Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-09-10
To the Editor OF the Temperance Adsocate.

II
Dear Sir IL desire to make one or two
general remarks through your paper, on
The subject of alcohol as medicinal agent
l am perfectly sensible that my opinions
on his suhiect are Of but minor import to
the general mass of mankind but. as |
have recently learned that certain stale
men,s made By me, in relation to Its USE
in delirium tremens. in public address
delivered some time last spring, hav'' been
misrepreseu,ed, it becomes matter OF
importance to me. personally, that those
views should he correctly stated.
There are few cases of disease in which
the administration of alcoho! is required.
In fact, when We come TO examine the
views of The most eminent and successful
practitioners and writer's upon this sub
iec,. we shall. be surprised to Gnd how
rarely il is recommended, even by those who
do no, approve ofthe effurts of temperance
dissertations 10 Danish it's use entirely from
society.
The following are some of the circum
a,aoces under which | would use alcohol
as medicinal agent.
1st. In cases of sudden depression Of
.be vital forces, resulting from accidents.
or other causes, in which the immediate
extinction of the vital spark is threatened,
and the usual applications have Jailed 10
arouse the energies of The system. 10
bring about restoration 10 ouch cases, slim
ulauls ale required and. from its prompt
action aud difiusive nature, alcohol is used.
Even here, it is restricted entirely TO
bringing about reaction for, this once es
,ablisted, its administration not only be-
comes injurious, but if ipjudiciously urged,
will lead TO fatal consequences.
3D.. In cases Of profuse and sudden loss
of blood. 10 which the vascular system Is
ii,erally drained of The vital fluid, it may
he used 10 arouse the circulation, until
means can be adopted 10 arrest tie further
few Of blood.
4d. In cases of surgical operations, in
which the flow Of blood cannot be com
manded entirely until the oPeration has
been completed, it may he used to prevent
the fatal consequences arising from the
great loss Of blood.
4,h. In cases Of attempted suicide. by
cutting the thruar or some large blood
vessel, it is often absolutely necessary TO
administer alcohol to arouse the heart to
action. and, prevent fatal termination.
And as such cases are always sudden and
alarming. we are eompeifedto resort tc the
first powerful agen, that can he had.
Conhne alcohol. however, to these ca
ses, and it will never pass beyond its le.
Ultimate sphere Of ac,iun: 1t willthen be
KEEP, and yended, only by The apolhecary,
with other medicines, and administered by
the physician. The administration of al
cohol in The treatment Of detiriur tremcns;
or wha, is commonly called .'the horrors
/ do mos, unhestaringly disaPProVe OF,
believing, from INV own experience aud
observations, that 'ir is injurious and no! So
certain or efectual as the treatment win
out alcohol. five place the two plans o.
treatment on par, and admit, for The sake
of argument, 90 far as curing the lmme
diate disease, that they are equally effica
cious. certainly no enlightened and philan
,hropic physician would pause for mo