Scientific teetotalism : appendices to the illustrated history of alcohol : exhibiting a view of the accordance of teetotalism with recent discoveries in organic chemistry, and explaining the modus operandi of alcohol : firstly, on the function of respiration, and, secondly, in the formation of fat.

Sewall, Thomas

Date:: [1843?]

Credit: Scientific teetotalism : appendices to the illustrated history of alcohol : exhibiting a view of the accordance of teetotalism with recent discoveries in organic chemistry, and explaining the modus operandi of alcohol : firstly, on the function of respiration, and, secondly, in the formation of fat. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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$Objectioni. Alcohol not in nature. Reply. be restricted to a simple diet, and had prescribed porter for the purpose of giving power to tho vessels to contract ! 2. It is quite impossible that wmnstrurted persons can understand thif subject, which involves tho consideration of tho nicest points in physiology.' $ pathology, and organic chemistry ! 3. I contond for tho moderate use of alcoholic drinks, not habitually, but under certain circumstances. 4. If we do not understand the elements of the blood, we cannot understand the operation of theso agents! Blood was made up of the elements of proteine, (so called from proteuo, 11 take the first rank.') Its composition in one hundred parts was, carbon 55. hydrogen 7, nitrogen 16, oxygen 22. This proteine was all the nutritious part of blood. All the elements of proteine are found in vegetables : therefore the vege- table substances supply us with the essential eloments for the formation of blood. 5. But besides tho nutritious elements of food, animals require substances composed of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon, without nitrogen, the carbon 0: which unites with the oxygen inspired, and produces animal heat. For this purpose we must breathe pure air, which is composed of eighty parts ol nitrogen, and twenty parts of oxygen, for were there only ten per cent on oxygen, We should be suffocated. Besides the proteine principle in vegetables, which is the nourishing part- nature has plentifully supplied us with other compounds, as gum, sugar, p: starch, oil, wine, beer, alcohol— QDr. Lees—Does nature supply alcohol?—Are wine and beer found 1 vegetables ?~\ Mr. Jeafpreson— No—but they are elements of respiration ;—and, under certain circumstances, necessary to respiration ! p:. lp Hi i Is IJoubt lips' ill. Dr. lie*'1 ■Til 6. This alcohol, as an element of respiration, is necessary, under certain circumstances, to preserve the body in a state of health—to protect it from th& action of oxygen ! CFirst case. J A Suffolk agriculturalist,—a hedger and ditcher,—in active labor, with his feet wet, and exposed to a temperature much below that of his own body, may take a quart of good mild beer during the day with advantage!—(Loud stamping in the gallery.)—The small quantity of alcohol contained in it, being, under these circumstances, resolved into carbonic acid and water!—the vegetable food which he is always confined to, being only sufficient, with seven hours rest, to supply the waste of his body sufficiently to. resume his labor on the following day! CSecond case.J The Samoyedes are a nation of Northern Tartars, who are exposed to intense cold, and who will consume lOlbs of flesh, a dozen of tallow candles, and a quart of train oil daily. Brandy is essential to them; they can take a pint of it with apparent impunity. (Third case. J In certain circumstances of the constitution, when the powers of digestion and assimilation fail, as after an attack of typhus fever, I recom- mend it to supply the deficient elements of respiration, and as a medkine to give tone for a time ! Dr. Lees said—At this late hour of the night, I shall not enter into any consecutive and detailed examination of Mr. Jeaftreson's address—in fact, much of it has nothing to do with tho question of teetotalism at all; and of thafe which has, some is perfectly correct, and harmonious with it in the main, while other parts, especially that relating to Liebig's theory of respirat'um, is, in its true bearing, misunderstood and misrepresented. This I shall show you on the ensuing evening. Does Mr. Jcaffreson admit, that alcohol, being destitute of one essentia element of the nourishing part of blood, nitrogen, cannot possibly be nutritious Mr. Jeaffreson—Who ever contendod that it was ? it:; nil K Ilk ]■::. J • 1. bts flit He J b. I, w lit$

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Scientific teetotalism : appendices to the illustrated history of alcohol : exhibiting a view of the accordance of teetotalism with recent discoveries in organic chemistry, and explaining the modus operandi of alcohol : firstly, on the function of respiration, and, secondly, in the formation of fat.

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