ALCOHOL AND ITS EFFECTS 



367 



when real food is digested in an amount that is beyond 

 what the cells need, it can be stored. In this way sugar 

 and fat are stored (cf. 369). But alcohol cannot be 

 stored. That which cannot be oxidized at once becomes 

 simply waste, carrying harm wherever it goes. 



Many patent medicines contain a great deal of alcohol 

 (Fig. 283), and people take them without realizing this 



A 



Beer 

 3 to 6% 



Wine 

 6 to 10% 



Some 

 Patent 

 Medicines 

 15 to 26% 



A 



Scotch 



Whisky 



FIG. 283. 

 Amounts of Alcohol Present in Liquors and in Some Patent Medicines. 



fact. A medicine containing alcohol will produce all the 

 effects of alcoholic liquors, and will develop an alcohol 

 appetite in persons who would not think of becoming 

 drinkers. Patent medicines may also contain injurious 

 drugs, such as opium, chloral, etc. An illustration is the 

 " soothing syrup" that is often given to young children. 

 People ought to know that when they are giving a i ' pare- 

 goric " soothing syrup, they are giving a preparation of 

 opium, and that the child becomes quiet, not because it is 

 cured, but because it is stupefied. The after-effects of 



