Food in Relation to Work. 143 
its thermal value when oxidised, its force-value would 
be very high, and, as it is now generally conceded that it 
is consumed in the system, alcohol should take a promi- 
nent place in a labour dietary. It is, however, universally 
known that, after the immediate temporary stimulation, 
the ingestion of alcohol is almost fatal to the contin- 
uance of muscular labour. The explanation of this ap- 
parent anomaly is to be found in the physiological action 
of this principle upon the nerves, relaxing their tension 
and, if taken to excess, producing a species of temporary 
paralysis. The proper position of alcohol as far as work 
is concerned is as a sedative after the work is over, and 
not as an agent for the production of energy. 
