The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-12-20
BEFORE THE PRIME.
BY KATE PUTNAM osGooD

10 prove your heart is wholly mine.
ALI, were it so But listen, Dear
Bethink you how, this very year,
With fond impotence you were fam
To watch the earth grow green again
When April's yiolets. here and there,
Surprised the unexpectant air,
You searched them out, and brought me some,
To show, you said, that spring was come.
But, sweetheart, when the lavish May
Rained flowers and fragrance round your way,
You had no thought her bloom to bring
To prove the presence of the spring
Believe me, when Loves April time
Shall ripen to it's perfect prime,
You will not need a sign, to know
What every glance and breath will show
July Atlantic.
AS A MEDICINE.-Dr J. A. Will
Jams, of Alvin, Illinois, recently con-
tributed an able paper on alcohol as a
medicine AS he ranks high among
medical men, his opinions are worthy
of consideration. We copy the follow
ing:
No doubt much negative good has
been accomplished by their united
efforts, yet the curse still exists and
fourishes, despite the efforts of it's op-
posers. In no other department. Of re-
formatory endeavor have such gigan-
tic efforts produced such diminutive
results. This arises, not from lack Of
zeal on the part Of temperance adve-
from a false basis. [ am aware this is
a grave assertion, but [ shall show it
| is literally true. Temperance advo-
Gates have long had the weight Of the
moral, the social, and the financial ar
guments in their favor, but they have
constantly allowed the scientific argu-
ments to be used against them, and it
is by this test that their worthy cause
will ultimately stand Or fall. Hither-
to they have continually, wrongfully,
and gratuitously admitted that howey-
er bad alcohol may be as a beverage,
that it is most Uazatabze and laadispea2-
sable as a medicine They have incon-
sistently held that taking alcohol is
morally wrong but scientifically right,
as though there could be any conflict
between true science and sound moral
ity. This is the grand error-the rot
ten plank-in the temperance plat
form, and the sooner it's champions
recognize it and make due correction
1.-THE better for the cause. Indeed, there
is no ground to hope for success until
/ this is done.
The medical use is the stronghold
the Gibraltar-of King Alcohol into
which he always retires when hard
pressed by his foes, and here most Of
them have been content to fold their
banners and go into camp in front of
this bulWark, without even a thought
OF attempting to modest him. Herein
is a fatal mistake. 1t is on this very
spot that each successive temperance
campaign has come to an inglorious
end. Not only have they conceded his
right to occupy this fortress, but many
valiant soldiers, who are ever ready to
help drive the naughty tyrant thus far,
always desert at this point to the
enemy, to help him defend this, his
last position.
Just so long as this "last ditch" is
deemed impregnable, and his right to
occupy it is conceded and even defend
ed by so-called temperance reformers,
just that long will this evil monarch
wear his royal crown.
/ Medical use! What grand delusion!
No sooner does the tippler become
weak and languid from the use of
strong drink, than he feels that he
needs a automatically, Of course-to
."brace him up" The confirmed inebri-
ate, with trembling nerves nstead-
led by runa-"feels'' that he needs it
medically to "steady his nerves.
Another one ''needs" it to "cure his
cold,' and yet another ito prevent dis
ease"
just as long as medical use is con-
coded, men will find excuse to use it |
medically whenever their morbid appe-
titles crave it. |
But temperance people are not Who'll |
ly responsible for the false position in
which they have been placed. They |
have been misled by their medical au-
thors, and schools have taught that al
cohol is respiratory food'-that it
supports vitality" or gives force, or
imparts strength.
This is the fatal error. All the drug
and medical schools in Christendom
teach that alcohol "acts" upon the sys-
tenn, yet none of them are able to ex-
plain hon it acts. This point is all-im-
portant. A distinguished medical au-
thor has we'll said: ut is pivotal" It
alcohol does act upon the system; IT it
is respiratory food, If it supports vital
lty, or imparts strength, or gives force,
by all means use it. But this is the
precise point Of error. Alcohol is a
dead, inert, inorganic substance. The
living system acts upon it, but there Is
no shadow of proof that the alcohol
does anything. It is entirely passive.
1t Is taken to the mouth, swallowed By
Che muSc1nc racniund hV thn StOmach.4 T.