ALCOHOL AND THE HUMAN BODY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2128, 29 February 1908, Page 3

ALCOHOL AND THE HUMAN BODY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I -suppose that there is no point- in the science of physiology upon which so much difference of opinion exists as upon that- of the use of alcohol, nor is there any matter upon which there is greater ignorance prevailing than that of the action of alcohol in the human body. This is unfortunate, because, allowing that the reallv moderate or abstemious use of alcoholic beverages may be a punishable indulgence, it- is nevertheless important that even the most tcmjielrate man should understand what alcohol does in the body. No man would rest content with ignorance as to the action of any other artificially prepared article of diet or medicine; and, as alcoholic drinks arc so frequently used, it would surely be well that some general information concerning them should be available. I have, therefore, thought well to give a few notes drawn from the most recent investigations in England upon this subject for the information of the general nublic. At the outset I may say that T deplore very greatly the fact that whilst every honorable and sensible man or woman denounces drunkenness and intemperance, yet it is difficult, to find temperate advocacy of temperance, and the subject is clouded by the extreme, uud

often exaggerated, utterances of some of the advocates of temperance and total abstinence. I should wish to -speak of the matter as I would if discussing the action of any other commonly used medicine or article of consumption. As 1 happen to be (fortunately or unfortunately) n medical mini, I nnLurally think of the use of alcohol as a drug or medicine first. Now, 'alcohol, used as a medicine, lias most marked effects, and considerable skill is required in its use, J'or it is quite possible to do a great; deal of harm is easily as good with (Ids medicine. Only those who have studied the action of drugs have any conception of the great complexity of the subject of drug action. People ask Hie doctor: “AA’lial is Hie action of such and such a drug!-’” as if-the answer could be given in a few minutes; but the answer to such a question is almost invariably difficult and intricate, because only the anatomist and physiologist understands the structure and mechanism of the human body.

In recent years, the evidence regarding the action of alcohol as a medicine bas been carefully studied by tin: profession, and as a result on all sides may be seen indications that scientific evidence has caused very considerable changes in medical treatment in this respect, and tlie uso of alcohol has become more and more restricted in medicine. Tlie best indication regarding this m.itter which I can give is that of tip.) result of medical experience in tlie great hospitals of London. Fortunately, 1 am able to refer to tho records of the following groat London hospitals, St. Bartholomew’s, Guy’s, University College, Aliddlesex, St. George’s, ißt. Alary’s, and AVestminster, tho returns of expenditure on various articles, drugs, and food materials, of these old-established hospitals, which aro complete for many years, and I think that, as an indication of the experience of tho medical profession in the use of alcohol, a comparison bctwcecn tho expenditure upon alcohol and milk respectively for 40 years will he useful and instructive. I, therefore, give a table showing the number of bods in the hospitals mentioned (not the number of patients in the beds), together with the expenditure on alcohol and milk. I take the year periods so far as I can obtain them: Expen- Expenditure on dituroon Year. Beds. Alcoholic Alilk. J liquors. £ £ 1862 .... 2254 ... 7712 ... 3026 1872 .... 2361 ... 7971 ... 1237 1882 .... 2354 ... 5090 ... 7795 1892 .... 2275 ... 3740 ... 7362 1902 .... 2309 ... 2925 ... 9035 These figures show that alcohol and milk have almost changed places in forty years, the experience of tlie profession hiving led medical men to greatly reduce tlie expenditure on alcohol.' In the great fever hospitals in 1896 there were 25,773 patients treated, with an expenditure on alcoholic stimulants of £1653; in 1905, with 27,162 patients, £515 was spent on stimulants. I think that these, figures will prove that the experience of the medical profession has led to a very marked change in the prevailing practice as regards the. use of alcohol in disease, especially in that department- in which the greatest difference of opinion has existed —that of fevers. One more fact is instructive: In tho treatment of the insane, the London County Asylum Board figures show that during the l ist 10 years the number of patients lias more than doubled, and in the same period the quantity of wine anil spirits used has dropped from .15,000 to 2000 pints per annum, and of beer from 255,000 to 1000 gallons per annum. Should it prove useful, 1 propose to contribute some further notes on this subject.—l am, etc., “AIO DERATION.”