The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-02-05
SMa;ne Medical Association,

MIR. EDToR,-I have no feeling OF hostility
to this Association, as its members here very
well know. And my letter was intended SIM
ply to express my regret that such society
should publish q paper commencing natural
wines as FOOD, the use Of which is beneficial to
the human system" This. statement your
correspondent "Medieus" says is false
That much stronger language might have
been applied to DR.. Hamln's report no one
will doubt who has read it. 1 did not state
that the association endorsed that paper. 1t is
not pretended that there was any dissent It's
publication" without any ''rebuke" is all that
/ alleged.
The annual meeting of the Association was
in June last, continuing several days. Its pro-
ceedings were reported in the daily papers,
DIR. Hamlio presented the report referred to,
and on motion of DIR. Martin, the Association
voted to accept it and refer to the Committee
on Publications." This made it the property of
the Association, and placed it in the care of its
committee. The same newspaper that con-
tanned the account of these proceedings, con-
tanned portion of the report and its pu5lica-
ton was continued from day to day, extend
ing through some eight columns. If this pub
LEGATION was not "authorized" by the commit
tee, it is very strange. I think that every one,
like myself, must have supposed its publica-
ton to have been authorized, and that the cir
cumstances justified that belief.
1t may be that "Medicus" is Temperance
man." If 50, his fling at ''the temperance re-
formers of our day" is at least in bad taste. If
he is so much wiser than they are on the med
zeal question: he will pardon me for doubling
his competency to declare that they ''discuss
the political phases of the question with zeal
often acithout knoaoledge.''
And even on the medical question, little
modesty would not be unbecoming. If it is
true that no one but doctor is competent
Judge" of this question, when doctors disagree,
other persons may at least decide for them
selves which class to follow. Some of the most
eminent physicians in this country, and in
England, condemn the use of alcohol as q
medicine, except in some rare cases, and
speak in the strongest terms against the COM
mon practice of the profession. 1 could fill
columns from their writings, in support of
what 1 have said. And though claim no
knowledge on the subject except what 1
have received from them, 1 fully agree
WIN ohC VI thS LiOsO pIoLuiDtHb surgeons III
England, in the opinion, that if all ntoxicat-
ing drinks were banished from the earth, it
would be a real blessing to society, and in
few weeks would not be missed, even
as medicine" They may be bene-
fetal in some cases, as the advocates of
their use claim. do not pretend to be COM
petent to decide that they are not. But if so,
it is still true that such use is one great cause
of intemperance. And in addition to this
believe, as medical writer has said, that
"the diseases occasioned by alcohol have been
far more destructive than any plague that ever
ragged in Christendom, and more malignant
than any epidemic pestilence that ever DESC
lated our suffering race" And therefore the
temperance cause instead of finding its greatest
obstaclein the medical profession, ought to find
there its most efficient support. The enor-
nous use of liquors for medicinal purposes
is a matter of frequent testing and ridicule
among men who use liquors as beverage and
is a reproach to the physicians who sanction
it, as well as an injury to the whole commune
ty. WOODBURY. DAVIS.