The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-07-03
The Opinions OF the Doctors ON the
Use OF Rtlmulant

If We pass on to consider the use of al
cohol as an article of diet, the opinions of
the medical profession are unmistakable.
They have been expressed within the last
few months in a series of articles in the
Contemporary Review, written by some
of the most eminent physicians and sur
geons in London, and among which those
of Sir James Paget and DIR. Moxen were
especially noteworthy. 1t must be re-
membered that the writers have no claim
to any occult knowledge on the subject,
but thew arc traised observers of the con-
ditions which promote or modify health,
and that they are stimulated to observe
correctly by the degree in which their rep
utations might be impaired by the main-
tenance of views which could he shown
to be erroneous. The general effect of
what they have written may be fairly stat
ed somewhat in the following manner:
They hold that the regular, moderate use
of alcoholic drinks as articles of dict is GER
tainly harmless. and possibly 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, especial
ly to brain-workers of small appc-
tite and weak digestion; and that
total abstinance is mode of life
which is conductive TO the welfare OF
| the few rather than ofthc many. As coRdi.
tions of the safe and proper use of alcohol,
| they hold that il 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 avoid
ed, and that the only safe rules as regards
quantity are those which every man
frame for himself, if he will fairly and
honestly observe the immediate and
remete effects of what he takes. Sir John
4 c,r snl,
so often inherent in extreme
simplicity, that in this country total
abstainers and drunkards haye formed two
small minorities, which may be SCI
against each other add disregardcd; and
that the great bulk of the people of Eng
land. are the descendants of many
generations Of modcia ate drinkers. II
moderate drinking were the evil which il
lissometimes said to be, out of place among
nations, it would contrast less favorably
than it does with theplaces ofcommunities
which are much smaller consumers OF
alcohol thau ourselves. In all this the
writers do but affirm the correctness ol
those deductions from practical expert
enc-, which people in general have
already drawn for their own guidance. and
what is called science has much rtC
accomplish before il can be in a position Il
\ traverse these dedications with reasonable
/ prospect OF success. lnere Is yet an
other point of the question which deserves
passing notice, and il is that the un yer
sal craving of mankind for some nervin,
slim ulant would impel them, il alcoho
were rendered inaccessible, TO find substi
tutes, possibly still more hurtful, in drugs
! and it is notorious that among the poorel
classes the use of preparations of opium
has for some time past been steadily in
creasing. Among the more wealthy
these Preparations are. also largely con
sumed, especially in the form of various
anodyne Quack medicines, which are &C
countable for much disease and domestic
misery. OF the abuse of alcohol we hav,
no occasion to speak, Tor it has no defen
ders, but it may not the less be pointet
out that notwithstanding the dieta o
Judges and magistrates, drunkenness i
very often no more than an effect of the yer,
evils of which it is said TO be a cause. l
Is more often an early symptom than
cause of insanity; more often result o
. the weakness of vicious organism than
cause OF vice. On this part of the subjec
great confusion of thought commonly pre-
walls; and it manly arises from the hast
to be didactic Of worthy persons who hav
never learned to be accurate."-[L LOndo'
Times.