Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-12-31
lrsr The Journal and sisr.,man.l

Ma. EDlTob
have noticed in the papers, from
time TO time, various articles on Sanitary Reg
ula,ions, emanalig from various sources, and
which prescribed rules and regulations for the
government OF the men, who are now in the
service of the country. The most of these are
very excellent in theory, but the all important
point of attack seems 10 be the use of distilled
and fermenied liquors. All of these regnla-
tiOns agree on one point, that all stimulating
drinks should be prohibited. Notwithstanding
all these admonitions the evil has become so
general and-I was going to say universal
that an appeal has been made to Congress for
law, which has been promptly passed, which
is intended to prevent an opportunity Of oh
tanning ANYTHING of the kind. Now is IL pos
sible that any one who has seen the working
of the Maine Law, so called, in several States
for years past, is so yerdant as to believe that
any legislation will prevent intemperance in
the army2 Will 1t not rather whilst il will
make teetOtallers of some temperate persons
provoke others, on all possible occasions, tO
indulge in excesses that they would not other
wise be guilty Of Professionally have had
considerable experience with those who have
used stimulapts TO excess and after summing
up an experience and observation Of forty
years have become fully convinced that the
whole Temperance reform is at hest failure.
am well aware that am placing myself in
Il very unpopular position by such a broad as.
sertion That the Pulpit, the Press, and that
popular opinion are apparently against me-
Bnt never did, and trust never shall, hesi
tate TO speak my honest opinion on all proper
occasions When look back TO the days of
my childhood, when Clergyman would take
Il social glass even on Sunday, without fear of
committing the objectionable SIN, | cannot
help but ask, where were the Incorporate, the
drunken nanacs that we meet now on almost
every street corner7 "They were very few
and lar betweenp lean scarcely recollect of
having seen, in my boyhood days, man (an'l
never woman) lying insensible by the road
side During the time that hOme-made beer
and cider were in daily use, and stronger drink
on all special occasions, and somewhat gene
val with those who could afford it.
That there was need of reform in these
lays am ready to admit, and moral suasion
done Il great deal Of good, but legislation or
some other cause, has increased the evil to
such an extent that it is becoming truly fright
full.
But have strayed somewhat from my sub
ect viz "The effects likely 10 ensne, in com
sequence Of the rules laid down for the men
in The army" 1t is well-khown fact that a
very large percentage of the men who have
gone to fight the battles of our common coun-
try are those who have been in the daily use
OF stimulating drinks for years, mnyhap during
their whole life, and whose systems have be-
come so accustomed to its use that some med
ical treatment would have TO be resorted TO in
order to counteract its effects, without any
other change of situation.
Now, does any one believe that such men
can be taken from their usual diet and sent Ia
regions where the atmosphere is impregnated
with nOxions maleTia, where the water is i'm
pnre, and their whole regimen different FROM
what they have been used to, aud be of any
other use than TO fill up the hospitals and MAKE
work for doctors and nurses Would il nO
) be better TO advise all to continue as near AZ
possible their usual mode of living in all re-
| snects avoiding all sudden changes, and il
place of total abstinence substitute Temperance
in nll things? | am, at least, of the opinion
that such course would materially dinlinish
the list of the sick, and consequently curtai
the expenses, while at the same time the sol
A dcra, instead of being the moveless being.
Il which deprivation of their accustomed stim-
u nlant causes them 10 appear, would be braceC
n up like men determined
1. "To fight and conquer, Of if nseds to die"
/, j. A. BROWN.
Living Homo, Wilmington, July, 1861.
p. S.-Since writing the above in July last
have visited many Of the camps and most o
the hospitals in and around Washington Nut
am more than ever convinced of the correct
ness of the views therein expressed. 1t APP
pears by the following extract from the CORES
pondence of the New York Tribune, of Dee
e l4th, that experience is teaching some OF III,
ID Surgeons what those who issued sanitary reg
: ulaiions did not understand:
! " In the cold and rain, aud up 10 their waist
$, in water they worked ill midnight, gettiul
safely on shore Tho entire contents of th
boats, consisting of Qnartermasler's Commits
Is sary, and ordnance stores to the amount o
III several thousand dollars. After eyerythin,
/ was safe the men were called together b.
OF Capt. Saxton and thanked for their exerlions
NJ They responded with three cheers for the cap
10 tain, and then three more whisky was serve
ont to all, including the contrabands, who ha'
worked with will under their superintendent
Mr. Lee and the men turned in none the wors
tor their efforts, while Government is conslitr
in ably richer, The practice of allowing whis
key for extra work, however much it ma,
es startle the teetotal public, ought to have bee
adopted from the first moment Of landing
of Men who are obliged TO work late at night an
all night in the water, going to sleep in We
,st clothes because they have no dry oue5 to pu
ng on, absolutely require moderate allowance {
spirits. Iti5 the opinion of the surgeons tha
much Of the sickness which has resulted ia