The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-08-26
Carried Safely Through.

The danger Of reyiYing an old appe-
lite, or Of creating sas new one, BY adj
ministering alcoholic drinks to sick per-
sons has led many console ntious medical
men to abandon the practice.
In the following case is an instance
where patient with the assent and
sympathy cof his physician, refused
strong drink to the very verge Of death.
Trusting in God he fought his battle
through, and conquered. The facts are
condensed from narrative in a recent
address Of a member Of the Women's
Christian Temperance Union.
"A reformed drunkard, after sixteen
years Of faithful adherence to his pledge,
was attacked with .py9mi0, or decay Of
the blood, probably the slow growth Of
seeds sown during his early excuses.
The physician who was called to him
was well aware that wine and malt IL
quors were always prescribed in such
cases, but he shrunk from the RESPONSE
bility Of possibly making the man q
drunkard again-if he recovered. IT,.
The disease is almost incurable, under
any treatment He frankly told his pa
tent so, and submitted to him the ques-
ton of the remedies. The patient re-
ferred it back to him. sts
s'With wife and nine children de-
pendent on me" he said, 81 do not wish
to die; but, doctor, my children know
nothing about strong drink.
The physician was in distressing
dilemma. To withhold the liquors, and
probably lose his patient, seemed almost
like committing a crime against human
life. To prescribe them, and save his
patient would probably only insure the
mans slower ruin. sa
The physician was Christian man
He asked for guidance from Him in
whose hands are the lives of all men, and
decided at last to dispense with all alco-
hoic stimulants, and use only simple
nutrients and correctives. IF he coul6
not restore the mans health, he woulc
do nothing to injure his soul. Ag
The patient, who was also follower
Of Christ, grew weaker every day, bu
his faith in his physician, and his faitl
in his Savior, were touching to see
Week after week he 10y helpless on hi
bed, praying alternately for life, for hi
family, and for resignation. But all tn
time the thought that he was free from
the poison that he hated for the harm
had done him gave him Joy.
ssThank God," he would say, "n
die, 1 shall go into Gods presence
sober man. T" @ CT '~sS ss
At last his friends lnterfered, and IN
sisted that he should take wine. It wa
the only thing that would revive him
they said, for he was almost gone. Blu
he replied: s~a ..a4@,4 .~s
ono, no; if this is the passage fror
life to death, I am happy. Once I wa
dying drunkard, and that was miser
unspeakable. !" 2.. g.
His wife entreated him with tears, br
even she could not move him. ~
ssTake the wine away" he whispered
pointing to it with his feeble fnge
ut nearly lost me heaven once. Tai
it away p ~ a. ..s q. ~.s, Is
By-and-by the crisis came. The phi.
sician in despair wrote what he believe
to be his last prescription, ordered car
full nursing and went away. The patie1
lay scarcely breathing, his attenti,
watcher leaning over him, with fnge
on his pulse. The pulse began to gro
stronger; the breathing became deep.
and more regular. The weeping fami]
IN the neXJ TOOh WtlueO ZOE buo clOS1u
scene. They heard q strange sound an
flushed to the sufferers bedside. TT
poor man had opened his eyes and VI
trying to sing ID
=, Praise God, from whom oil blessings dow.
j. The crisis seemed to be passed, al
the gladness with which wife and CHI
dren joined in that thanksgiving mu
hove made itself heard in heaven. {,
The man got we'll, and that physici.
will always believe that his recovery W
due to the fidelity and Christian tru
which enabled him to keep his Pied
J through trial such as few men wou
care to encounter. ,.-s. e