ALCOHOL. 209 



body, producing energy ; but they do not class it with 

 foods, nor do they recommend its use. 



Alcohol and Heat. As to its power to produce heat, 

 the fact is that, as ordinarily taken, alcohol lowers the tem- 

 perature of the body. It is well known that the face is 

 flushed as the result of taking alcoholic drink. This means 

 that more blood has been sent to the skin. That sending 

 of blood to the skin gives a sensation of heat ; we feel hot 

 when the skin is flushed from other cause, as some emotion. 

 But if the temperature of the body be taken at the time 

 when the body feels warm, in each case it may be found 

 that the temperature is actually lowered ; and we can see 

 the reason for this, for the more blood there is in the skin, 

 the more heat will be given off, and thus the amount of 

 heat in the body diminished. 



Alcohol and Muscular Energy. Neither does alcohol 

 as usually taken increase the energy of the body so far 

 as muscular work is concerned. Experience shows that 

 men can endure more cold and more hard labor without 

 alcohol than with it. This has been repeatedly proved 

 in arctic expeditions, in the army and navy, during the 

 hardships and exposures of forced marches and depriva- 

 tions in all climates. 



Danger in Drinking Alcohol in Cold Climates. - 



Especially if one is to be exposed to severe cold is it 

 dangerous to take alcoholic drink ; many a member of 

 exploring parties has lost his life by disobeying this rule. 



Alcohol and Training. It is a significant fact that 

 men training for athletic contests (no matter what their 

 ordinary habits or principles) let alcoholic drinks alone. 

 One of the famous pugilists said : " I'm no teetotaler, but 



