The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-12-30 00:00:00

MEDICAL OPINION ON ALCOHOL.

The following article appeared in the Britizh M•dieal
Jou.al Itt.t week:—

In the BAtirli Medical Journal, of the 30th of Sep-
tember, we wrote 11.4 follows concerning the duty of
medical men in relation to the temperance movement
to the habitual and medical use of alcohol : ---" Look-
ing to the ineffable misery and disaster, the waste, de-
gradation, suffering, and crime which are constantly
wrought in this and most other civilized nations by
drink, we are far from thinking that the importance of
the subject can be exaggerated. The influence of
medical men, if they were united and agreed, might be
all powerful on this subject; and we should be glad to
see a conference of medical men, including those of the
highest class, originated in some really influential
quarters, with a view to giving this subject a more
thorough discussion than it has yet had. We should
like to hear a discussion in which Parkes, Edward
Smith, Hughes, Bennett, A. P. Stewart, Paget,
dewier, and some of our leading provincial prac-
titioners, would takepart, in which the whole subjeet
should be probed what extent, if at all, are phy-
sicians justified in recognizing alcohol as an article of
daily find in health? Dies the habit d prescribing
alcoholic drinks act injuriously upon the morals and
welfare of the people? Is it possible or desirable to
substitute the more enticing forms of alcohol by
medicinal awl less alluring forms? We all of as
sympathise with the ends which the National Tem-
perance League has in view. A small minority only
practically participate in their means of action. Can
we in any way, and in what way, help to rescue
this nation from the curses which drink brings
upon it. population?' Consequent upon the pub-
lication of these observations, Mr. Rae, the secretary
of the Temperance League, sought an interview
in which to ask the advice of the editor of this journal
as to the best means of carrying out his suggestion.
Mr. Hart sketched an outline memorandum, stating
the points at issue, and recommended that Dr. Parkes
of Is etley, in the first instance, and other physicians
and psychologists of eminence, should be consulted as
to their views upon the subject. The result has been
the framing of the aulijoined memorandum, based upon
the original sketch, under the revision of Dr. Parkes,
Dr. Burrows, and others. It is a document of which
the importance and interest are obvious, and we com-
mend it to the careful consideration of the profession.
As it is believed that the inconsiderate prescription if
large quantities of alcoholic liquids by medical men fee
their patients has given rise, in many instances, to the
formation of intemperate, habits, the undersigned while
neableto abandon the use of alcohol in the treatment
of certain cases of disease, are yet of opinion that no
medical practitioner, should ptescribe it without a
sense of grave respinciibility. They believe that
alcohol, in whatever form, should be prescribed with
as much care as any powerful drug, awl that the ace-
thins for its use should be so framed as not to be in-
terpreted as a sanction for excess, or necessarily for the
continnance.of its use when the .ievasion is past. They
are alsa of opinion that many people immensely exag-
gerate the value of alcohol as att article of dint; and,
since no claws of men see so much of its ill effect.,
and possess such power to restrain its abuse, as
members of their own profession, they hold that
every medical practitioner is I annul to exert Ids utmost
influence to inculcate habits of great moderation in the
Th's of olefilmlio liquids. lleing also firmly convinced
that the great minima of drinking ..f alcoholie
ansong the wi.rking dances Of this re,mstry is one of the
greatest evils of the day-- destroying more than any-
thing else —the health, happiness, and welfare of those
classes, and neutralising to a large extent the great
industrial prosperity which Providence has placed
within the reach of this nation, the undersigned would
gladly support any wise legislation which would tend
to restrict within ;super limits the use of alcoholic
beverages, and gradually introduce habits of tem-
perance.
[Then follows a long list of nearly 300 signatures,
comprising many eminent names in the medical pro-
fession,]