Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-28
Temperance.
SPTRITUOUS LIQUORS NOT
NEEDED IN MEDICINE OR
THE ARTS.


alcohol in no one of its forms is alb
solutely 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 detriment in its absence, the most
formidable bar to its utter Danish
ment would at once be removed.
From the time when thinking, OBJ
serving men became alarmed at the
dreadful work which alcohol was ac-
complishing in the world, the cry has
been that it was an Indispensable
agent in its applications in the med
icines and the arts. There was more
truth in this assumption fifty or even
thirty years ago than there is atpres-
ent. as science had not at those peri
DDS made sufficient advancement to
supply substitutes for the alcoholic
liquids. Vast changes have occurred
in medicine, pharmacy, chemistry,
and all art processes, since the days
of early temperance reformers, and it
is we'll to look about and ascertain
our true position as regards the pres
ent necessity for the use of alcohol.
The ground taken is if the nat
ural vinous Preventative process
should cease, and the art Of distilla-
ton become ''lost art, not life
would be sacrificed in consequence,
not a case of disease would be retard-
ed in the process of cure, not a pain
would be aggravated, and not one of
the art processes suffer detriment.
This view is based upon u familiar
acquaintance with the uses to which
alcohol is applied in the directions in
dicated-in pharmacy, chemistry,
medicine, and in the various indus
tries so essential to the welfare Of
the race. For a period Of nearly
half a century | have been brought
into intimate association and partici-
patton in the scientific and art discov-
cries which have so signally distin-
guished our epoch, and therefore ven
ture to express views upon so impor-
tant q topic. The question before
us is not whether alcohol may not be
sometimes convenient, Or perhaps
useful, but whether it is indispensable
or necessary, in medicine and the
arts.
It's domestic and household appli-
cations are considerable in number.
and regarded by some as important
In this direction, however, they are
much less than formerly, before sci
encc shed upon families a clearer
light. Since it became known tina
alcoholic solutions of camphor, pare.
goric and cordials, tinctUre of pepper
mint, etc.-artlcles once used in ev
cry household-are remedial agents
of doubtful efficacy, or POSITIVELY hurt
full under indiscriminate use, the,
have been to a large extent banishe(
from dwellings. Camphor is q dru'
not needed in any family except TO
insecticide. The old camphor bottle
containing rum and the drug, whic
exasperated and deluded men fOul
ished in the face of DR.. Lyman Beech
er when he commenced his temper
ance crusades fifty years ago, is
thing of the past. Rum or alcohol q
an embrocation was formerly regard
as of the highest efficacy; but it
now known that hot or cold water
much better application to indame
surfaces. The external use of alec
hol upon the human body under an
conditions of disease is PRACTICAL
useless. 1t may serve to cool inlan
ed parts by rapid evaporation bl
warm water meets the same end an
more effectively. Alcohol in Il
forms of gin, brandy, whisky, {
wines, may be banished from fam
lies as domestic remedies, wthol
risk to a single member, of any ag
sex or condition.
1t is we'll to remember that favori
aromatics, like peppermint, ginge
etc, are now associated with sugi
in elegant forms. and are easily a
cessible to every one when needed.
The facetious DIR. Holmes has sal
that if the contents of our drug stor
were taken out upon the ocean al
thrown overheard, it would be bctt
for the human race, but worse f
the fishes. This statement may be
little sweeping; but IL is true tn
quite all the snowy bottles in dr.
stores that contain alcoholic deco
tions and tinctures might be su
merged in the ocean and invali
would suffer no detriment. Since
active aIkaloidal and resinoidal pri
ciples of roots, banks and gums ha
been isolated and put in better a
more convenient forms, there is
longer need of alcoholic tinctures al
eliXirs. Laudanum, which is a tir
ture of opium, might be Danish
from the shelves of every apothecar
as it is not needed. 1t is now knO,
that the valuable narcotic and by
motto principles of opium are &C
tanned in certain crystalline bodi'
which can be isolated, and used
minute and convenient forms, q
that they can be held in aqueous {
lutions Alcohol is no longer nee
ed to hold the active principles
opium, Peruvian bark, or other
dispensable drugs. As regards
vegetable tonics so-called, the b
among them is the columbia (Rd,
CoIumbo), and this readily yields
bitter principle to water, as d,
quassia, genlian, SIENNA, rhubarb &
most other valuable substances.
careful survey of the contents 0
well-appointed pharmacy leads to
conclusion that there is no one inc
pensable medicine preparation 'wh
renuires alcohol as u free cOnStjtue