Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-11-20
Re port of Medical Commission on Al,
c0h0l.

At the annual meeting OF the MarylanC
State Homeopathic Medical Society, held In
May, 1895, commission was appointed "tC
IN vestigate the effects OF alcohol in health
and disease"
During the recent session of the Society
held in Baltimore May 18th and Goth, 1896
the following report was made, signed by
the lull commission and adopted unani
mously by the Society.
This commission has carefully considered
the important matter thus placed under III
care; it has gone to original sources wher
practicable, and weighed the matter in th'
light of Experiment and experience
The members of your commission unit
in the following conclusions
The most periec: health is compatible
with total abstinence from all alcoholic
beverages A very large proportion OF dis
ease is induced by their use.
OF all diluents or solvents for the nutri
tious parts of food there is nothing that can
take the place of water
While exhibiting slight rritant or slim.
ulant effect, the secondary or permanent eli
iect OF alcohol is narcotic or depressing. Its
use as medicine in chronic or long con
tlnued sickness, such as consumption or ty
phoid fever, is hurtful or tends TO prevent
recovery.
lnOSc VINO ldke WING, DtcI, Ut any OtHcI
form of alcoholic liquor daily, should un-
derstand that IL is at cost. IL Is Il luxury
which must be paid for, usually by loss Of
health, OF mental power, OF calmness of tenn
per, of judgment, the control over thoughts
words, and actions being impaired Its
habitual use exposes the body to disease
leads to premature degeneration and short
ems life.
Alcohol creates craving for itself, which
in certain number of persons, become ir-
rcsistible.
Those who use alcoholic liquors are
more liable 10 become diseased, harder 10
cure when i'll, and more liable TO complica-
tons than total abstainers.
Those accustomed TO the use of such bev-
erages may with perfect safety discontinue
their use. No form of alcoholic liquor is q
tonic, but the exact opposite.
While alcohol has been classified by some
scientists as a food, its use as such is dan.
gerous and should be condemned.
The use of porter, beer, stout, or any
other form OF liquor by nursing mothers is
productive Of lamentabe results both tC
mother and child.
Alcohol does not increase the supply o.
milk, while on the other hand, when thu
used, IL has led to the formation of drinking
habits in the mother. II tends also TO pro
duce weakness, nervousness, epilepsy, anC
other diseases In the offspring
The use of liquor by one or both parents
entails disease upon the offspring. They
are often cursed by an overpowering desire
for drink, are apt to be irritable, hysterical
with tendency to neurosy; generally in
Guiding insanity. Many die young.
The greatest feats of skill, strength, and
endurance are performed more easily BY
total abstainers. Finally from therapeu
tic standpoint, alcohol can he regarded only
as temporary stimulant; and because o
its secondary or depressing effect the EN-
ployment OF other means Of stimulation Il
strongly advised.
Owing 10 the dangerous character Of al
coholic liquors ii is recommended that NJ
one should use them except under the direc
ton of a physician and physicians are ad
vised to prescribe alcoholic liquor will
great caution and then 10 employ their OH
cial titles.
Respectfully submitted-O Edward Jan
ney, NJ. D.. Eldridge G. Price, M. d.. Hen
~ Chandler, M. D.; Joseph s. Garrison, NJ