2l8 PHYSIOLOGY. 



thing, and if necessary I could pile up a mountain of evi- 

 dence to. prove it. The records show most conclusively 

 that it is the men who totally abstain from the use of 

 spirits as a beverage who last longest, have the least sick- 

 ness, and do the most and best work. As a general rule, 

 an energetic brandy-drinker in the jungle is not worth his 

 salt, and as a companion in a serious undertaking, is not 

 even to be regarded as a possible candidate." 



Is Alcohol a Food ? Alcohol certainly cannot build up 

 muscle or brain or nerve, because these tissues must have 

 nitrogen as a constituent element, and alcohol contains no 

 nitrogen. 



Undoubtedly the best test of a food is its ability to 

 maintain working power. Does alcohol do this ? 



In the above paragraphs are given the results of much 

 experiment and observation. Alcohol has been tried in 

 the army and navy, on the march and in camp, in hot and 

 cold climates, in mountain-climbing, in training for boxing, 

 boating, and other athletic contests, and as a result the 

 uniform testimony is that it fails to sustain energy, that is, 

 as a food it is a failure. 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 deprivations in all 

 climates. Neither in hot nor in cold climates is alcohol 

 necessary to health, and even its moderate use does 

 more harm than good. The explorers in the arctics and 

 in the tropics are alike better off without alcohol than 

 with it. 



This testimony as to the uselessness of alcohol is all the 

 stronger on account of the chemical nature of alcohol and 



