The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-09

pdft p0ssu with the increased use Of alcoholic
at the Bellevue and Emigrant Hospitals OF New
York also bore decided testimony to the utility
OF those liquors in the treatment OF the same
forms OF fever, and used them largely. But
the mortality was one in every five or six cases
treated The same fevers placed in tents with plenty
holic drinks in their treatment gave mortality OF
only one in seventeen.
Those who imagine that to diminish the waste OF
tissues by diminishing the atomic changes is equva-
lent TO the actual assimilation and addition of new
atoms forgot that all the phenomena OF life in the
physical organism are the direct result OF such
atomic changes: and whatever dimnishes these
actually dminishes physical life-and TO stop them
fessor n. s. Davis, one OF the most emf
nent Of American medical men, and against
whom lies no charge of radicalsm in tempe
rance. Against the OF alcohol accessory food,
Dy us power OF dmishing or retarding metamoraho-
quote from Chambers Renewal Of Life" On page
VI ne says:-"1here cannot be too active a meta
morphosis of tissue-the most active metamorphosls
OF tne BODY possible, the highest possible develop
ment OF life, is heath; the complete cessation of
metamorphosis DEATH; the partial cessation or arrest
IT. then, as these authors have proved, alcohol
always, and In whatever dose used, permeates the
system unchanged and arrests in degree the natural
atomic changes, on which health depends, why shall
we not believe with those whom we have already
guuteu that IL Is always producer OF dlsease ana
never valuable as remedy; and with Doctor Day,
the distinguished physician OF the Inebrate Asylum
at Blng1amton, NJ Y, and with DR.. Joseph Parrish,
me enlightened and philanthropic physician Of the
Sanitarium at Media, Pa, ''that even the appetite
for alcohol is the result Of disease produced by its
use, and with DIR. Kennard, of ST. Louis "that il
always acts by derangng the nervous system"
Having thus disposed of the first part of the
iutlon, we come now to consider the latter clause,
IN winch 1t Is asserted that practice based on COM
mon sense and sound clinical experience and OBJ
serVat0n must take its place, and thus bring heal
ing ana blessings on its wings to the nations of the
earth There are hosts of physicians in this country,
and many in this society, that have unbOundcd faith
iRo IA the present stmulant treatment and exhibit
10 believe that alcohol is not essential to the
treatment of disease. 1t is our duty then to ex-
anime TINS part OF the resolution, to see whether
a modified regenerated practice-a practice that
dispenses with the OF alcoholic stmulants-
would not only be safe but be so advantageous
as to "bring healing and blessings on its wings TO
hanhnd man I0r we are not disposed TO allow the au-
sponsibillty which he has invoked.
The eminent Professor Benjamin Rush was one of
the first in this country of the teachers in medicine
TO speak against the use of alcoholic stimulants and
Professor Chapman, one OF the brightest ornaments
of our profession near the close OF life ana after
long medical experience, said d:-"It is the sacred
duty of every one exercising the profession of med-
cne to unite with the moralist, the divine, and the
economist in discOuraging the consumption of those
baneu articles, and the first step in the reforma
ton to dtscOuntcnGnce the bdnefUl notion f their Tec
dial eGcdcy'
Professor Seward. of Washington City, says:-
"While we are convinced that there is no case in
which ardent spirits are Indispensable, and for
which there is not an adequate substitute, we are
equally assured that long there is exception
allowed and men are permitted TO use it as medi-
cine, so long we shall have inyalids and drunkards
among U.S.
The eminent DR.. Muzzey of Cincinnati, declared:
ITO place among preventiyes Of disease
sprituOus drinks can present but the most feeble
claims. The best protection against disease is de-
rived from natural healthy unluctuating state OF
vital action sustained by plain articles of nutrl-
ment uninfuenced 10y any innutrltious drinking of
stimuli which operate on the whole nervous power.
There is the most appalling evidence OF the PERM
cious influence of Intoxicating liquors in preparing
the constitution for an attack OF cholera Tpplers,
exposed to the exciting causes OF innammatory,
epidemic and contagious diseases, are liable to at
tack, and die in great numbers. Witness the results
in epidemic pleurises pneumonia, the severe forms
of influenza, pestlential fevers and cholera
Thus spoke this great medical practitioner, and
yet universal has the belief in the preventive and
remedial powers of alcohol become; so universally
is it prescribed, that Dr. John Bell one of the Oldest
and most learned physicians of Philadelphia, during
the last VISITATION OF cnoera to ths county at
upon to denounce their use in that disease as MUIR
poison TIE alcOhotc p dctice is nlrderOuS Too much
mas induced belief that stimuants are necessary in
the treatment The proportion of deaths from this
PEasce ca that SgaSS padsG rne IS out f t Tg
one which, he feared, twas encouraged by the pro-
fession. 1t was most fallacious and, he might
drinks was preventive of disease. 1t was argued
some years ago that fever might be Kept OF by
their use, but the faacy of that argument had been
concluslvely shown"
~. y" Pei Pei was iomowed by DR.. Nebnger 50 well and
layorably known to us all as a conscientious and
ana rngga a h OF @
Gus speaker has objected to the publication Of his
remarks Qn the public papers, IN reference to the
drinks as .preventves of cholera, and his
wel-uttered denunciations of the prac-
tCe, for they are not only well worthy OF
publication but deserve to be published in letters OF
gold that they might attract and be read by every
eye. The terrihcally bad effects of the recommenda
ton by the faculty of Philadelphia and other places
in 1882 and 1S49 the use OF alcoholic beverages as
preventive Of cholera, is well known: Dr. Bell had
wisels raised his voice against practice which,
while it was well calculated to contaminate the
morals, so distempered the body as to produce
predisposton TO an attack Of the malady 1t was i'm
properly used to prevent To these bold, many
uterances of those scientific physicians made in the
presence of their fellows, there was no dissenting
voice, and still the murderous practice goes on We
have already shown that fevers are cured better
without them than with them. If, then, in the
fearful prostraton OF feVers and cholera they are
not needed, where shall we use them?
The eminent surgeon Of Nottingham, Mr. Hggin-
bottom, writes: III all Intoxicating drinks were
banished from the earth it would be real blessing,
and in few weeks they would not be missed even
rantly gave alcohol in some diseases as was
customary, yet as early as the year 1913, |
discontinued 1t in typhus typhoid and other fever5
with the most marked beneficial results. For thirty
years have not prescribed alcohol q medicine. I
have discovered "a great truth and made great dis
c0Very-that alcohol in every form may be dis
pensed with in medical and surgical practice and
Is not required f single disorder or disease. My prac
tice has been open TO hourly inspection and obserVa-
ton for thirty years or more, IN the centre OF large
and populous town, surrounded by more than forty
surgeons and physicians, most OF them intelligent
and discerning men. Surely some one OF them
would have informed me OF my lnsulcienCy or NAL
practice, had been IN error; During
seen single disease cured by alcohol;
on the contrary, it is the most fertile producer OF
disease. II is destitute of any medicinal principle
implanted by the Creator in genuine medicines" :"
and, quoting from medical writer, he says :-"The
diseases occasioned I'm alcohol have been by far