250 UNCONSCIOUS NERVOUS OPERATIONS 



We class alcohol among the foods because it comes 

 within our definition of food, but in a higher degree than 

 any other substance used for food, it possesses a peculiar 

 power which is not characteristic of food. It is the power 

 of developing a progressive craving, an uncontrollable 

 appetite for itself, which is never satisfied, and which 

 leads the wine bibber to long ever for more and stronger 

 wine, or whisky, or gin, or brandy. It is easy to say, " I 

 will never drink any more alcohol in a day than the two 

 ounces and a half which science has proved can be wholly 

 oxidized in the body, yielding force and conserving to 

 the extent of its own service the physical powers." The 

 man who speaks thus may indeed be able so to regulate 

 his actions, but millions of his fellow-men have not been 

 able to do so. Men do not rightly estimate the full force 

 of the insidious power of alcohol to create an ever-grow- 

 ing appetite which demands ever more alcohol for its 

 satisfaction. Bread and meat and milk and fruit, which 

 build the tissues and supply the forces for vigorous and 

 worthy life, do not create an abnormal appetite for them- 

 selves. Sometimes a man or a woman indulges in the 

 excessive use of tea or coffee, and may possibly experi- 

 ence something of the unhealthy craving for those bev- 

 erages which the drunkard has for his liquor. But 

 harmful as the effect of such indulgence is upon the 

 physical system, it does not so undermine the mental and 

 moral health as does the alcoholic habit. 



363. It is at least perfectly safe to avoid wholly the use of 

 alcoholic beverages. One who does so is certain to escape 

 the frightful danger of acquiring that overmastering appe- 

 tite for alcohol, to satisfy which he might become willing to 

 commit murder or arson, or any other crime, and for whose 

 indulgence he may be led to ruin all his hopes of happi- 



