The Portland daily press., 1885-08-05
G. H. GERRIsH, NJ. D.,
, o. A. HoRR, M. d.,
30, WEBSTER, M. d.,
A. G.. YOUNG, M. d.,
nrs,..,,ftkoa

OOnuluttCC.
OPINION OF THE HON. j. H. DRCaIMoND.
The law establishing State Board of Health,
makes it the duty of that board Ito examine and
report upon works on the subject of Hygiene for
the use of the schools of the State" The statute
creating this board is entirely distinct from the
"Act relating to scientific temperance instruction
inpublic schools" and the Board of Health is not
charged with the duty Of reporting upon the works
to be used in schools under the latter statute
As shown by its title the object of the latter stat
ute is to provide for scientific temperance nstruc-
tion in our schools and the use of works on Physi-
oiogy and Hygiene is mere method of accom-
pnShlng the result The selection of the books
under the latter statute is left where the general
law places it, in the hands OF school committees
and supervisors.
AS the law makes the instruction OF pupils In
relation to "the effects OF alcoholic drinks, stimu-
lants or narcotics, the primary object, the use of
a book which only incidentally does this is not
compliance with the law
In brief, the State Board of Health are charged
with no duty IN selecting or reporting upon books
to be used under this statute, and books which
would give the proper instruction under the act
by which the board was appointed, might not give
the instruction required by the other act, and un-
less they make 'the effects of alcoholic drinks,
stimulants and narcotics upon the human sys-
which teachers and supervisors would be Justified
In using. Yours very truly,
JOSIAH H. DRUsDIoND.
REPLY OF THE woMAN's UNION.
similar law has been passed in fourteen States
with an aggregate population of fourteen and
half millions.
series of at least three text books, even more
carefully prepared in their adaptation to grade
than our Arithmetics are, is needed to comply
with the requirements of these statutes. 1t was
self-evident that the primary and intermediate
books of this series would not only be the most
important because reaching the future citizens In
larger numbers, but would also be the most dlni-
cult to PREPARE therefore upon these the greatest
care has been expended.
A syndicate of authors-one Of these dis
tnguished Normal school teacher, as well as an
anatomist-undertook the work, which was sub
mitted to Prof. A. B. Palmer, M. D., LID, Pro
fessor of Pathology and Practice Of Medicine,
and Dean Of the Department of Medicine and
Surgery at the University of Michigan at Ann
Arbor, who endorsed the scientific accuracy Of
the manuscript. This endorsement was not an
act Of easy going kindness or courtesy, but a
business transaction for which as literary and
scientific man DIR. Palmer was paid stipulated
price for so carefully reviewing the manuscript
that he could put his name back Of its statements
AS such voucher his name appears upon the
Ilte que page ,r OF TINS work, Hygiene for Young
large number OF practical and distinguished ply
scians and chemists and their closest criticisms
invited and secured. This book, representing the
skilled criticisms and contributions Of so many
wise and practical minds, is now being extensively
uSeu III Lfe ScnOOlS OF the country.
The State Board of Health of Maine in recent
report says of it: Even children viii detect the
fallacy Of many OF its statements" The presi
dent of the board has been waited upon and ask
ed to point out the evident inaccuracies that had
escaped the trained observations of so many
skilled critics. These be enumerated as follows:
1st "The book does not refer to the medical use
of alcohol" I'd. sit does not sufficiently empha-
size the fact that very many people can habtualy
preciably injured by it," Sd. "It denies that al
eohol is food" In this connection it was ad-
profession We're divided as to the food value Of al
cohol." To the first criticism about the omission
OF the medical value of alcohol, we reply: In
conferences with medical men and with teachers
the advice was unanimous "that the medical uses
of alcohol should not be discussed in works OF
this kind, because while equally eminent men are
divided as to the extent and value of the curative
properties of ALCOHOL they are agreed that 1t
should not be taken as medicine ON lay prescrip-
tiOns. Ii, therefore, before the scholar thus takes
alcohol he must walt for the doctor to prescribe
1t, the discussion of its medical value is of no
practical use in a school text book and should be
relegated to medical works. To the second eritl-
cism that we do not emphasize enough the appar-
ent safety with which moderate amount of alco-
hol can be taken by many people, we reply: On
page 3 of this book will be found:
"IhlS appetite does not gain with equal rapdity
On page 16o is this:
Some men of great self-control may use a mod
crate amount of alcoholic liquors through long
NE without apparent injury, but their children
are likely to inherit stronger appetite for mar
cOties and weaker will with which to control IT,
a1tSHtlOu NdS Cdltu 10 InlS statement, but 10
was considered that the fact that very many peo-
pie can drink without appreeiable HARM" Is not
sufficiently emphasized in this book. Upon this
point the W. c. T. u, and other friends Of total
abstinence, must beg leave to differ from him. To
the third criticism in regard to alcohol as food
we cal attention to the admission that men OF
equal ability in the medical profession are on op
poSite sides of the question"
Such men as DR.. b. w. Richardson of London
+. r. s.; DR.. Lionel Beale, f. II. S., of England
DR.. n, 5. Davis, President of American Medical
Associations DR.. Ezra M. Hunt of Trenton, with
host of other eminent men support us In the
statement "that tried by the tests applied to 9TH
er substances IN this connection, alcohol is not q
food" We think our position is as well sustained
as that of our critics. AS these criticisms are up
on points familiar to the popular mind, we have
not referred them to Dr. Palmer, but leave them
to the verdict of the people whom they concern,
and who are abundantly able to judge of their
merits and to decide whether the safety of moder-
ate drinking or its dangers should be most em-
phasized in this education Of the young.
L. NJ. n. STEVENS, Prest. Maine w. c. T. U.
MARY II. HUNT, Supt of Dept of Scientific In
StructiOn of the National w. @. II. u,