The bases of the temperance reform: an exposition and appeal./ With replies to numerous objections. By Rev. Dawson Burns.

40 The Phiysiological Lffects of Alcohol
renewal, and without such renewal there is death and not
life; so that if alcohol does arrest the process of natural
waste, it must so far act in opposition to the law of life.
Dr. King Chambers says, "The most active renewal of the
body possible is health the cessation of renewal is
death; the arrest of renewal is disease." Dr. Markhlam
says decidedly, "Alcohol does not prevent the wear and
tear of the tissues." It is further impossible to harmonize with this tissue-saving theory the other theory, that
alcohol stimulates to increased physical action, an effect
which must carry with it a corresponding waste of tissue.
The unfortunate phrase of Dr. Moleschott, that alcohol
is "a box of saving," has done much to popularize the
notion that in some mysterious way alcohol both saves
tissue-which is only possible by lowering vital tonewhile it develops physical energy-which is only possible by facilitating the more rapid conversion of tissue.
Some experiments showing an increase of weight while
alcohol has been used, as compared with periods of abstention, have been cited in evidence of the "savings"
theory. But what really happens seems to be this: that
in small and less frequent doses, when the irritant action
of alcohol predominates, there is no diminution of the
waste process, while in cases where larger or more frequent doses have seriously weakened the principal
organs the natural waste process is interfered with,
thereby aggravating the diseased bodily condition of
which it is a leading symptom. A free use of alcohol
undoubtedly causes an accumulation of waste matter in
the blood, but such an internal conservation of animal
rubbish is anything but conservative of corporeal health
and vigor.
3. I! is urged /hat "dzkestzon is imiroved by moderate surPlies of alcohol, which in this way conduces to man's ihysical
welfare."
Undoubtedly a sound digestion is a great blessing, and
I