Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-04-01
Reply to DR.. Csooksr.

Editors Of the Kennebee Journal;
In your local columns yesterday I noted
the following "csrd to the public
II wish to say that while | am heart
lily in favor Of temperance. do
believe that some provision should be
made whereby liquor may be had in cases
Of sickness. | now have Is casss Of
typhoid fever under treatment. and 10 six
OF these cases brandy is absolutely nenes-
sry. Am. hoxeyer, unable to get drop
Of brandy for them, as none of the drug
stores have any thst they will sell Can
not some way be provided to remedy this
dticuly2' L. J. CRooKER
Concerning the difficulty" (?) above re-
ferred to it will doubtless be regarded by
many a. new thing under the sun" even
where the spirit of the Maine prohibitory
liquor law is most ,igidly adhered to, for
repu able physician to procure for the
commonly supposed necessary uses OF his
rrsc'ice the various alcoholic stimulaats.
While not wishing Ut Justly to question the
sincerity ofanyoae protesting sympathy with
the cause Of temperance, il seems to the
writer only proper that the public should
understand that it is the evident purpose Of
cerEsin interested parties in this city, whom
possibly quite i1noceBily DR.. Croker is
aiding. 70 create counter current Of or
position to the present rising tide Of public
sentiment sgsiust the liquor traffic.
IL, however, 10 response to seeming
reasonable demand the leaders in this
temperance movement shculd be led to
commit themselves to the pclicy Of sskins
fer the opening Of city liquor
agency tie very frat ones to dis
course sgsinst /. as "city rum
shop would be those who have kept
or who wish TO keep or patronize the dis
reputable and Legitimate tippling shops
Which are disguised under the mantle Of
ether and respectable names True. under
the provisions Of the present Law no drug
gist has strictly legal right to sell un-
compounded alcoholic stimulshts in any
form. even upon 3 ply sicisn's prescr ption
When. however. the attempt is honestly
msic TO solve the problem in question BY
the establishment Of town or city agencies
smother practical difficulty is net with in
gstung persons appointed in charge OF
them with suffi eient stability Of character
or conscience to eontiue the sales within
the limits intended by the law The sxpe
Renee Of some Of our neishboring cities in
this line does not offer much encourage
ment TO US to try the experiment. There
is, however. one sue and safe remedy"
for the "difiic Guilty under consideration
lie, DR.. Croker and all his brother prsc
tihoners who are, as may be. embarrassed
in the manner Indicated, simply revise this
prescription code and adopt the netr
Methods. endorsed By yearly incress-
ing numbers OF distin suished physicians
on both sides of the Atlantic, who
Thoiiy discard in tAeir practice aNaieohct-
TIC :stimsiants. Ia support Of this sugges-
ton permit . single quotation from . dis.
tiusuished Massachusetts, physician and
chemist, Jos. R. Nichols. NJ. d J., who in
lengthy paper upon kindred topic pub
llthed some time eiuce in the Boston jour
nal. says:
III sill hraudee. WHISTLES, wines and
malt liquors which now exist were sudden
ly destroyed, and there could be no further
production, no cas- bu. dipsomaniacs
would suffer any pain or distress for sin
gle hour. II these beverages are some
times useful As didussble stimulants,
they are oftener Q bar TO rscupefations, no
matter what may be the ailment.
Ia all cases Of disease when an alcoholic
stimulant seems 10 Be indicated as neees.
sary, science presents other stimulants,
non-alc ,helic, which may sefve equally -
useful purpose
Dr.. Nichols spoke from the standpoint
not OF temperance orstor or "pfohioi-
ton crank" but from thxt OF scientific it
vestigator where opinions are worthy OF
respectful consideration.
Augusta. Me- IRA G. Ross.