292 



FOODS AND DIETARIES 



From it there is no escape. It is chiefly caused by the cumulative 

 effect of alcohol. The diagram following, compiled by two English 

 life insurance companies that insure moderate drinkers and 



Companies 



100 EXPECTED DEATHS 



Sceptre 



Life Insurance 



Cornparo) 

 1884^1909. 



MODERATE DRINKERS 



ABSTAINERS 



79.7 

 I 



United Kvn^doYYi 

 Temperance ^'^^ 



General Provldertt 



Irtstitution 

 1866-1909. 



MODERATE DRINKERS 



ABSTAINERS 



|93| 



J' 

 7D, 



Abstainers live longer than moderate drinkers. 



abstainers, shows the death rate to be considerably higher among 

 those who use alcohol. 



Dr. Kellogg, the founder of the famous Battle Creek Sanitarium, 

 points out that strychnine, quinine, and many other drugs are 

 oxidized in the body but surely cannot be called foods. The 

 following reasons for not considering alcohol a food are taken 

 from his writings : — 



'' 1. A habitual user of alcohol has an intense craving for his 

 accustomed dram. Without it he is entirely unfitted for business. 

 One never experiences such an insane craving for bread, potatoes, 

 or any other particular article of food. 



"2. By continuous use the body acquires a tolerance for 

 alcohol. That is, the amount which may be imbibed and the 

 amount required to 'produce the characteristic effects first expe- 

 rienced gradually increase until very great quantities are some- 

 times required to satisfy the craving which its habitual use often 

 produces. This is never the case with true foods. . . . Alcohol 

 behaves in this regard just as does opium or any other drug. It 

 has no resemblance to a food. 



