Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-07-17
rREscRIBrNG LIQUORS AS MEDI-
CINE.

For many years alcoholic liq-
uors in various forms stood high
with the physicians our coun-
try as the great panacea Of many
of the ills .'flesh is heir to-" In
these days of "enlightened civil
Iization" many of the wisest ply
lsicians. of the age are describing
it altogether from their practice;
admitting, as many do, that it
may be useful in some cases, but
it will almost always admit of a
substitute. In view of the many
evils arising from an indiscrimi-
nate use Of iDtoNcants, methinks
it were wise if our physicians
would think twice before prcscri-
bing liquors as medicine; for
what though they should save
the life Of a person for the time
being (Which, backed by the best
authority, ] shall doubt as beng
the case but rarely at mosD what
honor wien by this means the
patient becomes a Slave to an APP
petite which always deefades,
and almost always shortens life.
The evils Of this kind most fire.
lquentIy falling under my own
observation are cases where ply
sicians haYe prescribed brandy
to arrest the progress of pulmo-
nary diseases; [ have known
young men, fair and honorable,
Intelligent, their parents pride,
free from bad habits, whoItllink-
ing themselves threatened with
that insidiops, enemy Of the hui
man race, consumption, have APP
piled to their physicians. for. some
thing to arrest the disease, when
strong apple brandy was pre-
scribed. And the result of that
prescription to-day, such young
men are but wrecks, made so by-I
i debasing appetite, and this APP
petite formed by following ply
sician's prescription. Some of |
the best medical authority in the |
world deny that alcohol is good |
for pulmonary diseases. DIR.
Copeland says: "I'he lungs Of |
incorporate subjects are stated |
by sometWriters to be less label
to consumption than those of |
temperate persons; butthis does
not accord with the facts of the
case. The free use Of alcoholic |
drinks IS not only a poacertuy
Predssposing, Jm erecting cause
Of tubercular or pulmonary con-
sumption. And such individu-
ais ioftener succumb to lung dis
eases than to disease Of any 9th
er organ. AS alcohol is convey
ed TO the lungs through the me-
dunn of the circulation, as it es-
capes through the exhalant YES
sells, it necessarily comes in con-
tact with the delicate mucus
membrane Of the tIachia, broachi
and air cells, and by the irrita-
ton it there occasions induces
cough and labored breathing.
The membrane is thus constant
" predisposed to inflammatory
attacks; and the copious expect
orations met with in Incorporate
subjects indicate the congested
condition Of the organ. That
pulmonary consumption often o.
in the, use of intoxica-
ting liquors, we believe is in ac-
eordance with the experience of
every practical physician DIR.
Mcl.ane has assured us he has
at least fifty cases Of
fatal consumption of the lungs
brought on by intemperance."
In London they have a temper
NICE hospital where all kinds Of
diseases and accidents are treat
ID without alcohol, and it is
ound that a much larger per
tent. of patients recover than in
my other way Of treating. The
leath rate is much less than in
'ther hospitals wheremore or less In
liquor is allowed to be used by
he physicians. / think if physi-
ians would bring themselves to
link about these recurring evils
nd study the subject properly,
ley would discard alcoholic liq-
or altogether from their prac-
&c at least as unnecessary, If k
OF convinced that it is injurious. c
We clip the following from the
Y eekly Rescue, Los Angeles, !
al. Life insurance companies :.
i've us some very valuable sta