WHISKY AS MEDICINE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 102, 1 May 1908, Page 3

WHISKY AS MEDICINE.

BRANDY LESS POPULAR

Of striking interest were the proceedings of the Whisky Commission. Dr William Murrell, of Westminster Hospital, who spoke strongly in favour of pot-still whisky and its value, and Mr Arthur J. Walters, X.C, who acted, as leading counsel for the defendants itf the "What is Whisky" prosecution by the Islington Borough Council, were examined. . , Dr Murrell said that from his experience as a* physician it was most desirable to use, whisky as a f£ m"lanJ in cases such as influenza, typhoid and pneumonia. In certain specific diseases the by-products of pot-still whisky were of great value, alcohol or little or ho value. Rectified spirit, according to his observations, was equally useless. In cases of insomnia whisky was good, pot-still better than -patent-still.' For dietetic and specific use pot-stiE whisky was most valuable. -The mixing of pot-still and patentstill whisky, in His opinion, makes it less efficacious. In many cases in His knowledge whisky, when recommended and taken by patients, had not had the expected effect. It had been discovered that it was patent-still whirky and not pot-still which, when substituted, brought about the desired -effect. SPIRITS IN HOSPITALS. He placed high value on the by-pro--ducts of pot-still whisky, and these were absent in- the patent-stUl whisky. A man who got a glass of pot-still whisky would be satisfied, whereas a .glass of patent-still whisky would create ijhe desire for another and another.! Whisky had almost replaced brandy, both in hospitals and in private practice. During the past eighteen months, however, brandy has been more recommended than of late years, owing probably to the fact that ■doctors-have been able to get better qualities at a reasonable price. Doctors now.are keenly alive to the value of pot-still whisky. ■ Dr Murrell's definite evidence encited a number of interesting questions from the Commissioners. "Jf," said Mr Buchanan, "you attribute the alleged valuable medical properties of pot-still whisky to its byproducts, which amount to one grain in an ounce of whisky, is it not remarkable that scientists have made no effort to isolate this grain and use it without the accompanying 'alcohol, on which you set litleor no value?" Mr Walter said it has been shown that the patent-still was the more perfect, the spirit drawn off containing every body present in pot-still. Patentstill spirit was whisky possessing all the characteristics of whisky, but it. was a milder whisky. "I- drink nothing but patent-still whisky since I first drank it at Sir James Dewar's "houses,-added Mr Walter. DEMAND FOR PURER &LCOH6L. "It was denied,'.' . proceeded Mr Walter, "that the of the -patent-still was; a silent spirit. The publiri taste was undoubtedly tending ,more to a purer alcohol." He was not prepared to .give evidence on the •effect on health. A Home Office expert, remarked Mr Walter, said he preferred the patent-stilled. One doctor took three gallons of patent and three of pot, and extracted the whole of the by-productsi .. On alternate weeks he dosed himself with, the neat by-products, and in neither case did he suffer any ill-effects: > His investigation led him to believe that the ills attributed to patent-stills depended not on quality but quantity, the gentlemen who complained having imbibed too freely. Sir James Dewar, concluded Mr Walter, said for thirty years he and his friends had used it, and had.never suffered the slightest ill-effects. " - ,- , .