Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-06-15
TEMPERANCE COLUMN
Medical Dram Drinking.

WIN person WHO uIScafuS tneT use
even in a medical way. But the
great body of temperance men and
women are pledged only against their
use "as beverage" Although we
fully endorse the common pledge, yet
we frankly admit that the use of
strong drink as medicine often
proves a stumbling block. People
use it sometimes when it is wholly
unnecessary. They use it without
consulting the family physician as they
would scarcely use other medicines.
Cider is used daily by some persons
! for a weak or dyspeptic stomach, and
the remedy is sometimes continued
for years. We do not say that all
this is unnecessary-that no case of
the prolonged use of Intoxicating
drinks as a medicine is consistent
with temperance principles. But
there is an important consideration
to be regarded here. Admitting
that Intoxicating drinks are beneficial
to a person as medicine, may not
circumstances arise to make it his
bounden duty to forego their use?
May not the principle of selfdenial,
and the duty Of being on the safe side,
impose the obligation to do without
them?
DR.. Justin Edwards related an in
cident in one of his reports that bears
upon this point. When the first
efforts for temperance were made, on
the basis of total abstinence, an aged
gentleman in Vermont became deeply
interested in the good work. He
was feeble, and used Intoxicating
drink daily as medical prescription.
He felt almost constrained to aban-
don the use Of all alcoholic medicines
as duty. He feared that his exam
| pie would be pleaded by others as an
excuse for the improper use of liquors.
His family physician warned him
against abandoning his usual medical
dram-drinking. at will prove fatal
to you, he said. "a man of your
age and infirmities needs such stim-
ulant to prolong life Still the pa
tient was not satisfied.
He attended a very enthusiastic
i temperance meeting at subsequent
period, where many facts were pre-
sented, showing that the movement
was necessary to save our conntry-
that we should become a nation of
drunkards, if christians and good cit
liens did not combine their example
and influence In the exercise of no
BILE self denial, and turn back the tide
Of misery and death The old man
listened-and resolved. He sprang
to his feet and said he "mnst give
his name to the pledge" Although
the physician had warned him against
such a step as suicidal and loving
friends had besought him to continue
his medical drains, he was fully re-
solved to abandon them altogether,
lest his example might be pleaded
against the cause. "When the British
were marching upon Bennington, he
continued, +" l was the captain of a
military company. | lay sick with
f fever at the time. The news came
that the enemy was moving On that
| place. Against the advice of my
: physician and the expostalations of
my friends, rose from my bed and
= led my company to Bennington,
/, When we approached the river, which
: we were obliged to ford, stalwart
!, soldier bore me across upon his back.
We entered the town, met the foe,
fought and conquered, and | returned
in safety to my home. l risked my
a life then for my country, and | feel it
e my duty to risk it now." He signed
/ the pledge and kept it.
+ Now who will say that the staunch
: old patriot was not right? If it was
+ his duty to risk his life for his country
: in the Revolution, might it not have
g been his duty to incnr similar peril
: for the land he loved, by abandoning
the medical use of alcoholic drinks
Not that he would have actually VIC.
lated the total abstinence pledge by
{ continuing the medicine by the ad-
: vice of a physician but he felt that
|. his practice would be misconstrued-
Il that his motives would be misunder.
Il stood, aud that his course might be
,. considered inconsistent with profes-
u sions of total abstinence. He pre-
4 ferred to set an example that could
! not possibly be construed against the
{ cause Of temperance. He could fine
u satisfaction in that course. 1t would
. be self-denying-just what the Bible
;" required him to practice for the sake
of his fellow-men. If the patriot, tht
missionary and other persons wht
s. labor for the welfare of the human
lie family, must sometimes hazard life il
n, fulfllment of their sublime mission
to then God might be asking him to dt
20 the same as temperance philanthrop
le ist. The old warrior was right.
"a We commend his example to thos
h. persons who are so feeble that the
r must use Intoxicating drinks habitu
m ally in some form, and thereby furnis
or the occasion for ridicule, and th
ne rejection of the pledge by som
T. people. Perhaps it would be bette
ar to die, or, if not that, to be sic
nc than thus to prove a stumbling-bloc
is Ito the weakest soul. Let such De-
III sons ask themselves how long eide
OF wine brandy, ale or porter would
IS. used as medicine, were they as di
agreeable as castor oil or ippeca
In the shortest possible time the ren
et- edy would be discontinued. We sa
IS; ;|nothing against the real necessity tn.
i may exist for the use of intoxicatin
drinks as medicine, but we do co
'us denim medical dram-drinking when Il