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IS ALCOHOL FOOD ?
188 of research proved totally inadequate to their rè. This circumstance has led several practitioners operate wi’:h::i the organism An.l the marvel reaches its to seek for further aids to diagnosis in such cases ; and consetl-"t not the character of the height when we quently, at various times during the last few years, valuable merely, but the individual likeness of the parent--aye, of both suggestions have fallen from different members of our profession parents, displaysitself in ti,,, offspring and not alone in bodily both here and abroad. For example, Dr. Eiselt of Prague has features, but ofi’ea also in intellectual and moral peculiarities. called attention to the fact that in cases of melanotic cancer of Then not alone i:. regulated form andproportion do the parts the liver, the true nature of the affection may be sometimes appear, but all fitting harmoniously, the one to the other, and ’, discovered during life by the presence of melanine in the paeach at its appointed tr:.". The periods of incubation-dif- tient’s urine. (A specimen was shown to the members of the ferent, but determinate. in each species; the regulated time of Association.) Urine containing melanine, the author said, consolidation and completion of the bones of the skeleton ; of although of the normal colour when first passed, gradually the eruption and succession of the teeth ; the periods of ma- becomes of a dark hue, even as dark as porter, when left for turity and decline of the whole body and of the particular some hours exposed to the air. This change appears to be the organs; a::d a host of examples supplied by the history of the result of a slow oxidation of the pigment. In the second’place, lower members of the creation serve to illustrate thit con- Frerichs, in his admirable treatise on Diseases of the Liver, spicuous law of subordination to time in the phenomena of the states that two substances, tyrosine and leucine, which were organic world which Mr. Paget aptly designated as "the chro- formerly only known to the scientific chemist, are invariably to be found in the urine of patients labouring under acute or nometry of life." Xov., although we can in many cases discern the purpose of yellow atrophy of the liver. Dr. Harley said he had been these adaptations of form. proportion, and time, and perceive able to verify this statement in the urine of a young married how they, as it were. fit in with, although not apparently pro- woman who died from this most fatal form of disease. Dr. duced by, the outward circumstances in which the organism is Wilks, he stated, had brought the case under the notice of the Societv, and a report of it would be found in the placed, and while we must revere the illfinite wisdom with Pathological which thev are harmoniously brought about, we are still utterly " Transactions." Dr. Harley mentioned an interesting case of at a, loss to explain them by reference to efficient causes. In chronic atrophy of the liver, the result of obstruction from disease of the pancreas, in the urine of which he found both some of the lowest tribes of animals, it is true, the results are affected more or less by physical influences; but these influences tyrosine and leucine. He had seen the gentleman several operate upon internal conditions existing independently. In times along with Mr. Prance, and they noticed that as the disthe human body even you may cramp the growth of a Chinese ease advanced the quantity of the abnormal ingredients infoot or flatten a Carib’s skull; but this is suppression or distor- creased. After death, crystals of tyrosine were found in the tion, not formation. The growth of a finger or a tooth may be liver. Dr. Harley recommended that in all cases of obscure traced, all various steps in the process explaiul’d; but the hepatic disease these substances should be looked for; and said acquirement by these and other parts, and indeed by the entire that in the majority of cases they were readily detected in the body, of their characteristic form and proportion, is still an in- concentrated urine by means of the microscope. The tyrosine scrutable, at least an unpenetrated mystry-unpenetrated, I appears as needles and little stars; the leucine as round yellow mean, as regards the physical or efficient causes of the pheno- balls, some of which are occasionally spiculated. The author next proceeded to direct attention to the method mena; for the purpose, or the final cause is often patent, and hence we see that teleological explanation holds, and must con- he had recently laid before the profession of distinguishing betinue to hold, a large place in physiology. tween jaundice arisini5 from suppression and jaundice the result But, finally, shall we on that account censure as rash, or of obstruction-two forms of disease so ably described by Dr. stigmatize as impious, all attempts to go further ? Shall we Budd. As the treatment of jaundice from suppression ought presumptuously set limits to the scope of those inquiring facul- to be very different from that adopted in jaundice from obstructies which God has conferred upon man, or prejudge and reject, tion, it is of essential importance to be able to distinguish the by anticipation conclusions to which their rational and reve- one from the other. After alluding to the great differences of rential exercise may lead? Assuredly not. Let us not, there- opinion that have hitherto existed regardingthe presence of fore, with narrow views of the scheme of Providence, worthy the biliary acids in the renal secretion in cases of hepatic disof a darker age, join in blindly denouncing the genial effort of ease, the author pointed out how the discrepancies arose from one of the foremost men of science in our time to refer muthe fact that sufficient attention had not been paid to the kind tations of organic forms, and the origin of species to natural of jaundice under which the patient laboured. He said he becauses of known operation. Faint as some may deem the proslieved that where bile acids occurred in the urine in any quanpect of success of Mr. Darwin’s great attempt, let none con- tity, their presence might be regarded as a certain sign of the demn its tendency. Should it ever be shown that the wonder- existence of some obstruction in the course or at the terminaful adaptation and harmonious working, so conspicuous in the tion of the common bile duct. Dr. Harley then proceeded to living creation, have been brought about by the operation of. demonstrate, by experiment, how easy it is to detect the bile gr-at natural causes, originally ordained by the Author of the acids in the nrine by means of strong sulphuric acid and a Universe, and acting through couutless ages of time, surely small piece of white sugar. The sulphuric acid was so added such an issue could but tend to enlighten and exalt our con- as not to mix with the urine; the sugar floated at their line of contact, and after some minutes assumed a purple hue. In the ceptions of creative wisdom. On the motion of Mr. PAGET, seconded by Mr. TURNER, a urine containing no bile acids the sugar was simply browned. vote of thanks was unanimously presented to Dr. Sharpey fct Dr. THUDICH um said, the author had ascribed the doctrine he had propounded to Prof.Frerichs. He, however, only watched his address. the patients clinically ; it was another physiologist who made the examinations, and discovered tyrosine and leucine. The ON THE VALUE OF URINARY ANALYSIS IN THE disease in question was dogmatically termed atrophy, but he DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF (Dr. Thudichum) as dogmatically objected to that term, for he had seen cases where the liver was certainly enlarged about oneHEPATIC DISEASE. third its ordinary size ; and in one case, brought under his BY GEORGE HARLEY, M.D., notice by Dr. Richardson, it was doubled in s’ze. In some PROFESSOR IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON. cases, so far from the liver being atrophied, it was hyperThe author began by saying that, as the practice of medicine trophied. An excellent test was to put a drachm of the soluis simplified in direct proportion as our means of " physicaltion of the nitrate of mercury to the urine; the urine being then the white precipitate produced would be transformed diagnosis"increase, he was glad to have the opportunity off boiled, into a dark purple colour, and the solution itself would assume fact that a to the of the condition attention knowledge calling a partly purple colour. of the urine is of as great assistance in the diagnosis of affections. of the liver as of those of the kidney. Hitherto, the only phyIS ALCOHOL FOOD ? sical means we possessed of detecting and distinguishing the BY THOMAS INMAN, M.D. (LOND.), various forms of hepatic disease did not extencl beyond the PHYSICIAN TO THE LIVERPOOL ROYAL INFIRMARY. acquiring a knowledge of the petition and size of the liver by first devoted a few words to definition, stating the from the The author absence bile stoois of by inspection, percussion, and the presence of biliary pigment in the urine by the appli- that by "alcohol" he intended to comprise those liquors in cation of nitric acid to that secretion, Everyone, however, common use which owed their effects to alcohol; and by must have met with cases of obscure hepatic disease where ’food," anything which supplied material by which the body
determines the spec’dc direction. in T.’hich the forces acting in from without,, development. although probably supplied
reflect
these
means
quirements.
must
species
,
____
189 were not wholly retained as oatmeal, bran. potatoes, oats, &c., was nourished. He then adverted to the fact that a saccharine material was found in the blood of all mammals when it entered in the system, yet they were alimentary. Dr. Inman then combated the idea. ihat alcohol was a mere the lungs, and to the strong probabiiity that a fermentativ{ by contrasting it with turpentine, cantharides, process took place in those organs, with the extrication of car bonic acid, the actual source of which in the blooi had not ye. cayenne, iodide of potassium, and other drugs, which were stimulan.s to every part of the body to which they were been absolutely ascertained. The close atomic composition o starch and sugar and alcohol plus carbonic acid was pointec applied. He argued that alcohol could not simply be a conout; also the fact that the starches &o. and alcohol were ofter servator of tissue ;for a glass of ale after a long walk would tolerated by delicate stomachs v hen other ingredients were not induce plentiful perspiration, and c. glass of whisky or gin-andwater acted with most people as a powerful diuretic. Nor tolerated. The author then shortly summarized the effects of ordinary could we conclude that it assisted in disintegrating the tissues; food, whether animal or vegetable, when taken with water fo] for if it did, the use of ale, wine, or spirit must then be antaa beverage and in proper quantity, and compared these wit! gonistic o;’ antidotal to food, and the winebibber must necesthe results following a temperate draught of ale or porter sarily require more food than the teetotaller, whose tissues showing that there was no real distinction between the one anc were not disintegrated by artificial means. lie then summed up his conclusions thus :the other, except that the liquid sooner entered the circulatior 1. N;tture has provided in the salivary glands, the liver, and sooner ief:; it. It was no argument against the use of bee i that a man who had dined on it one day wanted a dinner th! and the lungs of every mammal an apparatus for converting all who had taken ont food, especially farinaceous, into alcohol; and we have no eviday after ; nor againsc beer, that a glass was ready for another in a few hours. The prejudicial dence that such conversion does not take place. 2. One form of alcohol oranother is available for the support effects of excessive eating were adverted to, and after mention of a few where instances had other, life, and for restoration to health when no ordinary food can fatal, ing guzzling proved be or is digested. were alluded to 111 which a prolonged lethargy or an apoplectif 3. Alcohol, after being taken, is incorporated with the blood, condition had been induced. The use of beef tea sometimes into the various tissues, and ultimately disappears, a convulsions in but this result did not vitiate passes infants, produced the dietetic value of meat. The physical condition of excessive small portion only passing :1. way in the breath. We can say no eaters was then spoken of, and it was shown that some werf more of bread,potatoes, or oat..-ieal porridge, a small portion of thin, others stout; and that as regarded the moral condition o: each of which passes out of the body with the fwees. 4. Alcohol, in the form of ale, porter, wine, &c., relieves those who, from choice, religious belief, or necessity, abstained from the use of alcoholic beverages, they were to the full as bse hunger and quenches thirst simultaneously, and with a comas those who indulged in drink. Cannibals were teetotallers. pleteness that is not equalled by water, infusion of gentian, not act as and neither Nana nor Tippoo was a drunkard. On inquiring cayenne pepper, or by turpentine-i. e., it into the of total abstainers and those aho drank ale, water simply, or as a stimulant alone. 5. Wine, beer, &c., satisfy the appetite when taken alone, wine, &c., the author had ascertained that the former habi tually ate mnch more than the latter; and one of three deduc- and act tor the time like any solid food would do. 6.When alcohol is mingled with other food, it less amount tions was necessary : either the former ate too much, the lattet too little, or the drink of the one was equivalent to a portion of the latter suflices for the wants of the system than if water of the food of the other. To ascertain which of these alter. had been used as the drink. 7. The various forms in which alcohol is taken have as natives was nearest the truth Dr. Inman had experimented in his ownperson, and had made numerons observatiom marked and speciric effects as have animal and vegetable through the assistance of friends. The conclusion he came articles of diet. 8. Individuals have subsisted wholly upon one or other of to was that which had been previously insisted on by Mr. Lewes and others,-namely, that alcohol replaced a certain the various forms of alcohol in common use for periods of great amount of food ; and " as things which are equal to the length; and as it is illogical to conclude that they must have lived on air, without food, or on flies like chameleons, the consame are equal to one another," he inferred that if a glass of ale was equal to a slice of mutton in its satisfying clusion is irresistible. What that conclusion is, it might be left for every thinking effect, and that mutton was food, it must follow that ale is food. To say that persons could not live on ale, was of nc man to decide. value as an argument; for no one could live on biscuit alone, THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE VERATRUM VIRIDE though bread was called the staff of life. To ascertain how far it was possible for any one to live on alcohol alone, he had for IN THE TREATMENT OF DISEASE. many years been seeking information respecting drunkards, and BY EPHRAIM CUTTER, M.D., OF WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS, N.A. he mentioned two-one on the authority of the individual herself (a surgeon’s widow), and the other on the authority of the The author alluded to the fact that veratrum viride is indi. medical attendant, where patients had subsisted for a prolonged The best preparation is that of the to North America. genous period on brandy-and-water alone. He mentioned others on tincture of the root-four ounces to the pint of alcohol, specific the authority of other medical friends, and two which he had the doses of which are as follows :himself been conversant with. He combated the idea of gravicy 0-917; two hours, Adults, 7 to 10 minims, the probability of imposture, inasmuch as in all these cases or 3 to 5 minims, Children, solid food was loathed excessively, and was generally rejected ’’ 1 Infants, 2 I to pro 2-e nata. then some of children the stomach. He mentioned cases by that he had attended, in whom the appetite had failed entirely, Sometimes, from idiosyncrasy or other cause, the above doses where food which was administered by force had been vomited, are insufficient; it is then necessary to increase them in quanfrequency until nausea or vomiting supervenes. The yet in these alcohol in one form or other gave the support tity or divided his subject in the following manner :which other food did not, and gradually restored the appetite author 1. As a local remedy. to its normal state. He noticed, too, that infants at the breast, 2. As a cardiac sedative. When ill. would digest brandy-and-water when they would 3. As an arterial sedative. reject all else. The advantageous influence of this fluid was 4. As a nervous sedative. apparent even if it were administered in enemata. 5. As an emetic, diaphoretic, and diuretic. A definite course of induction, irrespective of chemical theory, 6. As a toxicological agent. having ended in the conclusion that alcoholic drinks were 7. Its comparative value with agents of the same class. strictly alimentary, he shortly referred to the statements which were relied upon to demonstrate the contrary. lst. As a local agent, the veratrum viride root (which only If alcohol, he said, passed out of the system unchanged, so did water; yet is officinal) is a powerful sternutatory and errhine. The author water was absolutely necessary to life. But there was no proof has employed it thus where there was dryness and swelling that all the alcohol imbibed in a long symposium ever left the of the Schneiderian membrane, with the effect of establishing body. He inferred that if it did pass out of the lungs in the secretion and clearing the passages. In the form of ointvapour as largely as was assumed, a party of spirit drinkers ment, combined with sulphur anrllard, Dr. Workman, of Worwould make the atmosphere of a closed room explosive ; and he cester, (Mass..,) stated that he succeeded in completely removing recalled the statement of Pereira, that some northern race had chronic prurigo, which had resisted various other remedies. found that two or three people in succession might keep up in- In the form of cataplasm the root has been prescribed for ulcers toxication with "lolium temulentem" by drinking the urine of of the leg, mastitis in puerperal women,and rheumatic the first eater; yet none had discovered that the urinal of a joints. It more accords with the times to use lotions of the drunkard contained anything equal to gin. But certain foods, diluted tincture or of the decoction. Besides, in the cases men.
stimulant,
ginger,
,
person
does
ON
Every
minim, )
,
swollen
determines the spec’dc direction. in T.’hich the forces acting in from without,, development. although probably supplied
reflect
these
means
quirements.
must
species
,
____
189 were not wholly retained as oatmeal, bran. potatoes, oats, &c., was nourished. He then adverted to the fact that a saccharine material was found in the blood of all mammals when it entered in the system, yet they were alimentary. Dr. Inman then combated the idea. ihat alcohol was a mere the lungs, and to the strong probabiiity that a fermentativ{ by contrasting it with turpentine, cantharides, process took place in those organs, with the extrication of car bonic acid, the actual source of which in the blooi had not ye. cayenne, iodide of potassium, and other drugs, which were stimulan.s to every part of the body to which they were been absolutely ascertained. The close atomic composition o starch and sugar and alcohol plus carbonic acid was pointec applied. He argued that alcohol could not simply be a conout; also the fact that the starches &o. and alcohol were ofter servator of tissue ;for a glass of ale after a long walk would tolerated by delicate stomachs v hen other ingredients were not induce plentiful perspiration, and c. glass of whisky or gin-andwater acted with most people as a powerful diuretic. Nor tolerated. The author then shortly summarized the effects of ordinary could we conclude that it assisted in disintegrating the tissues; food, whether animal or vegetable, when taken with water fo] for if it did, the use of ale, wine, or spirit must then be antaa beverage and in proper quantity, and compared these wit! gonistic o;’ antidotal to food, and the winebibber must necesthe results following a temperate draught of ale or porter sarily require more food than the teetotaller, whose tissues showing that there was no real distinction between the one anc were not disintegrated by artificial means. lie then summed up his conclusions thus :the other, except that the liquid sooner entered the circulatior 1. N;tture has provided in the salivary glands, the liver, and sooner ief:; it. It was no argument against the use of bee i that a man who had dined on it one day wanted a dinner th! and the lungs of every mammal an apparatus for converting all who had taken ont food, especially farinaceous, into alcohol; and we have no eviday after ; nor againsc beer, that a glass was ready for another in a few hours. The prejudicial dence that such conversion does not take place. 2. One form of alcohol oranother is available for the support effects of excessive eating were adverted to, and after mention of a few where instances had other, life, and for restoration to health when no ordinary food can fatal, ing guzzling proved be or is digested. were alluded to 111 which a prolonged lethargy or an apoplectif 3. Alcohol, after being taken, is incorporated with the blood, condition had been induced. The use of beef tea sometimes into the various tissues, and ultimately disappears, a convulsions in but this result did not vitiate passes infants, produced the dietetic value of meat. The physical condition of excessive small portion only passing :1. way in the breath. We can say no eaters was then spoken of, and it was shown that some werf more of bread,potatoes, or oat..-ieal porridge, a small portion of thin, others stout; and that as regarded the moral condition o: each of which passes out of the body with the fwees. 4. Alcohol, in the form of ale, porter, wine, &c., relieves those who, from choice, religious belief, or necessity, abstained from the use of alcoholic beverages, they were to the full as bse hunger and quenches thirst simultaneously, and with a comas those who indulged in drink. Cannibals were teetotallers. pleteness that is not equalled by water, infusion of gentian, not act as and neither Nana nor Tippoo was a drunkard. On inquiring cayenne pepper, or by turpentine-i. e., it into the of total abstainers and those aho drank ale, water simply, or as a stimulant alone. 5. Wine, beer, &c., satisfy the appetite when taken alone, wine, &c., the author had ascertained that the former habi tually ate mnch more than the latter; and one of three deduc- and act tor the time like any solid food would do. 6.When alcohol is mingled with other food, it less amount tions was necessary : either the former ate too much, the lattet too little, or the drink of the one was equivalent to a portion of the latter suflices for the wants of the system than if water of the food of the other. To ascertain which of these alter. had been used as the drink. 7. The various forms in which alcohol is taken have as natives was nearest the truth Dr. Inman had experimented in his ownperson, and had made numerons observatiom marked and speciric effects as have animal and vegetable through the assistance of friends. The conclusion he came articles of diet. 8. Individuals have subsisted wholly upon one or other of to was that which had been previously insisted on by Mr. Lewes and others,-namely, that alcohol replaced a certain the various forms of alcohol in common use for periods of great amount of food ; and " as things which are equal to the length; and as it is illogical to conclude that they must have lived on air, without food, or on flies like chameleons, the consame are equal to one another," he inferred that if a glass of ale was equal to a slice of mutton in its satisfying clusion is irresistible. What that conclusion is, it might be left for every thinking effect, and that mutton was food, it must follow that ale is food. To say that persons could not live on ale, was of nc man to decide. value as an argument; for no one could live on biscuit alone, THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE VERATRUM VIRIDE though bread was called the staff of life. To ascertain how far it was possible for any one to live on alcohol alone, he had for IN THE TREATMENT OF DISEASE. many years been seeking information respecting drunkards, and BY EPHRAIM CUTTER, M.D., OF WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS, N.A. he mentioned two-one on the authority of the individual herself (a surgeon’s widow), and the other on the authority of the The author alluded to the fact that veratrum viride is indi. medical attendant, where patients had subsisted for a prolonged The best preparation is that of the to North America. genous period on brandy-and-water alone. He mentioned others on tincture of the root-four ounces to the pint of alcohol, specific the authority of other medical friends, and two which he had the doses of which are as follows :himself been conversant with. He combated the idea of gravicy 0-917; two hours, Adults, 7 to 10 minims, the probability of imposture, inasmuch as in all these cases or 3 to 5 minims, Children, solid food was loathed excessively, and was generally rejected ’’ 1 Infants, 2 I to pro 2-e nata. then some of children the stomach. He mentioned cases by that he had attended, in whom the appetite had failed entirely, Sometimes, from idiosyncrasy or other cause, the above doses where food which was administered by force had been vomited, are insufficient; it is then necessary to increase them in quanfrequency until nausea or vomiting supervenes. The yet in these alcohol in one form or other gave the support tity or divided his subject in the following manner :which other food did not, and gradually restored the appetite author 1. As a local remedy. to its normal state. He noticed, too, that infants at the breast, 2. As a cardiac sedative. When ill. would digest brandy-and-water when they would 3. As an arterial sedative. reject all else. The advantageous influence of this fluid was 4. As a nervous sedative. apparent even if it were administered in enemata. 5. As an emetic, diaphoretic, and diuretic. A definite course of induction, irrespective of chemical theory, 6. As a toxicological agent. having ended in the conclusion that alcoholic drinks were 7. Its comparative value with agents of the same class. strictly alimentary, he shortly referred to the statements which were relied upon to demonstrate the contrary. lst. As a local agent, the veratrum viride root (which only If alcohol, he said, passed out of the system unchanged, so did water; yet is officinal) is a powerful sternutatory and errhine. The author water was absolutely necessary to life. But there was no proof has employed it thus where there was dryness and swelling that all the alcohol imbibed in a long symposium ever left the of the Schneiderian membrane, with the effect of establishing body. He inferred that if it did pass out of the lungs in the secretion and clearing the passages. In the form of ointvapour as largely as was assumed, a party of spirit drinkers ment, combined with sulphur anrllard, Dr. Workman, of Worwould make the atmosphere of a closed room explosive ; and he cester, (Mass..,) stated that he succeeded in completely removing recalled the statement of Pereira, that some northern race had chronic prurigo, which had resisted various other remedies. found that two or three people in succession might keep up in- In the form of cataplasm the root has been prescribed for ulcers toxication with "lolium temulentem" by drinking the urine of of the leg, mastitis in puerperal women,and rheumatic the first eater; yet none had discovered that the urinal of a joints. It more accords with the times to use lotions of the drunkard contained anything equal to gin. But certain foods, diluted tincture or of the decoction. Besides, in the cases men.
stimulant,
ginger,
,
person
does
ON
Every
minim, )
,
swollen