The physiological question : The medical discussion held at Framlingham, Suffolk, March 29th, 1843, between Dr. Frederic Richard Lees and William Jeaffreson, Esq., surgeon, (the challenger) on the nature and uses of alcohol.

Date:
1843
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The physiological question : The medical discussion held at Framlingham, Suffolk, March 29th, 1843, between Dr. Frederic Richard Lees and William Jeaffreson, Esq., surgeon, (the challenger) on the nature and uses of alcohol. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    sustaining the heat of the body, or in supporting respiration. But alcohol cannot possibly be converted into bile. It therefore is an unnatural element of respiration, which prevents the combustion of natural agents, and deranges the usual vital and chemical processes of the animal economy. I question, however, whether alcohol is so easily decom¬ posed in the system as Liebig represents, and I contend that many physiological experiments (of which he does not seem to have had any cognizance,) support the position, that this irritating and most indigestible substance, as regards the great bulk of it taken at any time, passes off from the system, through the skin and lungs, unchanged and undecomposed. Be that, however, as it may—for the matter, as regards the question of teetotaiism, is scarcely worth contending for,—tlie experiments of Drs. Prout and Fyfe have long ago demon¬ strated that the use of wine is most adverse to the function of respiration. Those experiments proved, that as long as the effects of alcohol were at all discernible upon the system, so long did the amount of carbonic acid expired continue less than the healthy standard. The results are thus briefly expressed by Dr. Copland, in his appendix to Richerand s Physiology, (1829.) 44 The passions of the mind were found to have a great influence over its production; the depressing passions dimin¬ ishing its quantity, and those of an opposite nature the reverse; exercise, when moderate, appeared to increase in some measure the quantity, but fatigue diminished it. “ The greatest decrease experienced was from the use OF alcohol and vinous liquors, especially when taken upon an empty stomach. In short, whatever diminished the powers of life, as low diet, &c., appeared to have ^e eftect of diminishing the quantity of the carbonic acid. p. 626. [Dr. Lees then proceeded further to evince its influence on the respiratory process, demonstrating its agency in car¬ bonizing the blood, and thus engendering that morbid condition of the vital fluid which favors an obese and bloated habit. This exposition of what he styled 44 The fat-fallacy, and several other extracts from the address, (here omitted tor want of space,) will be found in the Appendix to the 44 Illustrated History of Alcohol,” now publishing.]
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