Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-12-20
From The Commonwealth.
Alcohol as a Medicine.

The following communication relates to
subject of interest and importance. We did
not hear DR.. Gilman lecture, but from an in
terview which we accidently had with him a
few evenings since, we have high opinion
of his earncstness aud knowledge on the
subject to which he is calling attention.
Editors orhe Commonwealth:
GENTLEMEN-A few lectures recently de-
livered in this city aud its vicinity by DR.. N.
Gilman of Frankfort, Maine, have impaired
much information to those who had the
pleasure of hearing them, on the Use of Al
coIol as a Medicine. The lecturer contend
ed, and that too with vast deal of rcasona-
BILE argument and conclusive evidence, that
the presence ofalcohol in medicine is not
only useless but injurious aud has n tenden-
cy to increase rather than diminish disease.
DIR. Gilman has for a number of years,
three, we think, practised as physician, and
compounded medicines without alcohol in
any form whatever. This he has done Mt
considerable sacrifice in pecuniary point of
view, but fully conscious of the deIeterious
effects of alcohol, he has bad the satisfaction
oil knowing that many cures have been the
result oflhis total abstinence from its use.
Every physician knows that alcohol is
poisonous; that though il stimulates to sud-
den activity and apparently imparts strength
II causes reaction and makes the system
weaker after the forced effort than before
in thousands of cases where the medicine
itself is capable of effacting a cure, jts power
Is retarded il not completely nnnulled, by
the spirit with which il is mixed-rum, gin,
brandy; alcohol in any shape and every
shape III which it is presented to us is poison
Gus and hlirtiul. Compromising il with med
icine does not alter its nature, it is the same
dangerous, baleftl thing as before. II it is
received into the system il Injuries mans con-
stiluton, aud matters not how or why il is
received; whether mcdcineIy or conyiyially,
its effects are the same.
Total abstinence should be total absti-
nence. Many a reformed man has relapscd
into his former evil habits from the taste of
splrtuous compounds prescribed by his ply
slclan. The old appetite was reused; the
serpent coiled up, aud at length felt the
warmth ofnatural current and again put forth
its ihngs TO destroy.
May we not suppose that the inclination
some men have for alcoholic drinks is the
result oftheir treatment in infancy. The lit
tie portions Of medicine, in which was lit
tie alcoholic, did they not create an APPETITE,
which, perhaps for many years remained in
embryo yet at length exhibited itself in re-
markabe fondness for poisonous drinks?
1t will not further enlarge OH this subject,
though il is one about which volumes might
be written. It is subject Of great import
ance to every friend of temperance, aud one
which should be agitated in the present
crisis
DIR. Gilman attended meeting in Chelsea
on Thanksgiving evening, and delivered two
lectures in this city on the matter in ques-
lion. lie is Il gentleman eminently qualified
for the support of the doctrine he has adopt
cd and we hope he may he induced to give
TO the public synopsis of his views in
book form so that we may be thereby ena-
bed TO read carefully, y,and consider thorough
ly his argument. A.
Chelsea, Dec. 4.