL as a FOOD, ETC.
[Welland Tribune, 8 December 1910]
Editor Tribune:-
Dear Sir- a complete review of the letter on the above subject by Dr. Felch, published in recent issue of the Tribune, would not be of sufficient interest to your readers to justify the space required; but a few extracts will show how much he is worth as an authority on the question:
1st. As a Food- “A substance to be a food in a technical sense, must be capable of being split up into the different parts and combining with the tissues of the body. In other words, it must be a tissue builder. But, says the Dr., “It has been determined that it (alcohol) is not a tissue builder.” In short, a food must be a tissue builder. Alcohol is NOT a tissue builder, therefore alcohol is a food.
“A food must not only fulfil the above conditions, but neither it nor its products of transformation should be injurious to the structures, nor to the activity of any organ, and it must not leave substances which will act as irritants.” How does alcohol fit the bill? Still “From the standpoint of technical dietics alcohol is a food.”
What do you readers think of classifying alcohol as a food with onion, cabbages, radishes?
2nd. “It is a generator of energy.” “As an energizer it acts only as a whip to the flagging organs. We have no more right to use it than we have to lash a willing horse. In pneumonia it simply whips the heart &c., &c., &c.” This appears correct to the unscientific mind; but, as explained in a previous letter, it generates no energy, but simply liberates latent energy, and a display of nervous forces by breaking down the barriers which our creator placed to protect and prolong life. “It acts only as a whip.” A whip generates no energy, therefore “alcohol is a generator of energy.” “Close investigation and extensive experience have demonstrated that constantly used for its stimulating effects it is positively injurious.” Local Optionists in Welland county should be thankful for that bit of information. It will help you in your campaign.
I hope that any words of ours did not imply, and certainly were not so intended, that Mr. Misener had no authority for his statements. Authority, however, is cheap and plenty of it. A writer in the Tribune stated a few months ago that according to authority, the earth passed through the comet’s tail, and according to authority, it didn’t.
We have often heard of a man being straddly of the fence, but Mr. F.’s position is unique in standing on both sides at the same time.
C.S.
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