One hundred minutes is the normal time for the digestion of the test meal given. The time required to digest the meal to which the beverages were added is given in the table.

Wine, liquor, or beverage added.

Proof spirit, brandy, gin or whiskey.

Sherry.

Port.

Hock.

Claret.

Champagne.

Barton Ale.

Lager Beer.

5 per cent....

100 min.

115 min.

100 min.

10 percent.....

115 mm.

150 min.

115 mm.

100 min.

100 min.

90 mm.

115 min.

100 min.

15 percent..............

200 min.

150 mm.

20 percent___

135 mm.

200 min. Embarrassed.

180 min.

115 min.

140 min.

100 min.

140 min.

115 min.

30 percent......

180 min. Embarrassed.

Almost no digestion.

200 min. Embarrassed.

150 min.

180 min.

130 min.

200 min.

140 min.

40 percent....

300 min.

50 percent.........

Almost no digestion.

Embarrassed.

Embarrassed.

180 min.

Embarrassed.

180 min.

Table Showing The Effect Of Sherry And Hock Upon Salivary Digestion. (Roberts.)

Time normally required equals four minutes.

Proportion of sherry or hock contained in the digesting material.

Sherry.

Hock.

0.25 per cent........

8 minutes.

16 minutes.

0.5 percent........

30 minutes.

80 minutes.

1. per cent........

No action beyond soluble starch.

No action beyond soluble starch.

2. percent.............

No action.

No action.

40. per cent, neutralized ................

4 minutes.

4 minutes.

Table Showing The Effect Of Alcohol, Brandy, And Whiskey On Salivary Digestion

(Roberts.) Time normally required, four minutes.

Proportion of proof spirit, brandy, or whiskey in the digesting mixture.

Proof spirit.

French brandy.

Scotch whiskey.

5 percent....

4 minutes.

4 minutes.

4 minutes.

10 percent.......

4 minutes.

Very slow action.

30 minutes.

20 percent...........

4 minutes.

No action.

Very slow action.

40 per cent..........

8 minutes.

No action.

No action.

60 percent........

14 minutes.

No action.

No action.

70 percent....

20 minutes.

No action.

No action.

90 percent........

Very slow action.

No action.

No action.

Now, while certain suggestions can be made quite positively and on well-founded reasons, there must remain many instances where the individual judgment must come into play. Whenever we prescribe an alcoholic either to a man or to a woman, whether to the young or to the old, remember well and ponder well on the terrible weapon we arc using both for good and evil. It must not be used or advised in a reckless or thoughtless manner, and for the young and susceptible its use must be guarded on all sides.