Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-22
WHISKY USED MUCH LESS,
But Cod Liver Oil Remains a Prime
Favorite With Most Doctors.
MORE STRESS LAID on HYGIENE.
As Koch's Remedy Only Claims to Cure
Early Stages of Lung Troubles,
1T WILL NOT BANISH CONSUMPTION

number of the most prominent physicians in
the city Yesterday and asked the following
questions of each:
L If called upon to-day by consumptive for
medical aid, what would your treatment be?
2. Is whisky still prescribed for consumptives
as much as 1t once was?
s. Is not cod liver oil the standby for treat
ment Of lung diseases?
1t is said that 80 and 40 years ago, when
a victim to consumption called upon doc
tor, he was invariably told ito live on
whiskyr' Answers to the above questions
would seem to prove that whisky is not
used TO such a great extent nowadays.
Even among old-school physicians the treat
ment OF consumption is based largely upon
hvgienic measures, rather than the use of a
single stimulant. Still, they yet prescribe
whisky in great percentage of consumption
cases.
Homeopathic doctors don't believe in
the dosing of consumptives with whisky,
but they do use cod liver oil.
KOCH TO DIsPLACE WHISKY.
So that if Prof Koch's discovery of new
remedy for consumption stands the test, it
will probably displace an enormous amount
of cod liver oil and drive another cork into
lne WHISKY meQlcl0e D3rrels Appended are
the answers OF the doctors:
DR.. W. 7. English-I would prescribe
cod liver oil in some form, together with
rigid course Of exercises tending to
strengthen the lungs and increase the
breathing capacity. l do not always pre-
scribe whisky though in some cases and in
certain stages OF consumption it may be en-
plOyed to stimulate the patient, as in other
diseases. Cod liver oil is still our great
IIainstay in pulmonary diseases. Owing to
competition the market now is filed with
the very best quality of cod liver oil obtain
able, and it is made into palatable emul-
sions, nowadays, too, which is an advance
over former years.
There il great variety of cod liver oils
now TO choose from, and they are really all
good. L am yet young in the profession,
but within my experience whisky has about
held its own in the treatment of consump-
ton, generally speaking.
A Sixth avenue phySician-An ounce of
whisky before each meal; tablespoonful
o. cod liver oil in emuisions after each meal;
stay out OF doors all day; sleep with your
windows hcisted all night and you will pro-
long your life as much as any consumptIve
can.
WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE.
Dr.. J. W. Sykes, one of the oldest special
lstS in chronic diseases in the CITY, said:
There can be no doubt that thousands of
cases of tubercular consumption have here
tofore been cured by the remedies in vogue.
OF these, coz liver oil stands foremost in use
and in efficacy. Next to it may perhaps be
ranked the hypophosphite salts and next
whisky. But both cod liver oil and whisky
are beneficial in only minority of cases
IN any case, with much fever whisky is
positively inj furious, and in any case where
cod liver oil disJurbs the stomach and inter-
feres with digestion, it also is injurious. Nv
experience OF nearly 30 years has led me to
discard the use OF whisky in consumption,
except in rare instances. In any case it is
worse than folly to depend on medicine
alone, however valuable 1t NAV be. All the
practicable resources of hygiene should be
employed in every case, aud DR.. Koch
pleads that this should be done in connec-
tioG with the use OF his new remedy.
A FEAR FOR THE FUTURE.
'There is every reason to hope that Dr.
hoch's remedy IS all that he claims for it.
continued DR.. Sykes, 'yet it is doubtful
whether it will greatly diminish the ravages
Of consumption, because the disease is un-
felt, and therefore unnoticed and neglected,
until far advanced; and Koch saws dis
tinctly that his remedy is chiefly valuable
in the early stages. In uncompllcated con-
sumption, there is no pain, no depression or
general bad feeling-on the contrary, there
Is very generally a hopefulness and anima-
ton OF spirits, and unwillingness on the
part OF the patient to admit the presence OF
danger aud consent to treatment. This is
largely, if not solely, the reason why the
disease is so generally fatal. The older
methods OF treatment have not, as a rule,
had early adoption, and it is to be feared
hoch's remedy will be equally neglected"
A Penn avenue physician-While be-
leve whisky has Its proper place in the
treatment OF consumption, would prefer
seeing patients get well on nutritious foods
and drinks. Cod liver oil and whisky used to
he the iavorite remedies 1t still is, 10 a
certain extent, but there is to-day more
common sense treatment than ever before
I would use whisky to stimulate a patient
over a weak place, but once over l would
stop its use and try to make my man gain
health without it.
MORE DISCRIMINATION NOW.
DR.. J. C. Burgher-The old-school treat
ments still rely largely on stimulants, but
with varying results. 1 believe whiskyis
still prescribed for consumption as much as
ever, but with more discrimination. We
homeopathists use it for medicine very spar
inCly, and We do not prescribe as much cod
liver oil either, as the other school. We
try to build up the system with nutritious
food, milk, farinaceous diet, ETC.
DR.. McClellaEd-I would not prescribe q
gill of whisky in treating consumptives. 1t
is too dangerous in after effects. Cod liver
oil is food and good in all lung troubles
Millie Chapman, NJ. D., the lady ply
sicisn-I would not prescribe whisky at all
in treating consumption. never do, and
/ think l have had as large a
percentage of successful cases as the
physicians who have used this stimuIant.
ior it is nothing more than a stimulant. i
don't think, on the whole that there is as
much whisky used these DAYS as formerly.
use cod liver oil, which is a standard med
icine, but am guided by circumstances in
what form prescribe it.
THE OLD sTAND-BYs.
Another Penn avenue doctor-Whisky
and cod liver oil will always be used.
whether Koch's theories are right or wrong.
whisky has tided many a weak man and
woman over a bad spell, and cod liver oil
has made them fat afterward. Let US stick
TO old friends.
A Wylie avenue NJ. D.-Whisky is by
ali odds one of the best strengtheners we
have in lung troubles, but have always
studied we'll each individual case before
prescribing il. When began practicing a
great many wears ago, 1 prescribed 1t freely
In the case Of young friend of mine. 1t
cured him of all lung disease, but il left
him Q drunkard, and three years after his