New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-03
TEMPERANCE DISCUSSION.

WHERE EMINENT PHYSICIANS HAVE CEASED TO
PRESCRIBE ALCoHoL-EyIDENCE OF ITS LACK OF
VALUE AS FOOD.
70 fs Edftor Of rae rribans.
SIR: In his address before the NewYo rk
Neurological Society on Monday evening Ath inst. Dr.
Hammond said reference 10 alcoholic prescriptions
try do without them, for fearful OF
citing a thirst which will not stop at my bidding 4"
But for all that he proceeds 10 contend that alcohol
some other is the anchor Of our hopes
The illustration by which DIR. Hammond endeavored 10
defend his administering this very dangerous article
which he 50 graphically described. wholly fails TO meet
the case. am responsible" he said. for the
consequences of any than should be for the
shipwreck Of child whom had in good faith sent
a voyage TO Europe" IT, with many different lines OF
steamers 10 Europe some OF them known TO have never
lost life from their vessels in o quarter of
fury. and Others OF them known have
gone voyage without some mishap and sacrifice OF the
hives of the passengers DIR. Hammond selected OF
latter very unsafe and dangerous line, when the
safe and secure even less expensive surely he
would lie clear OF all responsibility" OF the ship
wreck OF the child d" And this exactly what nc does
IN prescribing alcoholic liquors incidentally. He knows
their angerous tendencies He is well aware the
numerous diseases which their creates. He feels
that the medicinal may, and often does, excite
thirst which will not stop at his bidding" and then
with all these dangers, which he fears, staring him
IN face, he still persists prescribing alcohol
medicine when has been fully aud clearly proved by
leading yscians that be entirely abandoned
with advantage tue treatment of all diseases Just
bleeding has been abandoned. Under these circum-
stances DR.. Hammond, with all respect is responsible
for tie consequences of any aftcr-abuse.'
To who have made the question OF alcohol and
y effects the human system a study. of DR..
Hammond's experiments and discoveries" either
novel DR.. Prout experimental on himself
and published the results in 1873 in Annals OF Phos
ophy7 Vol H. and Vol. ~, and those experiments and
the experience gained by them in the early part of the
present century much more interesting and mpOr-
tant than anything that DR.. Hammond has gwen
IN 1874
The oldest surgeon in the world to-day Dr. Higgin-
sotham OF Nottingham. England, now about SO years
old las never used alcohol in any form with his pa
tents Tor period OF fifty years practice, aud
consequence has had than the ordinary rate of
ality There has been more trusted ply scian
IL that district OF England than he.
Or. James Etmunds of No. Fitzrov-square. London,
OF the best known aud most skilifu physicians,
and he alcohol IN any form the treatment
Of disease. He is especially famous ladies'
physician. and has been for the head of yingn
hospital. His treatment has always shown a smaller
mortality than in any like institution where alcoholic
hauurs are used The fever hospital and infrmary OF
the LOngOrd POOrbouse, Ireland, have been managed
or the principle excluding all alcoholic liquors in the
treatment disease the nourishment of the patients.
d. Ncols OF Longord has conducted these institutions
OF MS ~ stem Il fctIns llAsH Law NOn-
nisuouers have investigated the results repeatedly
sometimes on the motion of temperance WHO
wanted the facts 70 sustain their views sometimes
complaints originating with wine and whisky merchants
that tie sick poor being starved-but invariably
with the same result. the deathrate of the LOngford
hospital and inhrmary showing the lowest percentage
pOOThouse hospitals in Ireland and OF course
the greatest percentage Of cases cured.
The great Fever Hospital OF Glasgow, scotland, Is in
charge OF Dr. W. T. Gardner, Professor OF Physicn the
University Of Glasgow. In Ihe Lancet OF March u,
1864 Dr. Garduer published the results OF his experience
in ts fever hospital, and after giving the Stats
ucs he writes: " MILK, Or Outtermllk Is with me the
food that can depended To give wine. whisky,
AnG beef while Withholding mix, Is simply IN my
opinion. 20 destroy your p2tleuis.' Guys Hospital,
London, Is the largest fever hospital IN the world IL Is
charge OF Dr. Wks- who. IN me Lancer OF teDruary
well II left alone. OF this fact could nov quote a
Lrs number in proof; and, on the contrary,
tAe ieS which have seen END fatally nave been
these iu which large amount OF sllmulahV Ma gwen
FROM tEe commencement OF me disease. iue WIN
crawl OF stimulus III cases where II was auopteu iit
drs a. the method OF treatment, has been attended
vith the most decided advantage
Unlrss Or Hammond has discarded alcohol and tried
uE u hi. stead IN fever. he knows only MS alcoholic
experience and no other anu II bot quilneu 10 pe ou
yhe subject Dr. Hammond states that "atcOhOl re-
iars the destruction OF the tissues by TINS destruc-
aor force is generated muscles contract, thoughts are
developed organs secrete and excrete" Now. allow me
i, ,c, az any od thin to retard the whole process by
which the physical and mental energies VI nan are ths
fhe direct experiments Of DR.. Prout in 1873" Annals
Of Philosophy NO. II. p S2s ana Vol ~ !: S9I S'tee
proving that alcohol De placed among the foes OF
HE Il opposes the change Of mate ana o cons
Ilfnt the development OF strength ana dliuLn!shes the
vital power 20 an extraordinary degree.
Tie Arab steed, the wel!-Ured rAcehorse, the thoI
sugny trained athlete art al samples Ot hy 5lcal ,te
ve.Opment where destruction OF tissues taxes Tue
pstr conrsa The Stalled and the Oyererown swine
ready butchers knife, are specimens OF animals
IN which "the destruction Of tissues mas been re
tarde4 and fatty generation mas replaced physIca
d.. Il ni1ond asks: If alcohol is no. food, what IS
n Q" Why nd he not answer this himself Aicolol IS a
volatile nId lighter than water ncapaoe oI icing a,
nmlted nto living TISSUES IN ne aula ec9uoinl tt
consequently j. not food IN any sens, aLd c0ud Aot
possibly food. DR. Hammond admits that " II 10 not
arrnonsrraoe az present. That II uHdergoes COZ SersiDn
INTO tlsuc." III science SAYS Dr. Hammond we
believe nothing which j. not demonstrateh' - -,
Ii coho bt used up in the BODY for its sustenance in
ans form. viii Or. Hammond INFORM ne what dcllya
sy-tems H. tells u how he found the alcohol itself
II used up IN the body II Would not De iouad ~
deuyde Is dervatiye OF alcohol lust as sure 70 De met
with, II the alcohol were consumed III me Dody. a.
ashes lien coal is burned IN CRATE. Will Dr. Ham
uo.d sav when alGehydC La, been found IN tLe blood
-'rcr nv evreTiuent- With alcohol II the alcohol DO
lp ss food the aideAyde must be readily found
Unt the derivatives OF alcohol are discovered m the
body j. tAaE absurd Tor Dr HamnonG 10 tell Us
Df Hammond says: When a man finds feels that
tie wear aud tear hls mind and body are essened by
,la.-Or two of vine al MS dinner why should nc not
tkeltF' 1, tnis Dr. HammOud's new philosophy Man
l. ~ Judge OF the use OF vrulent poison Ike alcohol
BY own feeling under lis narcotic influence. GA TN,
grould every opium smoker VINO Is raised HlIancV 70
bird heaven. an eIyslJn Of delightful inIat I-.i"
sngt ~ indulge niusslt 10 lis hearts Content when
be md. teesi that the and tear bis mind
D.. body are .c-seDed."
I shall only touch one two points IN conclusion
Tha alcohOt AID aud could and digestion h.
proved hv the fact gcpsn 10 be precip
tailed and cOnseG uently digestion II actually stopped
wholly until the alcohol expelled from the stomach
through the excretve organs Of the body Including the
lungs aud the pores skin. Dr. Munroe OF Hull has
shown TINS glass tubes, where the proce OF digestion
the retzrdlu OF IL carried on under jhe ewes
o. Ia. pupils ia TIE Hull School OF Medicine. Dr. Beau
mont also fully proved 80 by the actual digestion seen
taking place and being retarded in the stomach OF Alexis
Ell. MARTA.