When we see a horse plodding slowly along the street, and the driver suddenly cuts it across the back with his whip, the horse jumps, and reaches the end of the street more quickly than if he had not been so whipped. In such a case, does anyone suppose that any strength has been _imparted_ or _given to_ the horse; or is it not rather that the energy already present in the horse has been forced, and expended a little more quickly? Of course, the latter. In other words, the energy has been extracted _from_ the horse, and not imparted _to_ it. It is the same with all stimulants whatever. In every case, their action is the same. It is not that energy has been imparted to the organism, but rather that it has been abstracted from it—in the process of resisting and expelling the stimulant. Stimulation does not impart strength; it wastes it. Vital power does not go out of the brandy into the patient, but occasions vital power to be exhausted from the patient in expelling the brandy. The system expends its force to get rid of the alcohol, but never derives any force, great or small, good, bad or indifferent, _from_ the alcohol. Stimulants merely occasion the expenditure of strength and energy; they do not impart either _to_ the system.[21]
[21] “See pp. 34-44 of my “Vitality, Fasting and Nutrition,” where this question is discussed at length.
From the above facts, it will readily be seen why it is that beef tea is a stimulant of the highest order; and for that reason an apparent supporter of strength. In fact, it is now becoming to be realised in many quarters that beef tea is more of a stimulant than a food; and, if you believe in the one, you cannot accept the other. These facts will also enable us to understand the stimulating character of meat—a quality which has gained for it the reputation of being “strengthening,” and consequently “good food” for the weak invalid! But it so happens, unfortunately, that _because_ of this very fact it is really disqualified as a food for the invalid; and this would be seen clearly enough if the true _rationale_ of stimulation were properly understood. The fact of the matter is that the more stimulating a food, the less nutritious, and _vice versa_. Perhaps I cannot do better than quote Dr Trall in this connection. He says:
