The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-10-30

vACOo iOu W hlNh WIZ uiStAAoVO 06Cis
ether and chloroform, result. Fer.
mentation and distillation may be
conducted at one end and the an9s-
thetics received at the other. 1t is
true that, in a chemical laboratory.
alcohol is an agent very convenient
in thousand ways. But II it were
banished utterly what would resultP
There are other methods of fabri-
eating the useful products named, and
many Others, without the use of al
cohol; but the processes would be
rather inconvenient and more costly.
The Punishment of alcohol would not
deprive us of single one of the in
dispensable agents which modern
civilization demands, neither would
chemical science be retarded by its
loss. ''''
This view is based upon familiar
acquaintance with the uses to which
alcohol is applied in the directions in
dicated-in pharmacy. chemistry,
medicine, and in the various industries
SO essential to the welfare OF the race
For period of nearly half a century
we have been brought into intimate
association and participation in the
scientific and art discoveries which
have so signally distinguished our
epoch, and therefore we venture to ex-
press views upon SO important topic.
The question. is not whether alcohol
may not sometimes be convenient, or,
perhaps, useful, but whether it is in
dispensable or necessary in medicine
and the arts. - Il N.
+ 1t must be remembered that modern
science has given us glycerine, naph-
tina, bisulphide OF carbon, pyroligne-
Gus products, carbolic acid, and a
hundred other agents which are very
capable of taking 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 speci-
mems and the artisan no longer needs
alcohol to obtain convenient heat for
his tools, or to facilitate his labor;
cheaper and equally good substitutes
have been provided. Petroleum in it's
refined and perfected condition has
taken the place Of mixtures of alcohol
and turpentine for obtaining artificial
illumination; and alcohol for purposes
of securing light and heat can never
Eagain be needed. 1t is only quarter
of century since two million gallons
of alcohol were consumed annually for
Illuminating purposes.
The perfumer employs alcohol in
many OF his products, but the question
arises: "Have we need of the per.
fumerp" The man who fabricates 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 odorouse x.
tracts, the perfumer can dispense with
alcohol, and, if its Punishment should
occur, our good ladies would not know
of the event from meeting with any
unsupplied wants at the perfumer's.
As regards the medicinal value Of
any of the spurious liquors which are
known in commerce, very much may
be said. If all the brandies, WHISTLES,
wines and malt liquors which now ex
list were suddenly destroyed, and there
could be no further production, nc
class but dipsomaniacs would suffer
any pain or distress for single hour
If these beverages are sometimes use
full, they are oftener a bar to recuper
alton, no matter what may be the all
ment. .
In all cases of disease where an al
coholic seems to be indicated, scienc,
presents non-alcoholics that ma,
serve an equally useful purpose. The
alcohol question as related to medi
cine may be summed up in a few
words. In some cases Of extreme ex
haustion or debility it may be re
garded as a convenient agent, if care
fully Employed; but in no instance 0
disease Of any form is it a medicin
which might not be dispensed with
and other agents substituted. , 'H
: This view of the chemical an,
therapeutical needs and uses of alco
hol. as related to the human family, /
not presented from the standpoint O
the Temperance orator, but from tina
Of the scientific investigator.-Dr
James r. Nichols. in Union Signal