The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-04-17
From the Milan Advertiser.
To Medical Men and Others Here and
Elsewhere:

AZ GASuACa4 IASu ana OLQSrS aoI6 ana
Elsewhere:
In times as the present when the temper
ance fever has taken hold of the people, the
existing excitement will naturally increase
and gather force day by day and men of sound
and deliberate judgment will become af-
fected, and sooner or later will be drawn into
this whirlpool to the danger of Judgment and
medical progress and the health and life of
suffering humanity. Therefore, it would be
well to pause and not lend too willing ear to
this absorbing social pressure
Without saying anything regarding the
means made use of in the present great tenn
perance movement, it would perhaps be policy
not snly for medical men but all intelligent
classes to rally around certain faets-facts
which bear upon the uses of alcohol in the
reatment of disease.
Experiments of Lallemand, Duroy, Perrin,
DR.. E. Smith and others, eoinciding with the
experience of every intelligent, progressive
physician, have proven that persons can be
supported for many weeks on diet consisting
ChbA4OAl VI dkC0AO obkLuu1duISs
Long before those experiments, however,
discussions of this question had proven the
good influence of alcoholic stimulants in the
treatment of acute diseases; and with the
larger section of medical men, within the last
20 years, alcohol had formerly settled its rep
utatioa as curative and supporting agent.
With some, as the late Dr. Todd, alcohol took
the place of bleeding and mercury and all 9TH
er active measures, not only in the treatment
of continued Fevers and Eryseplas, but in
acute inaammations of lung and heart. Others,
whilst they have not pushed the use of brandy
and wine to the same extent, have used them
more freely in acute diseases, gave them ear
ier, and have in the majority Of cases replaced
the bleeding, purging, nauseating and starv-
ing formerly in vogue,by general supporting
plan of treatment, of which the use of brandy
and wine in regular but moderate doses has
been principal feauture. Nevertheless there
is no doubt that much injury was formerly in
Aictsd in certain diseases by the reckless ad-
ministration of alcohol, which was neither
supported by science nor common sense; but,
on the whole, less harm Is likely to accrue
from over-stimulation than over-depIetion. In
conclusion We will quote the results of long
experience with slcoholin acute infammations
and fevers, by DR.. Blakeston:
l. The administration Of alcoholic stImu-
lants was found advantageous in the great
majority Of acute diseases.
2. The earlier they were given, the less was
the amount required in the course of the dis
ease.
3. When given in the early stages OF the
disease, they seemed to shorten its duration in
some cases, and in all 70 induce speedy con-
valessnos.
4. On the contrary, when the administra-
ton Of stimulants was deferred, the course Of
disease and its conyalessncs was more pro-
tracted, and much larger doses required.
8. When suddenly and totally discontinued
during the course OF the illness, serious, and
in some cases fatal effects ensued.
6. In no case was habit of ofdrinking known
10 be induced, and very rarely was any chrou-
" hAoSaoCa 1SCA " NAAoO OAb VI K.
According to DR.. Murchison and others the
indications (regardless of special
iiseases) require the use of stimulants, viz:
When there is tendency to syncops or
iainting, when the patient is raised to a semi
srect position; an eruption becoming darker
and more copious; profuse perspirations, with
no improvement in general symptoms cold
ness Of the extremities ; marked presence Of
he typhoid state, such as low delirium, tre- |
nors, twitchings and dry brown tongue; the
presence Of complications, as Pyaemia, Ery- |
Iipelas, Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Bedsores
persons of fintemperate habits or of advanced |
years.
Port, sherry, madeira, brandy, gin and |
whisky are the forms in which alcohol is best |
given. Malt liquors are best adapted for con-
7alesence. Spirits should be given diluted
ced soda-water is the best vehicle, but when |
yreat prostration exists, hot brandy or whisky |
punch is the best stimulant. They should be
yiyen in divided doses, frequently repeated.
N urget cases a dose may be given every hour
md as a rule a larger quantity is required
Turing the night and towards morning, for it
S usually in the early morning that the vital
,owers are at lowest ebb. Many patients are
lost from negligence at this time.
the quantity it would be best to
,egin with, OF. of wine In "A hours and
watch its effects. 1t will be rarely necessary
o give more than OF. of brandy daily at any
,eriod Of the fever. It is astonishing how
much some persons, of previously temperate
ives, can take with advantage. In urgent
asss they should be persisted in as long az
be patient is able to swallow; apparently
opeless cases have been known to recover
Inder frequent enemas of beef tea and bran
y. When the symptoms improve, the guam
Ity should be reduced, and smaller doses Civ
n at longer intervals. In most cases of great
rostration, It is as well TO combine other
timalaats aa ether and anacnia with wine and 7
Dz, B. sEe2xz. >