the direct result of the use of the drug, but ensue as a
consequence of the stimulating action of the alcohol on the
appetite, leading to over-eating. Under such circumstances
indigestion follows from excessive over-feeding, and this is added
to by the naturally irritating effect of the alcohol on the
stomach. When this is continued through a series of years, the
assimilating power of the organism gradually deteriorates, and we
begin to meet with chronic dyspepsia, acute Bright's disease, and
cirrhosis of the liver. Let no one then consider that he is not
misusing alcohol for the reason that he only takes a drink before
meals--it would be far better if he were to go on a moderate spree
occasionally.

In this connection mention should be made of the great evil of patent
medicines containing, and in reality essentially consisting, of alcohol.
A vast number of them are widely sold under the misleading statement
that they relieve catarrh, cure diseases of the kidneys, and that
they act as tonics and general invigorants of the entire system.
Masquerading under one guise or another they are sold to the unsuspecting
public--prohibitionists for the most part--who fondly imagine that their
glass of "bitters," "liver-regulator," or "safe cure for the kidneys," is
entirely harmless. Let all such be warned that with scarcely an exception
patent medicines of this class are nothing more nor less than poor
whisky containing some bitter to disguise the taste, and that they are in
fact taking a drink when they use nostrums of this kind. The ultimate
effect of this kind of drinking is to produce serious and grave diseases.

This discussion of the effect of alcohol on the human body would not be
complete without calling attention to the extraordinary fact that those
peoples to whom we owe our modern civilization have from time immemorial,
most of all others, consumed the greatest amount of alcohol. Explain it
as we may, the fact remains that the greatest achievements of the world
were brought about by a society in which a very large proportion of its
members were in the habit of more or less constantly taking alcoholic
beverages. Naturally, the query is forced upon us whether this drug may
not have played some important part in the great results achieved.
Unfortunately, no one can answer one way or another, but our very
ignorance should emphasize the importance of looking at the quest