The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-10-20
Alcoholic Stinulants.
BY o. W. TRUE.


~ J. Homeopathic Medicai .SocictY, u
there was read a paper upon "Stimu.
lants and their uses as Medical Hob.
by" by DR.. ii. V. Miller The discus
sion and resolves it elected are here
transcribed from the printed report.
DR.. Hawley could mention but one
case where stimulants had, in his prac-
ticc, seemed beneficial. He had not for
some years rcsorted to stimulants. If
used at all, they should be used hom@o-
pathically and not cmpirically. He
would prefer not to use them at all,
rather than have his patients die drunk
ards. If alcohol be used at all, it
should be used according to it's provings.
DR.. j. G. Bigclow taboocd stimu-
lants. lie could scarcely mention a
case where they had ever done any good.
DR.. Clary had used them to some
extent, but not as rule, because he
was afraid of the danger of making iu-
cbriatcs. He had seen men in this city
Syracuse, n. W die of dclirium tire.
mems, who had previously taken alcohol
for incipicnt consumption, thus creating
an appetite for stimulants.
DR.. Wells strongly opposed the
medical use of alcoholic stimulants,
citing some striking instances in his
practice. He claimed that their tcnden-
cy was to intcmperancc, aud that there
was moral responsibility resting upon
physicians in regard to their use which
they could not evadc. lie stated that
where, in cases Of sudden prostration,
some stimulant was needed, Camphor in
his hands had acted like charm, with
no bad effects. Dose same as any other
medicine.
Dir. Stow offered the following pre-
amblc and resolutions, which were unan-
imously adopted
Whereas, Alcoholic stimulation is a
great and crying evil, and causing more
crime and pauperism than any and all
other habits; and,
Whereas, The commor,uedical prac
ticc Of administering or advising alco-
holic spirits has been, and is, VIGOROUSLY
customary, and is without doubt pro
ductive of much intemperance, is great
stumbling block in the way of the weak,
and is subtcrfugc for thousands there.
fore
RcsoigcI, BY this Society, that the
empirical use of all alcoholic spirits is
unscientifc and disastrous in the ex.
tremc, and when used, they must be
used i'll accordance with homeopathic
principles"
For one, am glad to sec that this
important subject is beginning to be agi-
tated in Medical Societies. The rcck-
less custom which has become entirely
too common an occurrence to be igno.
rantly winked at, of aiding and abetting
those who arc already sick from the solcs
of their feet to the crown of their head,
by a medical prescription to more of the
very thing which has caused them to be
where they are, is truly a crying evil
which ought to be held up to the light
of reform; and those, too, who will
stoop so low, just TOR u fee and, pros
pectively, as often is the case, to gain
the favor and patronage of these unfor
tunate ones and worse still, in too
many instances entirely for the honor
of the medical profession, to thus be en-
ablod to share the spoils with the pa
tient.
Having observed the pros and cons
for some twenty years to the best Of my
ability, it being a subject of peculiar in
terest thrust upon ne, by weighing and
comparing the observations of both sides
by advising the prescribed or medically
recognized use few times; by permit.
ting its use more times; and by watch
ing its use many, many more times, un
der the directions of physicians and non
physicians, [ can scarcely cali to mind a
case of real benefit to the user, but which
could have been obtained otherwise, as
quickly, more safely, and quite as easily.
From these considerations, and many
others, with the dangers from the use of
alcoholic Stimulants, in its hydra-hcaded
forms, staring me in the face upon each
hand and every side, to the stranger, to
the acquaintance, to my friends, say,
to the above resolves, q hearty Amen !