42 THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 



ALCOHOL. 



T am sending' to you a few words in reference to the alcohol sold 

 over the counter of the drug store and of its use when so purchased. 



Besides the extensive use in the industrial world, the arts, etc.. its 

 use by the consumer has been for various purposes as will l)e herein 

 enumerated. This list will not in any respect be complete. The 

 main object will be to explain the principle uses when purchased 

 in five and ten cent quantities from the druggist. 



Besides being employed as an external application for rheumatic 

 ailments and various other disorders and diseases it is used in the 

 improperly called "warming Huids" as a substitute for the famous 

 exhilarating beverages. 



In the United States it is used as a morning drink (eye-opener?) 

 in combinations of the following order : Alcohol, honey, and 

 strong black cofifee — mixed in the ])roportions as may appeal to the 

 user's fancy or desire or as a neighborly gossip may have recom- 

 mended. This serves as a morning stimulant and is used in the 

 erroneous belief that it enables the drinker to endure severe hard- 

 ships and disinclinant weather. 



In Northern Germany the people use the clear alcohol, mixed m 

 varying pro])ortions of honey and red pepper as a diaphoretic and 

 stimulant. In Central Germany, mixed with an e(|ual volume of 

 water and a little sugar or honey it becomes a beverage. 



The continuous use of alcohol of such strength as above is in 

 all probability detrimental to the health and precipitates the nitro- 

 genous and proteolytic enzviues from their respective suspension 

 in the gastric and intestinal tracts, inhibiting their physiologic 

 actions. 



I am sending in this short note with the hope that it may contain 

 some information of interest. I will later send in various articles 

 which I trust will prove interesting and instructive to the readers 

 of "The Alumni Journal." 



Thanking you for the opportunity, I am 



Very truly yours, 



A Graduate of 1902. 



