PROFESSOR ATWATER AND ALCOHOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12989, 2 June 1904, Page 14

PROFESSOR ATWATER AND ALCOHOL.

TO Tnp. EDITOR. Srß,—Some months ago a correspondent stated in your columns that "it lias teen recently proven and demonstrated by the highest scientific authorities in America and Franco that alcohol is a food . . . that no other artielo of diet is so generally beneficial in its use." Tho accuracy of this statement was challenged', and your correspondent to say on what authority it was made. In reply, referenco was made, among others—who were shown to givo no warrant to the extraordinary assertion,—to ..Professor Atwater, and to " experiments carried out at the Wesleyan. University of America" by him and others. It was shown then that tho report of Professor Atwater liad been misunderstood, and that it did' not at all support the contention of your correspondent. Sinoo then, Sir, I have seen some further information respecting the results of the important and much-discusrcd researches of Professor Atwater. In a paper recently received from London there is an extract from L'Abstinenoe giving an account of an interview between 11. Atwater and a dozen gentlemen in one of the rooms of the Social Museum in Paris on tho 15th November last, when the professor was invited to "speak on the experiments solidly scientific" to which, he had given himself. Tho professor was reminded of a statement published by Dr Duclaux, of tho Pasteur Institute, of Paris, " that alcohol is am aliment," and for which lie claimed tho authority of M. Atwater. In reply, that gontlemaii said in' a most impressive manner: "Wo affirm thai alcohol )3 an aliment, but M. Duclaux affirms that it is a good aliment, an excellent' aliment, • while I sq.y it is an evil aJimcnt. a detcstnblo aliment." Tlu's interview is referred t j in another journal, La Oiairiere, which summarised the matter, thus: "M. A'twater's teaching was supposed to bo-that, alcohol is an aliment, an excellent aliment,the, beet aliment; but ho himself says it is an aliment, an evil aliment, a most detestable aliment. This is . the true opinion, of. 51. Atwater, and sliould be.circulated far and wide." Will you. Sir, aid in its oircula-, tron.?—l am, cte., • Dunedin, May 30. Igxobaiws.