The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-10-25
ALCOHOL UNNECESSARY.

The chemist, more particularly the
pharmaceutical chemist, may inquire
how he is to conduct his processes with
out alcohol. 1t is from the pharma-
ceutical labortary we derive some of the
most important substances used in
medicine and the arts. Among them
may be named ether, chloroform and
choral hydrate. three of the most in
dispensable agents known to science,
and the employment of alcohol is es-
sential to production, Alcohol is
laboratory product; it is a chemical
agent which belongs to the laboratory;
it is the handmade of the chemist, and,
50 long as it exists, should be retained
within the walls of the laboratory. In
the Manufacture of most OF the impOr-
tant products in which alcohol is either
directly or indirectly used its produc-
ton may be made simultaneous with
the production of the agent desired.
In the manufacture of ether and
ehloroform, the apparatus for alcohol
may be made a part of the devices,
from which the ultimate agents, ether
and chloroform, result. Fermentation
and diStillation may be conducted at
one end and the anesthetics received at
the other. Ii is true that in chemical
laboratory alcohol is an agent very con-
venient in thousand ways. But if it
was banished utterly what would re-
suit? There are other methods of fab
ricating the useful products named,
and many others, without the use OF
alcohol; but the process would be
rather incOnvenient and more costly.
The Punishment of alrOhol would not
deprive us of q single one of the indis-
pensable agents which modern ciyiliza-
ton demands, and neither would
science be retarded by its loss.
1t must be remembered that modern
science has given us glycerine, naptha,
bi-sulphide of carbon, pyroligneouS
products, carbolic acid and hundred
other agents, which are capable of tax
ing the place of alcohol in very large
number of appliances and processes.
The naturalist is no longer dependent
upon alcohol for the preservation of his
wonderful specimens and the artisan no
longer needs alcohol to obtain convent
ent heat for his tools or to facilitate his
labor; cheaper and equally as good
substitutes have been provided. Pc
troleum in its refined and perfected con-
dition has taken the place of mixtures
of alcohol and turpentine for obtaining
illumination; and alcohol for purposes
of securing light and heat can never be
again needed. 1t is only quarter of Il
century since 100000 gallons o. alco-
hOl were consumed annually for illum-
mating purposes.
The perfumer employs alcohol in
many of his products; but the question
arises: Have we need OF the per-
fumern The man who fabrica es one
smell to cover another may be a very
useful artisan, but he is in no sense in
dispensable. Aside from his cologne
and odorous extracts, the perfumer can
dispense with alcohol, and, if its ban
ishment should occur, our good ladies
would not know OF the event from
meeting with any unsupplied want at
the perfumer's.
AS regards the medical value of any
of the spirituous liquors which are
known in commerce, very much may be
said. If all the brandies, Whistles,
wines and malt liquors which are now
in existence were suddenly destroyed,
and there could be no further produc-
ton, no class but dipsomaniacs would
suffer any pain or distress for single
hour. Ii these beverages are sometimes
useful as ditfusible stimulants, they are
often bar to recuperation, no matter
what may be the ailment.
In all cases of disease where m alco-
holic stimulant seems TO be indicated
science presents other stimulants, non
alcoholic, which may serve equally as
useful purpose. The alcohol question
rs related to medicine may be summed
up in few words. in some cases of
extreme exhaustion or debility, it may
be regarded as a convenient agent, if
carefully employed, but in no instance
of disease in any form is it q medicine
which might not be dispensed with and
other agents substituted.
This view of the chemical and the
therapeutical needs and uses of alcohol,
as related to the human family, is not
presented from the standpoint of the
Temperance orator, but from that of
the scientific investigator. | have
often, FOR many years, taken a careful
survey of the whole field, and therefore
speak with generalization and knowl-