The _United States Dispensatory_ (17th ed.) speaks of the medicinal properties of alcohol as follows, "It is irritant even to the skin, and much more so to the delicate organs; hence, the various abdominal inflammations that are so frequent in habitual drunkards. A single dose of it, if large enough, may produce death. The nervous symptoms caused by alcohol show that it has a very powerful and direct influence upon the nerve-centers. The arterial pressure and the pulse-rate are both increased by moderate doses of alcohol, by a direct influence upon the heart itself. * * * Taken habitually in excess, alcohol produces the most deplorable results, and is a very common cause of fatal maladies."[A] [Footnote A: Page 129, art., Alcohol Ethylicum.] Dr. W. Gilman Thompson in his authoritative book on _Practical Dietetics,_ speaking of the constant use of alcoholic beverages, says, "The use of alcohol in any shape is wholly unnecessary for the use of the human organism in health. * * * * The lifelong use of alcohol in moderation does not necessarily shorten life or induce disease in some persons, while in others it undoubtedly produces gradual and permanent changes which tend to weaken vital organs so that the resistance of the body to disease is materially impaired. * * * * Many persons should be particularly warned against the use of alcohol. * * * * Although alcohol is such a strong force-producer and heat-generator, its effect in this direction is very soon counter-balanced by its stronger influence in lowering the general tone of the nervous system and in producing positive degeneration in the tissues."[A] [Footnote A: Pages 206, 207.] The recent newspaper statements that alcohol has been shown to be a food are based on a complete misunderstanding. The experiments demonstrated that alcohol is burned within the body--which is the simplest manner in which the body can rid itself of the alcohol. No more authoritative opinions on this subject can be found than those contained in the two volumes from which quotations have been made--and the strongest opinions are not quoted. In spite of the isolated claims made for alcohol, the fact remains that the knowledge of the world indicates that alcohol is a poison to the human system; that it is not "for the belly." However, the value of the external use of alcohol, for various purposes, has never been denied. On the contrary almost every up to date practitioner recommends the external use of alcohol, as for instance after baths for lowering the temperature of fever patients. In this matter, then, Joseph Smith was in perfect harmony with the latest results of science. It is strange that he, unlearned as he was, should have stated what is now known as truth, so clearly and simply, yet so emphatically, more than seventy years ago, before the main experiments on the effect of alcohol on the human organsim had been made. [Sidenote: The doctrine that tobacco is injurious to man is scientific.]