W. B. Richardson of England has pointed out more than fifty
characteristics of the action of a natural drink upon the system. The action
of alcohol is the opposite of these in every particular, and therefore it
is not a real or natural drink. Of course the water which is found in
mixture in all alcoholic liquors serves to quench thirst, even though it
is often foul water.
IS IT A FOOD!
We also found, upon taking up the work imposed upon us, that
alcohol had been demonstrated not to be a food. Many classifications
of foods have been made, but about the best is that which divides them
broadly into two classes: to use homely language, flesh formers and body
warmers; those which build up or repair the bodily waste, and those
which sustain the animal warmth. The slow fire within us being necessary
to life we hunger for that only which will replace the substance
destroyed by the burning. "To the child of nature all hurtful things
are repulsive, all beautiful things attractive," As to flesh formers, it had
been noted that all foods useful in repairing bodily waste contain the
element nitrogen. Alcohol contains no nitrogen, and so could not be
classed among body builders. The chief body warmer is sugar. Alcohol
being a product of sugar, people were all misled for years into thinking
that it does in some kind and degree feed the system. The mistake
was easy, since after taking alcohol there is a temporary increase in
vivacity of mind and manner and in surface temperature, and a lessened
requirement for regular foods.
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