St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-10-30
ST, GyOhnsburp (aledonian.
Spurious Liquors in Medicine
and the Arts.

If it can be conclusivcly shown that
alcohol in no one cf its forms is ahso-
lutely essential in the alienation or
removal of diseases, and that no use
full industry is dependent upon It, that
science and the arts would suffer no
detrimcnt in its absence, the most for
midable bar to it's utter punishment
would be at once removed.
From the time when thinking, oh
serving men became alarmed at the
dreadful work which alcohol was ac-
complishing in the world, the cry has
been that it is an Indispensable agent
in its applications in medicine and the
arts. There was more truth in this
assumption fifty or even thirty years
ago than at present. aS scIenc had not
at those periods made sufficient al
vancement to supply substitutes for
the alcoholic liquids. Vast changes
have occurred in medicine, pharmacy,
chemistry. and in all art processes,
since the DAYS of the early temperance
reformers. and it is well to look about
and ascertain our true position as re
CARDS the present necessity for the use
of alcohol.
We have in this journal repeatedly
spoken of the true relations at alcohol
to medicine and the arts. and III every
instance have declared that the need of
il no longer existed that if the natur-
al vinous Preventative process should
cease, and the art of dlstlllatIon he
come "LOsT ART" not il life would
Toe sacrificed in consequence, not case
of disease would he retarded in the
process of cure, not Il pain would he
aggravated. and not one of the art
processes suffer detrimcnt.
The Punishment of alcohol would
not deprive us of single one ot the
Indispensable agents which modern
civilization demands; neither would
chemical science he retarded by It's
loss.
Ii must he remembered that modern
science has given us glycerine, naptha,
bisulphidc of carbon, pyrOligneouS
products. carhnlic acid, and hundred
other agents which are capable of talk
ing the place of alcohol in il very large
number of appliances and processes.
The naturalist is no longer dependent
upon alcoh i for the preservation OF
his wonderful specimens and the ar
tsan no longer needs alcohol To obtain
convenient heat for his tools, or to ia
ciltatc his labor cheaper and equally
good substitutes have been provided.
Petroleum in its refined and perfected
condition has taken the place of mix
lures of alcohol and turpcntinc for OBJ
tanning artificial illumination and al
cohol for purposes of securing light
and heat can never bc again needed.
II is only Il quarter of Il century since
two million gallons of alcohol were
consumed annually for illuminating
purposes. The pcriumer employs al
cohol in many of his products but the
question arises, "llave we need of the
pcrtumcrP" The man who fabricatcS
one smell to cover up another may be
"a very useful artisan but certainly he
is in no sense Indispensable. Aside
from his "cologne' and odorous cX-
tracts, the pcrlumcr can dispense with
alcohol, and, if its punishment should
occur. our good ladies would not know
of the event from meeting with any
unsnpplicd wants at the pcrtumer's.
As regards the medicinal value OF
any of the SpiritunuS liquors which
are known in commerce.. very much
NAV he said If all the brandies, wills
KEYS. wines, aud malt liquors which
now exist were suddenly destroyed,
and there could We no further produc-
tion. no class but dipsomanlacS would
suffer any pain OF distress for Il single
hour. If these beverages are some
times used rs diifusible stimulants
they are ottcncr bar to rccuperatIon
no matter what may he the ailmcnt.
In all cases of disease where an al
cohOlic stimulant seems to be midi
Gated, science presents other Stimu-
lants, alcoholic, which may serve
an equally useful purpose. The alec
hol question as related to medicine
may be summed up in IL few words. In
some cases of extreme exhaustion ol
debility, it may be regarded rs il con
venicnt agent, it carefully employed
but in no instances of disease of any
form is it Il medicine which might moi
bc dispensed with, and other agents
substituted. Rum or alcohol rs III
emhrocation was formerly regarded rs
of the highest efficacy; but ii is now
known that hot or cold water is /;
much better application to intiam eC
surfaces. The external use of alcohol
upon the human body under any con
ditions of dischsc is practically useless
1t may serve t. cool intlamed parts 10y
rapid evaporation; but warm water
meets the same end, and more etlec-
lively. Alcohol in the forms of gin
brandy, whiskey or wines, may b,
hanishcd from families as domestic
remedies, without risk to singl,
member, of any age, SEX or condition.
1t is well to remember that favorit'
anomalies, like peppermint, ginger
etc, are now associated with suga
in elegant forms, and are easily acces
sible to every one when needed.
The facctious DIR. Holmes has said
that if the contents of our drug store,
were taken out upon the ocean ant
thrown overheard. it would he bette
for the human race, but worse for thu
fishes. This statement may be Il LITTLE
sweeping ; but it * true that quite al
the SNOWY bottles in drug stores whicl
contain alcoholic dccOctiunS and tine
lures might Ice submerged in the occaI
and invalids would suffer no detri
ment Since the active alkaloidal an,
resinoidal principles of roots, barks
and gums have been isolated. and pu
in better and more convenient forms
there is no longer need of alcoholi
tincturcs and cliNirs. Laudanum
which is tincture of opium, might 10
bamished from the shelves of ever,
apothecary. as it is not needed. 1t i
now known that the valuable and mar
cotic aud hypnotic principles of opium
are contained in certain crystallin
bodies. which can Ice isolated, and use'
in minute aud convenient forms, AM
that they can he held in aqueous solu
tions. Alcohol is no longer needed T.
hold the active principles of opium
Peruvian bark. or other indispensable
drugs. As regards the vegetable ton
les so-called, the best among them
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