The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-12
Temperance Text-Books.


In Fridays Journal / find an article from
the New York Commercial Advertiser
against temperance textbooks in the
schools. The writer says:
lone positive objection to those proposed
textbooks is that they are not honest.
It has not been les established that the
frightfully or at all Injurious An
honest textbook on physiology, dealing with
whisky and tobacco. must declare that fire.
quently the temperate use of whisky or of
light wines has wholesome effect on both
of science who has achieved knowledge
of physiology will give his approval of
such absurd instruction. 1t is
fanatics who urge this sort of thing.
/ wish,s with your leave, to answer these
sweeping assertions. They were evidently
written by some one who entirely ignor-
ant of the physiological effects of alcohol
on the human system. There is nothing
palmer or better established than that there
Is such a thing as an acquired appetite.
1t Is progressive and increases as the in
diligence in the article continues, The
unanimous voice of the medical profession
is against the traffic in intoxicating liquors.
The American Medical Association, at it's
meeting in Philadelphia in 1872, passed the
following resolution:
Resolved, That the members of this as
ISOLATION shall discontinue the use of
alcohol as stimulant in the practice of
Here we have the highest allopathic au-
The Medical SocieIy of the State of New
York, composed Ci the ablest authors, pro-
school in the Unitea States, passed the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resolved, That IN view of the ravages
made upon the morals, health and prosper
ity of the people of the State by the use
of alcoholic drinks it is the opinion of the
members of this meuical society that the
moral, sanitary and pecuniary condition OF
the State would be promoted blythe passage
law"
The Homeopathic Medical Society of
Pennsylvania the year subsequently took
the following acton in regard to the sub
ject. DIR. Dudley offered the following pre-
amble and resolutions, which were adopted
with but one dissenting voice:
Whereas, special efforts are being made
by the enacting OF local option laws to
restrain the sale Of intoxicating liquors;
whereas the medical profession has been
greatly censured for seeming to demand
their sale for medicinal purposes; therefore,
Resolved, That this society, represent
ing the views Of the vast majority of
sires the attention of the public, and par
ticularly our lawmakers and judges, to
1.-The. following statement of our. opinions
with reference TO TINS subject: First, that
there are, but three purposes for which
alcoholic liquors are Indispensable in dis
in solution the active principle of drugs
which will not dissolve in other liquids;
second. TO preserve substances from de-
fusive stimulation. Second, that the stimu-
lating effects of alcohol are not improved by
combining 1T with any other remedial SUBJ
stances, but it may be administered separ-
ately without imparing its efficacy.
sale Of WHISKY. brandy malt LIQUORS. etc
be allowed, even for medicinal purposes.
and we recommend our fellow-citizens to
insist upon the enactment of laws for
straining the traffic
The International Medical Congress met
in Philadelphia in 1876. 1t was composed of
the most learned physicians and authors of
Europe and America. The president of the
National Temperance Society asked for an
expression of this great body on the sub
ject of temperance. The secretary, DIR.
Mears, replied as follows:
Il am instructed by the section on medi-
cine of the International Medical Congress
of 1876 to transmit to you the action OF
the section the following conclusions adopt
ed by it with regard to the use of alcohol in
medicine, the same Delng in reply to the
communication sent by the National Tenn
to have a definite food value by any of the
usual methods of chemical analysis
as medicine is chiefly that of cardiac
stimulant and often admits of substitution.
Third, as a medicine it is not well fitted for
self-prescription by the 1aity. and the medi-
cal profession is not accountable for such
administrations or for the enormous evils
arising therefrom.
l might quote such authority as Sir Ashley
Cooper. DR.. Carpenter. DR.. Monroe and DIR.
Dodds Of England Liebig, of Germany.
men are supposed to have achieved some
knowledge of physiology.
Of the physiological effects of alcohol in.
the system, how absurd do these asser-
tions of the New York paper appear to rea-
sonable minds.
might go still further and prove that this
traffic is justly chargeable with nine-tenths
of all the pauperi5m, crime and misery in
every country where it is allowed. 1t can
be clearly proven that it is a fruitful cause
of insanity and that it violates every prin-
ciple of moral law. 1T is marvellous that it
has obtained such hold on our politicians.
If editors who control and mold public sertf-
ment, and those who are e.ected to make
laws. will sink the dark ways of the willy
politician and refuse to be the tools of the
most Ubiquitous frame that the world has
ever seen. they Will then rise to a sublimer
height of patriotism and humanitarianism.
BY al means let the schools teach these
physiological truths and form in the young
minds hostility to the traffic of intoxi-
eating drinks as beverage. and the COM
ing generation win be better. wiser, and
happier than the present
J. r. BOYD. NJ. D.
Indianapolis, March IL.