The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-11-28
FALLING INro pIsFAyoa.

FALLING INTO plSfANObs
Thoughtful observers recognize that alco-
hol as q medicine is rapidly becoming
thing of the past, says one of our contem-
poraries.s Ten years ago leading medical
men and textbooks spoke of stimulants as
essentials Of many diseases, and defended
their use with warmth and positiveness.
To-Day this is changed. Medical men seldom
refer to spirits rs remedies, and when they
do, express great conservatism andeaution.
The textbooks show the same changes,
although some dogmatic authors refuse to
recognize the change of practice, and still
cling to the idea of the food value OF spirits.
Druggists who supply spirits to the pro-
fession recognize n tremendous dropping of
in the demand. A distiller who, ten years
ago, sold many thousand gallons of choice
WHISTLES almost exclusively to medical men,
has lost his trade altogether and gone out of
business. Wine men, too. recognize this
change, and are making every effort to have
wine used in the place OF spirits in the sick
room. Proprietary medicine dealers are
putting all SORTS OF compounds OF wine with
iron, bark, ETC., on the market with the same
idea. 1t is doubtful il any of these will be
able to secure any permanent place in thera-
peutics.
The fact is. alcohol is passing out OF prae-
teal therapeutics because its real action is
becoming known. Facts are accommodating
in the laboratory, in the autopsy room, at
the bedside, and in the work of expert
mental psychologists, which show that alco-
hol Is a depressant and narcotic; that it
can not build up tissue, but always acts as
degenerat.ve power, and that its apparent
effects OF raising the hearts action and
quickening functional activities are mislead
ing and erroneous.
French and German specialists have
denounced spirits both as beverage and
medicine, and shown by actual demonstra-
tion that alcohol is poison and depres-
SAINT, and that any therapeutic action it is
assumed to have is open to question.
All this Is not tho result OF agitation and
wild condemnation by persons who feel
deeply the sad consequences of the abuse OF
spirits. 1t is simply the outcome of the
gradual accumulation OF facts that have been
proved within the observation OF every
thoughtful person. The exact or approxi-
mate facts relating 10 alcohol can now DO
tested by instruments OF precision. We can
weigh and measure the effects. and 1t is not
essential to theor;ze or speculate. We can
test and prove with reasonable certainty
what was before matter Of doubt.-Sacred
Heart Review.
TEMPERANCE NEWS AND NOTES.
OF 200 British troops in India "a 600 are
total abstainers and enrolled in the Indian
Army Temperance Association.
Seneca, the Roman philosopher, said: sero
argue that man may take wine, and retain
right frame of mind, is rs bad as to argue
that he may take poison and not die"
A press dispatch informs us that the Peru
Wan Congress has authorized that Govern
ment to appoint committee to draft bill
for the purpose OF restraining drunkenness
throughout the Republic.
L. v. Powderly. ex-President of the
Knights Of Labor; believes that the cause of
temperance Is gaining ground, and all be-
cause men and women who believe In it cali
not be browbeaten and frightened.
The devil has hold OF the boy whose father
is a moderate drinker.
The Christian Commonwealth states that
the British Women's Temperance Association
has 40 600 pledged women abstainers in its
500 branches,
So many accidents have been traced to
drunken employees on the Trans-Andes line
in Chile that the directors have decided to
discharge anyone who shall be caught under
theinfuence of liquor. Good for Chile.
Miss Ella Clementine Rogers is temper
ance lecturer who is meeting considerable
success, says Western exchange. This IS
attributed to her simple platform. which is
expressed by the following couplet:
"Ihere is a public house tint every man
can close.
Imean the public house just underneath his
nose"