p. 11 | The Truth About Beer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Apr 26, 1906

The Truth About Beer

The wide-spread idea that beer drinking is a comparatively harmless form of self-indulgence, is combated by the following testimony of two eminent physicians of Toledo, Ohio, the inhabitants of which are greatly addicted to the use of that beverage:—

“I think beer kills quicker than any other liquor. My attention was first called to its insidious effects when I began examining for life insurance. I passed as unusually good risks five Germans—young business men—who seemed in the best of health, and to have superb constitutions. In a few years I was amazed to see the whole five drop off, one after another, with what ought to have been mild and easily curable diseases. On comparing my experience with that of other physicians, I found they were all having similar luck with confirmed beer drinkers, and my practise since has heaped confirmation on confirmation.

“The first organ to be attacked is the kidneys; the liver soon sympathizes, and then comes, most frequently, dropsy or Bright’s disease, both certain to end fatally. Any physician who cares to take the time, will tell you that among the dreadful results of beer drinking are lockjaw and erysipelas, and that the beer drinker seems incapable of recovering from mild disorders and injuries not usually regarded of a grave character. Pneumonia, pleurisy, fevers, etc., seem to have a first mortgage on him, which they foreclose remorselessly at an early opportunity.

“The beer drinker is much worse off than the whisky drinker, who seems to have more elasticity and reserve power. He will even have delirium tremens; but after the fit is gone, you will sometimes find good material to work upon. Good management may bring him around all right. But when a beer drinker gets into trouble, it seems almost as if you have to recreate the man before you can do anything for him. I have talked this for years, and have had abundance of living and dead instances around me to support my opinions.”—Dr. S. H. Burgen.

“That beer is foreign to nature’s demand is plainly evident. The whole organism at once sets about its removal. Every channel through which it can be got rid of is brought into play, and does not cease till the last trace is gone. Reaching a certain end depends only on the frequency of the repetition. The whole is made up of the parts; every drink counts one. These ‘ones,’ added together, make the wreck; to secure this result it is only necessary to make the single numbers sufficient. Each leaves its footprints in one way or another; and the idea that, because you stop before you stagger, the system takes no note of the damaging material you put into it, is a ruinous delusion.”—Dr. J. T. Woods.