The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-08-04

Mr.. Editor My mind has been called
of late to an article that | wrote some
years ago for one of the papers OF this
city; and with the reminder comes the
request for its temperance. kHoping
it will do the reader as much good as it
does the writer to re-write it, | cheer
fully submit; here it is
is ALCOHOL A MEDICINE?
eWhy skim off the gnat and then
swallow larger substances" or, which
is the same thing and equally incon-
sistent, to strangle at alcohol and then
swallow opium. These thoughts were
induced by readine the paper OF DR., l..
N. Davis, of the Chicago Medical Col,
lege, presented before the national tenn
perance convention at Saratoga June
22nd, in which paper he presented about
all the argument against the use of
alcohol the most vehement advocates
of temperance could wish for. Dr.
Davis stands before that august assem-
blage of politico-religionists as fair
writer and exponent of the Allopathic
or old school of doctors, and whose
opinion stands as sort of electric light
to those in the constellation of the
lesser bear in the medical heavens; but
as this is an age of crucibles and crit
icism, may be excused for a few re-
marks. l am aware that the allopathic
fraternity examine this subject from
their own peculiar standpoint, that
poisons are essential to medicine. They,
of course, as class of physicians, have
no trouble in satisfying their own
minds in regard to what the true ans
wer should be to the question ''is alco-
hol medicinal?" In their curative at
tempts they aim to remove disease by
making another disease; or, which is
the sane thing, by substituting the
peculiar action" of poison instead of
the disease. And believing that alco-
hol, as a poison, is susceptible of being
substituted, they have no hesitation in
giving the answer in the affirmative.
Some of this class, like DIR. Davis, who
have closely watched the pernicious eff
fects of alcohol, both as a medicine and
beverage, laying aside their precon-
ceived opinions, are ready to disclaim
its use altogether. and to give up the
erroneous theory which seems to them to
dictate its use, and which stands in the
way of a correct understanding of what
constitutes true medicinal agent.
The physician who follows the teach
ings of nature in the removal of disease
by helping the curative effort when it is
trying to help itself, and at the same
time believes1in throwing no obstacles
in the way of this curative effort, will
not regard the above answer as salts
factory. We believe that nothing is
curative which does not aid the vital
efforts of the organism, the preserving
force of the constitution, in throwing
off the causes of disease; and as alcohol |
as poison is inimical to the designs of
the human constitution, the use of it |
adds one more cause to the already ex-
isting cause of disease, taxing thereby
more heavily the organic effort, and is
therefore not a friend-a medical
agent-but an enemy.
There being no building material in
alcohol, it cannot be used in the human
system for the purpose of building up
and sustaining it's structure. Not be-
ing disgested nor assimilated it is cast
out of the body by its depurating organs,
the lungs, the liver, the kidneys, and
the skin, as alcohol still, and as alec
hol unchanged; carrying with it its pc
culiar der as it passes. Like any
other poison, it can be regarded in no
other light than powerful depressor
of the energies of life" and as such,
unfit to be used either as medicine or
beverage.
Alcohol is regarded as stimulant,
by most of the medical profession, and
on that account supposed to be med
icinal; but those like DR.. Davis who have
examined it's effects the most carefully,
either upon themselves or others, and
noted these effects, viewing the matter
from physico-medical standpoint,
must be convinced that there is properly
nothing stimulating aboutit. tits true
that it quickens the pulse when first
thrown into the circulation, but di-
rectly after it weakens it's force. The
apparent stimulation, at first, is the
result of labored effort on the part of
the organism to>get rid Of the intruder,
and should be called provocation in
stead of stimulation. There is a mark
ed difference between stimulant and a
propagation. The former acts in har-
mony with the natural action of the
heart and arteries without increasing
the frequency of the pulse. The latter
acts in opposition to this natural &C
ton and, as an overcoming obstacle,
after the first impression, diminishes
both the force of the heart and the fire.
quency of the pulse. The tippler's as
sertion that alcohol heats him when he
10 cold oD1 ooolc him uhop ha ia hot