The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-03-20

\ French newspaper, under the heading.
Alcohol Legal Poison draws attention to
startling facts respecting the abuse of al
oohol, shows the mischief that is being done
oy the bad, cheap brandy now being sold
Throughout France; and which enters more
pr less into the composition Of nearly every
irlnk OF an alcoholic nature. Statistics prove
this thirst for alcohol to be alRrmingly on the
increase here. For every litre of brandy that
was sold in 1870 now I've times that guam
uty is sold. The rapid increase Of cabarets
ana VINE shops In every part OF Paris Is a
PROOF OF this A competent writer on this
subject says: alcohol Is becoming for the
Frenehman what opium is for the Chinese,
and 1t enjoys on the part of the Government
tue same protection that the opium trade does
In China. A profound study on this impor-
lant question by Nj. LRrdier de Rambervil-
uers has Just been read before the Academy
Of Medicine. II describes alcoholism and its
consequences as a hereditary virus poisoning
the blood OF children yet unborn, and beget-
ing In them scrofula, epilepsy, madness, in
;t1ncts for assassination, and other vicious
and deadly tendencies.
TESTIMONY OF FAMOUS ENGLISH DOCTOR
At a recent public meeting In England, Sir
Beaiamin Ward Richardson, NJ D., reviewed
me position taken by him twenty-five years
ago with reference to alcohol, which may be
summed up as follows:
Il can no more accept it as food than can
ehioroform, or ether, or methyl. That alco-
aol produces temporary excitement is true,
out as its general action is to reduce animal
aeat cannot see how it can supply animal
iorce can see clearly how 1t reduces ami
mai power. and can show q reason for using
Il in order to stop physical pain, or to stupefy
mental PAIN but that 1t gains strength, that
supplies material for construction of It's
sue, or throws force int 10 tissues supplied by
other material-must be an error rs solemn
IS 1t is widespread. The true character Of
Alcohol Is that IL Is an agreeable temporary
lhroud. To resort for force to alcohol is. to
ny mind, equivalent to the act of searching
or the sun In subterranean gloom, until all
S night.
'These were the words Of 1862" said the
tserne5 scientist, land now since quarter
If a century has elapsed since they were
written and spoken, l stand on the past, and
without prejudice, without Indifference, but
with observation and research maintained
ap TO the present moment, l do not see
single reason for changing one idea OF one
word. have, however something to add.
| spoke, In 1862 on experiment without per-
Ional experience. have been led by what
| may call personal experiment to confirm
lhe past on the present, and after twenty
dve years have come to the distinct conclu-
sion, unhesitatingly and undoubtingly ex-
pressed, that by abstinence have lost moth
ng, retained everything, and gained much.
"
snce experiment. When l had
overcome the physiological difficulties l
continued for some time to apply what l
aad originally learned to the treatment of
disease, using alcohol as at least an ex-
teptional remedy. Gradually 1t dawned
dpon me that the error here might be as
great as the error relating to health and al
tohol. When the London Temperance Hos
pital was opened to me i obtaisSsd field
such had never had before TO .cientiic
bhservation-with the result that 700 acute
eases have come under my care, diseases Of
The most varied kinds and acutest in char
acter, all of which have been treated without
any recourse to alcohol or to anything that
may be called substitute for il. Recoveries
from seyerest diseases are as good, If not
better, under this method, than under the
old one, and conyalescence is unquestiona-
bly, advanced, The truth, in short, holds
good all through, that that which is best in
health is best also in disease, and II it were
in the power Of any one to say, L remove
from your reach alcohol as a medicine l
should answer, There is not a medicine that
you can remove from me with greater i'm
punity.'"