The Press., 1897-12-30
w. C. T. U.
pr. J. w. Grosvenor, of Buffalo. welcomei
 the National Convention.

pr. J. W. Grosvenor, of Buffalo. welcomes
 the National Convention.
 TAs this is the first time that Nation al w. c. T. U. convention has been form ally welcomed by the medical fraternity, and the fact denotes a significant wide ming of the non alcoholic idea, we give this address as sstenographicallyr reported
 As witnesses that we and our work are akin, I wish to call before you some of the great lights of our profession pr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia, surgeon general of the Army of the Revolution, signer fthe Declaration of Independence, author, medical professor, accomplished practitioner, earnest advocate of the alcoholic intoxicants as a remedy in disease; Dr. N. s. Davis, of Chicago, the Nestor of the medical profession, member of the American Medical Association for fifty years, a total abstainer and a suc- cessful medical practitioner without the use of alcohol. Crossing the Atlantic, call to your attention the staunch Dr. John Higinbotham, in the early days of the present century sacrificing his popu- larity among the wealthy and the titled, abs s'inence andmaintaining large practice among the common people without the use of a simple drop of alcohol for thirty years pr. Benjamin Ward Richardson, the brilliant and versatile author, the keen scientist, philosopher, humanitarian, busy practitioner-the echoes of his en- logium have belted the world and will be heard for scores of years to come. Cross- ing the English Channel 10 Switzerland. we come upon Professor ForelI in his laboratory, where he has demonstrated the vicious qualities of alcohol and their deleterious influence upon the human organism.
 As evidence that the medical profession is deeply interested in the alcohol ques- tion, wish to call your attention to sev- eral hospitals which have been founded and superintenCed by physicians who have no faith in alcoholic medication in the treatment of disease.
 The London Temperance hospital has been in operation for more than twenty years; thousand of cases, medical and surgical, have been treated by its physi- clans without the use of alcohol. In the year 1896 the death rate of that hospital was 7.6 per cent. The National Temper ance Hospital of Chicago was founded more than twelve years ago. During the year 1S96i death rate was 3. 1-6 percent.
 The Red Cross Hospital in New York city, founded four years ago, by its report for 1896 shows that it's death rate was one | per cent. without the use of alcohol. These figures speak eloqu ently in favor | treatment of disease.
 As further evidence that the medical profession is deeply interested in the alcohol question, note three important utterances upon this subject. In the year 1889 statement was made and signed by seventy-eight -Iominent physicians of England, which declared that in the healthy, clean organism there was no use | for alcohol.
 In the year 1847 another declaration was made and signed by more than 2,OOO eminent physicians, to the effect that per. feet health may be compatible with total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks. In 1878 similar declaration was made and signed by 264 leading members ot hospital staffs in England. As further evidence that the medical fraternity is deeply interested in this subject, wish tc call your attention to certain organiza. tions that have been formed. The British Medical Temperance Association was founded more than score of years age and has a membership of 764 physicians and medical students, every one of then a total abstainer. The American Medica Temperance Association has nearly two hundred members, every one of whom if a total abstainer. Beer-drinking German, has also medical temperance association and 180 of its members use no alcoholic intoxicants.
 During the last twenty-five years ther, has been a marvellous revolution in tn, sentiment of the medical profession con cerning the utility of alcohol as a bever age aud as a medicine. The vast majorit, f of the medical profession to-day do no , use it with the same frequency as former ly, whileihe number of physicians wh, are total abstainers and who use it, no at all, has been increasing with commend