Alcohol No Danger to Kidneys (Oct, 1932)
Filed under: Medical — @ 3:50 pm
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Oct, 1932
| Buy on Ebay
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Oct, 1932
| Buy on Ebay
Alcohol No Danger to Kidneys
THE traditional idea that alcohol is bad for the kidneys, the heart and arteries, is exploded by experts of the American Medical Association. If alcohol injures these organs traces of these injuries should be found in the bodies of drunkards at the post-mortem examinations. Instead of this the evidence is that the hearts and kidneys of drunkards are better than the average condition.
Was the AMA involved in the effort to overturn Prohibition?
Were any details of these “drunkard” post mortems (and causes of death) ever revealed?
And wouldn’t it be nicer to say “stew bum” instead?
Comment by Neil Russell — October 20, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
They discussed heart and kidneys, but they omitted the liver. I knew a pathologist who had conducted many post mortems, and he basically said the same thing, at least about the heart and arteries (I don’t recall him saying anything one way or another about kidneys of heavy drinkers).
But in the same breath, he said the liver of a heavy drinker was usually in obviously bad shape.
If you drink yourself to a premature death due to cirrhosis, leaving a corpse with nice clean coronary arteries is of limited benefit, no?
Moderation…
Comment by Richard C — October 20, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
Every medical or scientific report should be followed with the words “… this week”
Comment by Mike — October 20, 2008 @ 8:51 pm
Well then.
I’ll have another.
Comment by Repack Rider — October 21, 2008 @ 9:34 pm
I’ll drink to that!
Comment by notbob — October 22, 2008 @ 5:51 am
Do you mind if I smoke?
Comment by Harry — November 1, 2008 @ 4:22 pm