The essentials of food / by Donald Stewart.

  • Stewart, Donald
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The essentials of food / by Donald Stewart. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    alcohol. What proportion of a doctor’s work is due to the effects of “drink” is incredibly high. We spend ,£166,000,000 (one hundred and sixty-six millions) every year on our drink bill! We have to spend on paupers in the four divisions of the British Isles some £ 16,000,000. It cannot be said that the spending of 166 millions is useless, but it is quite certain all the amount spent on “ drink ” is not necessary for life, whilst the harm it does is enormous, and the misery and ruin it brings to many homes are everywhere conspicuous. Alcohol is made by fermentation from sugar and starch. It has much affinity for water. The strongest form of alcohol is known as rectified spirits of wine, and contains about 9 per cent, of water. Absolute alcohol even con- tains 1 to 2 per cent, of water. Proof spirit which is used in pharmacy chiefly has 49*5 of alcohol. Brandy distilled from wine contains from 50 to 60 per cent, of alcohol. All drinks owe their stimulating effect to the amount of alcohol they contain. In the table of analysis of the stimulants used in the British Isles it will be seen that upon the amount of alcohol they contain depends to a great extent 9