The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-06-26
MODERATE DRINKING.
The Opinions of the Doctors on
the Use of Stimulauts.
London Times. June Srd.


IF we pass ON to consider the use of
alcohol as an article of diet, the Opin-
ions of the medical profession are I'M
pistakable. They have been ex-
pressed within the last few months in
a series of articles in the ContempOra-
~ Review, written by some Of the
most eminent physicians and surgeons
in London, and among which those
of Sir james Paget and DR.. Moxon
were especially noteworthy. 1t must
be remembered that the writers have
no claim to any occult knowledge on
the subject, but that they are trained
observers of the conditions which
promote or modify health, and that
they are Stimulated to observe correct>
" by the degree in which their repu-
tations might be impaired by the
maintenance of views which could be
shown to be erroneous. The general
effect of what they have written may
belstated in.'the following manner:
They hold that the regular moderate
use of alcoholic drinks as articles of
diet is certainly harmless, and proba~
bly as beneficial as it is agreeable to
the great majority of the human race
in temperate climates and in civilized
countries; that such use is a matter of
necessity to some, especially to brain
workers of small appetite and weak
digestion; and that total abstinence is
a mode of life which is conducive to
the welfare of the few rather than of
the many. As conditions of the safe
and proper use of alcohol they hold
that it should only be taken with food,
and scarcely except with the principal
meal of the day; that the repetition of
drains should therefore be strictly
avoided; and that the only safe rules
as regards quantity are those which
every man may frame for himself, if
he will fairly and honestly observe the
immediate aud remote effects of what
he takes. Sir James Paget points out,
with the force which is so often inhe-
rent in extreme simplicity, that in
this country total abstainers and
drunkards have formed two small
minorities, which may be set against
each other and disregarded; and that
the great bulk of the people of En-
gland are the descendants of many
generations of moderate drinkers. If
moderate drinking were the evil which
it is sometimes said to be, our place
among nations would contrast less IA
vorably than it does with the places
of communities which are much small
err consumers of alcohol than our
selves. In all this the writers do but
affirm the correctness of those deduc-
tions from practical experience which
people IN general have already drawn
for their own guidance, and what is
called science has much to accom- olish
before it can be in a position to ira
verse these deductions with any rea-
sonabIe prospect Of success. There is
yet another point of the question
which deserves a passing notice, and
it is that the universal craving of
mankind for some nervine stimulant
would impel them, if alcohol were rem
dered inaccessible, to find substitutes,
pnssibly still more hurtfnl, in drugs;
and it is notorious that among the
poorer classes the Use of preparations
of opium has for some time past been
steadily increasing. Among the more
wealthy these preparations are also
largely consumed, especially in the
form of various anodyne quack medi-
cines, which are accountable for much
disease and domestic misery. Of the
abuse of alcohol we have no occasion
to speak, for it has no defenders; but
it may not the less be pointed out
that, Notwithstanding the dictG of
Judges and magistrates, drunkenness
is very often no more than an effect
of the very evils of which it is said to
he a cause. 1t is more often an ear
ly symptom than cause of insanity;
more often a result of the weakness of
vicious organism than a cause of
vice. On this part of the subject
great confusion of thought commonly
prevails; and it mainly arises from the
haste to be didactic of worthy persons
who have never learned TO be accurate.