The Washington critic., 1885-12-22
rmn nAvAers or coNsuMrrIoN.
What Professor n. &. Wood of the
University of Pennsylvania Says.
A NEW CURE.

Medical statistics prove without question
that from one-sixth TO one-tenth Of the NOR
tally of European nations Is due to con
sumption. Amongst the many maladies
which flesh is heir to IL can well say; ~ am
king among We ALL Under this popular
term may be marshaed death record 80
startling in character that medical science
is almost at loss to invent names to ex-
press the recognized and manifold WAYS in
which IL expresses itself In wrecling human
life from infancy to old age. Our earthly
existence is marked by many physical Ills.
The acute FORMS by care, soon pass away,
but chronic disease is apt, with the ma
iority, TO bring them to that point where an
imperfect recogery is the result, and they
are marked as one whose obituary notice
will read, "Ded of Consumption
Another terrible fact Of which there is no
doubt, although only verified within the
last few years, and that is, that consump-
ton may be acquired by q previously
healthy person from close association with
one already suffering from It. In this way
alone can be explained the series Of deaths
often noted In households, which never
stops as long as one member Is left. One
characteristic in this disease is that In
every stage, even at deaths door, the suf-
fercr mas nope OF recovery.
Once the disease was regarded as hope
less in almost any stage, and remedy after
remedy has been laid aside, falling to give
the results that had been hoped for.
Much might be said on this point, but at
tontion will be given to one article alone,
which, several centuries ago, commanded
attention, but which failed to receive the
attention II merited from the failure TO
maintain standard quality through com
mercial competition, and the non-recogni-
ton Of the fact that in the long run wisdom
Will prove superior to every other circum-
stance.
In the sixteenth century, amongst the
remedies largely IN vogue with the eminent
physicians OF Ireland as tonic possessing
other properties usquebaugh-th form OF
alcohol obtained from malt-stood in high
esteem. The importation Of stronger spirits
from England resulted In such changes In
its quality, that IL failed to continue to re-
ceive that appreciation for its medicinal
effects, that II would probably have OBJ
tanned. The harmful adulteration Of ar
ticles Of this kind through all ages, has
tended to keep It from securing It's place In
the list Of well-recognized medical rene
dies.
In the age In which we live physiological
research has been carried to that point, that
questions which for centuries have not been
decided have now been settled by conclusive
facts. AS bearing on this subject we can do
no better than quote from that standard au-
| thority, Professor III. g. Woods Treatise on
Materia Medica and Therapeutics. The
| Professors rank, by virtue Of his connection
| with the University of Pennsylvania en-
| titling him to the confidence Of every In
| valid who seeks information on this subject.
To commence with: on page 129 Of the
fifth edition of this work, the evidence is
furnished of theexistence of alcohol in the
| systems Of persons who had never used
| alcohol in any form. Acting on this estab-
lished fact, with other evidence bearing
on the subject, 1t has been found that
the administration Of alcohol, by delaying
| the process OF digestion, results In its be-
ing more thorough. In his valuable article
on this subject, he proves conclusively that
alcohol is food that is destroyed in the
| system and yields force which is utilized
| in the organism. Further on he adds; at
has been estimated that 0.3 ounces Of lean
beef (equal to about two ounces of alcohol)
| will supply the necessary force to maintain
the circulation and respiration Of an average
man for one day; that is, four ounces Of
spirit will suffice for this purpose. Since
to the ability OF furnishing material whose
consumption shall give power is added the
ability to restrict waste and to stimulate the
function Of circulation aud Of the nervous
system, 1t is evident that in alcohol we hay,
| a most important means Of sustaining thu
system during the strain Of an exhaustint
disease. The chief legitimate uses of alcoho
in chronic diseases are to aid In digestion
to furnish food which, without any di
gestive effort upon the part of the system
shall be absorbed and shall take the place Of
more ordinary food, and to check excessive
tissue-waste. 1t is conceded by all physi
clans and chemists there does not exis
&I,at, tnly ktn nf -,
In the accomplishment of the special effect
obtained by 1t in this direction. OF cours,
these indications exist only In such dis
eases as are either dependent upon OF
closely associated with condition of th,
system In which the general nutrition Il
depraved. In phthisis aud its congener
scrofulosis, there can be no doubt as to tn,
great value of alcohol"
Many similar authorities might be quoted
but one Of this kind is deemed sufficient
The trouble, however, has been, as asserted
by this author and the medical profession
generally, that reliance could not he placed
on the standard quality or uniformity o
any article of the kind, that might be pre-
scribed. So lamentably true is that fact
that public opinion and the constitute,
authorities Of all the great nations of tn
earth are moving in the direction of the es
tablishment of inspectors for all articles re
The need of reliable and uniform articl
of this kind is apparent, for tn
medical profession and the public gen
orally; an article which for purity an
uniformity can be relied upon in every stag
of the train of evils which the monste
malady Consumption is accompanied by
The Duffy malt whiskey has successful
stood the most scientific tests, and score
of unsolicited testimonials as to its efficacy
from all quarters, are freely given. Med
cal journals discuss its merits, and learne
reasons are given for its peculiar power.