78 FOOn ACCESSORIES 



that should make us avoid this unnecessary and costly 

 food, and on this point all investigators agree. 



In stating the position of alcohol, then, we must bear in 

 mind that while it is definitely established that alcohol in 

 small quantities must be considered as a fuel food, it is 

 equally well estabUshed that in large amounts it is a poi- 

 son; that while it induces a flow of digestive fluids, and 

 thus hastens digestion, its use for such purposes in a healthy 

 person is unnecessary; that large amounts stop the action 

 of the juices and thus really delay digestion; and finally 

 that its tendency to encourage habits of excess makes it an 

 extremely dangerous substance to take into our systems 

 except under competent medical advice. If both sides of 

 the above statement are kept in mind it will be seen that 

 in determining the true position of alcohol the investiga- 

 tors have taught us a very forcible argument for total 

 abstinence. 



In fact, most of the great evils resulting from the use of 

 alcohol have their beginning in the fact that many people 

 who begin by its moderate use feel no evil effects, what- 

 ever, as would be the case if alcohol were a true poison in 

 small amounts. The use, however, soon becomes a habit, 

 the habit demands ever increasing amounts or the stimu- 

 lation is no longer felt, the increased amounts soon pass 

 the danger point, and all the effects of alcohol poisoning, 

 with its attendant moral evils, follow. We might also sup- 

 pose that if the amount was always limited no evil results 

 would follow. The fact that people in general use alcohol 

 for its stimulating effects and not for food, interferes with 

 the safety of this view. In other words, while it is probably 

 true that a small amount taken daily would be oxidized 

 and produce energy without harm, it is a peculiarity of 



