The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-07-29
Is Alcohol a Medicine 4?

Why " strain ut gnat and then
swallow Il camel p OF, which is equal
ly inconsistent, To strangle ut alcohol
and then swallow opium. These
thoughts were induced by reading the
paper of DR.. :. n. Davis of the Chici.
go Medical College presented before
the national temperance convention
1T Saratoga. June 22nd, in which
paper is presented about all the ar
gument against the use of alcohol the
most vehement advocates of temper.
ance could wish for.
DIR. Davis stands before that august
assemblage of politico-religionists as
Il fair writer and exponent of the
allopathic or old school of doctors.
and whose opinion stands us Il sort Of
electric light to those in the constel-
lation of the lesser bear in the med.
cal heavens but us this is an age of
crucibleS and criticism, may he eX.
cused for few remarks. lam aware
that the allopathic fraternity examine
this subject from their own peculiar
standpoint, that poisons are essential
to medicine. They, of course, rs Il
class of physicians, have no trouble
in satisfying their own minds in re-
gard to what the true answer should
be to the question, :" Is alcohol me-
dicinal 7" In their curative attempts
they aim to remove disease by max.
ing another disease or, which is the
same thing, by substituting the
peculiar action" of a poison instead
of the disease And believing that
alcohol, as a poison, is susceptible OF
being thus substituted, they have no
hesitation in giving the answer in the
affirmative. Some of this class, like
DIR. Davis, who have closely watched
the pernicious effects of alcohol, both
as medicine and Il beverage, laying
aside their preconceived opinions. are
ready to disclaim its use altogether.
and TO give up the erroneous theory
which seems to them to dictate its use,
and which stands in the way of a
correct understanding of what con.
stituteS true medicinal agent.
The physician who follows the
teachings of nature in the removal
of disease by helping the curative
effort when It is trying to help itself,
and ut the same time believes i'm
throwing no obstacles in the way of
this curative effort, will not regard
the above answer as satisfactory.
He believes that nothing is curative
which does not aid the vital efforts
of the organism, the preserving force
of the constitution, in throwing Oft
the causes Of disease /; and as alcohol.
as poison is inimical to the designs
of the human constitution, the use of
it adds one more cause to the already
existing causes of disease, - taxing
thereby more heavily the organic |
effort, and is therefore not Il friend |
Il medical agent-but IN enemy.
There being no building material
in alcohol, it cannot be used i'm the |
human system for the purpose of
building up and sustaining its struc.
ture. Not being digested nor as.
simulated it is cast ont of the body |
by its depurating organs, the lungs,
the liver, the kidneys, and the skin,
as alcohol still, and as alcohol I'M
changed. Carrying with it its peculiar
Odor rs 1T passes. Like any other
poison, it can he regarded in no other
light than as Il "pOwerful depressor
of the energies of life" and as such.
unfit Ia he used either as a medicine
or Il beverage.
Alcohol is regarded us Il stimulant,
by most of the medical profession,
and on that account supposed to be
but those like DIR. Davis
who have examined its effects the
most carefully, either upon them
selves or others, and noted these cf-
fleets, viewing the matter from Il
stand point, must be
convinced that there is nothing
stimulating about it. 1t is
true that it quickens the pulse when
first thrown into the circulation, but
after it weakens its force.
The apparent stimulation. at first, is
the result of Il labOred effort on the
part Of the organism to get rid of the
intruder, and should be called pro.
instead of stimulation.
There is marked difference he
tween a stimulant and il prOvOcatiOn.
The former acts in harmony with the
natural action of the heart and arteries
increasing the frequency of
the pulse. The latter acts in Opposi
lion to this natural action and, as IN
obstacle, after the first
impression, diminishes both the force
Of the heart and the frequency of the
PULSE.
The tippler's assertion that alcohol
Keats him when he is cold, and cOOls
lin when he is hot, removes both his
thirst and hunger when troubled with
either. and relieves his distress when
suffering from pain, has more truth
n it than even the tippler himself is
ware but still it adds nothing to the
.rgument as to it's being medicinal
gent. These different effects which
OllOw its use, are the result of its
lower to destroy the natural sensation
# the nervous system, and to remove
Is power of taking cognizance of
hanges going on within. In other
words, it removes all those unpleasant
ensations upon the same principle
hat opium relieves pain, that is, by
estroying the power Of the system
0 feel them,