The explanation of this probably lies, at least in part, in the fact that the majority of drunkards only take alcohol at greater or less intervals, and as a consequence the system has time to recuperate between sprees. The typical dipsomaniac goes weeks, months, and even years without drinking at all, but when he is seized by the desire for drink he throws everything else aside and spends days and weeks in a prolonged debauch; during this period he eats very little, and as a consequence largely avoids the grave dyspeptic disturbances that would otherwise inevitably result. Alcoholics of this class acquire catarrhal conditions of their stomachs, and if seized with some acute disease, like pneumonia, during or just after a spree, quickly die in a large proportion of cases, but they do not develop gout or Bright's disease as a rule, nor do they very commonly become consumptive, as is the case with those who take the drug in small quantities day by day. Furthermore, it would appear that the grave disorders that so frequently follow the long-continued use of alcohol cannot be said to be the direct result of the use of the drug, but ensue as a consequence of the stimulating action of the alcohol on the appetite, leading to over-eating. Under such circumstances indigestion follows from excessive over-feeding, and this is added to by the naturally irritating effect of the alcohol on the stomach. When this is continued through a series of years, the assimilating power of the organism gradually deteriorates, and we begin to meet with chronic dyspepsia, acute Bright's disease, and cirrhosis of the liver. Let no one then consider that he is not misusing alcohol for the reason that he only takes a drink before meals—it would be far better if he were to go on a moderate spree occasionally.
In this connection mention should be made of the great evil of patent medicines containing, and in reality essentially consisting, of alcohol. A vast number of them are widely sold under the misleading statement that they relieve catarrh, cure diseases of the kidneys, and that they act as tonics and general invigorants of the entire system. Masquerading under one guise or another they are sold to the unsuspecting public—prohibitionists for the most part—who fondly imagine that their glass of “bitters,” “liver-regulator,” or “safe cure for the kidneys,” is entirely harmless. Let all such be warned that with scarcely an exception patent medicines of this class are nothing more nor less than poor whisky containing some bitter to disguise the taste, and that they are in fact taking a drink when they use nostrums of this kind. The ultimate effect of this kind of drinking is to produce serious and grave diseases.
This discussion of the effect of alcohol on the human body would not be complete without calling attention to the extraordinary fact that those peoples to whom we owe our modern civilization have from time immemorial, most of all others, consumed the greatest amount of alcohol. Explain it as we may, the fact remains that the greatest achievements of the world were brought about by a society in which a very large proportion of its members were in the habit of more or less constantly taking alcoholic beverages. Naturally, the query is forced upon us whether this drug may not have played some important part in the great results achieved. Unfortunately, no one can answer one way or another, but our very ignorance should emphasize the importance of looking at the question from every side, and not jumping at conclusions before they are warranted by facts. It is true that most of our positive knowledge on this subject would condemn alcohol as being the greatest curse of the ages, but it may be that it has played a beneficent part in the affairs of mankind through devious paths impossible to trace. Unquestionably a drug, the taking of which assists us in momentarily throwing our troubles aside, must be of a certain positive value to mankind. If only it possessed these good qualities with none of its bad ones!
Having considered very briefly the general effects of alcohol on the system a few remarks may be appropriately made concerning the several beverages commonly consumed in the United States for which it serves as a basis.
Whisky.—Under the term whisky will here be included all of those stronger alcoholic beverages that are the product of distillation. In addition to those commonly designated as such we may reckon brandy, gin, and rum, and at the same time those subtle combinations called mixed-drinks, for which they serve as a basis. It will, perhaps, startle the average reader when the statement is made that whisky and its near relatives just referred to, particularly when diluted by water, are by far the least harmful of all alcoholic drinks. Their bad reputation lies in the fact that on account of their large percentage of alcohol they are usually preferred by drunkards, and that when consumed in excessive amounts by those unaccustomed to their use there often follow those frightful crimes with which these particular forms of alcohol are so odiously associated. The facts are, however, that when taken in moderation they are much less prone to produce indigestion than wines or malt liquors, and where one is determined to drink, they should unquestionably receive the preference. It should not be understood that the writer is in any way advocating their use, but the facts of experience compel him to state frankly that the least harmful of all alcoholic beverages is whisky, or its near relatives.
Wines.—There are a large number of fermented juices of fruits that are known as wines. They are either sweet or acid in taste, and both are peculiarly prone to induce dyspepsia in persons with delicate stomachs. Irrespective of their delicate flavor, which, in many instances, appeals strongly to the palate, the only virtue that they may be said to possess is that they contain alcohol in small amounts; this, however, is off-set entirely by their large percentage of sugars and acids, causing them to be much more unwholesome than plain whisky.
Beers and Malt Liquors.—It is very fortunate that in those states of the American Union that have recently enacted prohibition laws, beer and other malt liquors are now being widely sold under the plea that they are non-intoxicating and that they are in no way unwholesome. While it is true that the former claim is in a measure correct, it is a fact well understood by those who have given the matter study that they are perhaps the most unwholesome of all alcoholic beverages. Those in the habit of using them are almost universally under the impression that they are harmless, and as the taste for them is easily cultivated, those who once acquire the habit are very apt to take them in greater or less quantities daily. As a result of this, chronic digestive disturbances are always sooner or later set up, and the victim in the course of time often acquires a gouty tendency, which is all the more dangerous for the reason that in America it scarcely ever manifests itself in acute joint inflammations. The patient gets into what has been called a “lithemic” state, which is but another name for gout, and sooner or later is exceedingly apt to develop a chronic form of Bright's disease. It is greatly to be deplored that some of our professional national school-masters do not address themselves to this subject rather than to appealing to the worst passions of the ignorant in attacking the great institutions of our country, and in assailing the fundamental principles of our government that come down to us as a priceless heritage from the wise and patriotic statesmen who first brought our nation into life.
In addition to the three great classes of alcoholic beverages already considered there are innumerable others, fortunately but little known to the general public, and prized only by connoisseurs in such matters. As we happily have no problem confronting us in any way similar to the absinthe-habit, so common in France, it is not deemed necessary here to do more than merely to refer to them.