The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-04-12
CONDEMN DRINK.

What Medical Authorities Have to Say On
the Drink Habit.
! 1t is not so well known as it should
be that the best medical thought of
the world, for generation, and more,
has been opposed to the habitual use
of liquors of any kind as beverages;
and that for the past score of years,
many of the most eminent authorities
in the world of physicians have taken
the ground that the total abstainer
lives longer, is stronger, is more sound
IN mind and body, than the man who
drinks, even though the latter be mere
ly occasional. That is, they believe
that total abstinence should be the
rule with everyone who wishes to con-
serve the best powers of mind and
body. Many of the authorities on this
subject declare that the use of
alcoholic liquors does not nourish the
body nor improve the health, but
is at all times harmful, and that in
proportion to the amount drank and
the frequency of the potations by
the citation of few medical authori-
ties Of the highest class.
Sir Henry Thompson says: 81 am of
opinion that the habitual use of wine,
beer, or spirits, is dietetic error, say
for nineteen persons out of twenty. In
other words, the great ma ority OF peo-
pie, at any age or of either sex, will
enjoy better health, both OF body and
mind, and will live longer without any
alcoholic drinks whatever, than with
habitual indulgence in their use, even
although such use be what is popularity
understood as moderate.
Sir Andrew Clark said, in his en-
phatic way Il am bound to say that
for all honest work alcohol never
helps human soul. Every adult man
who finds himself after trial-and
every man should try-to be thou
sand times better without alcohol
should not resume it, because he will
work better, he will enjoy more, he
will have longer exemption from dis
ease, he will probably live longer, and
certainly he will be better in all the
higher relations of life"
Prof. Sydney Ringer, in his Hand
book of Therapeutics, " written in 1880,
says: Experience plainly shows, that
for the healthy, alcohol is not neces-
sary nor even useful article of diet
Varied, repeated and prolonged expert
ence, and the testimony of many
medical men, prove that troops en-
dure fatigue and the extremes of eli
mate better if alcohol is altogether abb
stained from. The experience of the
celebrated Moscow campaign showed
this; 50 also, quite recently, the Red
River expedition. During arduous
marches it has always been found that
without alcohol, the health of the men
is exceptionally good, but as soon as
spirits are allowed disease breaks out
Modern trainers recognize the fact that
the power of sustained exertion and
resistance to fatigue is best promoted
by abstaining from alcohol"
The British Medical journal March
II, 1885, in an article on The Truth
About Alcohol" says: 1--WE take it as
conclusively proved, in the first place.
that alcohol is not necessary food,
and that the most perfect physical
and intellectual vigor is compatible
with rigid total abstinence. We
may 80 SbeP lui Chcls anu cOunueHLly
assert that people in perfect health are,
as a rule, better without alcohol. The
evils of intemperance are manifest, the
evils of total abstinence are improved
and improba BILE. The excellent health
enjoyed by the great and increasing
army of teetotalers; the returns of in
surance and benefit societies; the ex-
ample of abstaining nations, seems to
us proof positive that total abstinence
is at least harmless and safe. Alcohol
may be accorded a place as a luxury, it
certainly has definite value as q med