Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-03
Non Alcoholic Medication.
Paper Read by Mrs. S: Estey at ". c. +. U.
stitute at Edgewood.


I'd him with conditions to keep it so
md had he lived the life his wise creator
planned for him and obeyed the sani-
AIRY laws laid down in his Book, rene
lial agencies would have been unnec-
sssary. No better example of this can
be found than in the lives of the Jews
whose food and sanitary laws are taken
entirely from the Old Testament.
There is good authority for the state
ment, that they live longer lives and
are almost entirely exempt from many
of the diseases from which other nations
suffer.
Man however was left with freedom
of will to choose the evil or good, and
soon the laws of health were disobeyed
and as natural consequence disease
made its appearance and something to
correct these ills was sought after. Out
of this grew the science of medicine
burdened with the crudities and super
stitions Of that age.
In these early ages the origin of dis
ease was not well understood and it
was ascribed to evil spirits and all sorts
of hideous lamentations were resorted to
to drive them out.
After a period the length of which
can be little more than guessed at, the
people partially outgrew these supersti-
tions and demanded a more rational
medication, but much that followed
was little less barbarous than these
early orgies. Time was when blood
letting was the remedy for nearly all
diseases, practiced not only by the doc
tor but by the barber as we'll.
After time the people rebelled and
said no more of our blood shall be shed
in this ignominious fashion and the
practice ceased fer want of patients, and
all that is now left of it, are the red
stripes on the BARRIERS pole.
They were dosed with calomel until
their bones ached and their teeth were
nearly ready to fall out of their mouths,
soaked whitewater until nearly drowned,
steamed and sweat until they were but
diluted specimens of humanity.
Baleful as these remedies were they
affected the body only and it remained
for the alchemist who in days long gone
by, discovered drug which destroyed
not only the body but the soul. To this
drug he gave the name of spirits of
wine or alcohol and proclaimed to the
world that the long looked for panacea
had been found. Satan himself could
never have even guessed at the misery
and suffering entailed upon the human
race by this discovery. The use of this
drug became almost universal. 1t was
employed not alone to cure all diseases
but to prevent all diseases and to make
all conditions of life tolerable. 1t was
given in the heat of summer to prevent
sunstroke and in the cold of winter to
lessen the danger of freezing.
Many here no doubt remember the
two black bottles which held the pos,
of honor on the family bureau; the ONT
containing camphor and the other ar
dent spirits of some kind, and if eithe
became empty there was dire conster
nation in the household, lest some mem
Der be overtaken by sickness before tn
trip could be made to an apothecar,
for the coveted drug. There was hardl!
adisease for which it was not prescrib
ed.
Not SO many years ago physician
known to the writer, was called upoI
to prescribe for man who had fits
After using all the remedies he hat
been taught to use for this disease h
found his patient still unimproved s,
decided to call brother practitioner ir
council. The good doctor after an ex
haustiye examination of the patien
and numberless questions as to wha
had already been done looked wise an
said the proper thing to do was to Civ
him some good Bourbon whiskey
Whiskey! exclaimed the doctor i
charge, who ever heard of giving whit
key in a case like this. Well reptile
the council, whenever in my practice
havn't known what else to do have a
ways found 1t safe to give some forr
of stimulants. Nothing hinders til
cause of temperance more than th
general use ofintoxicants as medicine
Many who would not go from HON
for drink cannot resist the temptatio
when it is at hand and can be used fo
some fancied ailment, and many re
formed man dates the revival of his Of
appetite and his final downfall to til
use of liquor in this way. Doctor
must not be blamed too severely in TIL
matter for nine times out of ten peop
prescribe for themselves liquor olson
kind, or patent medicine whose mai
ingredientit is Tor if it is cough met
icine, chloroform, laudanum or cocain
as WE'LL is dealt out freely for ever
fancied ailment.
Very young children are often give
alcohol almost from the time of Dirt
with the mistaken idea that it ai6
digestion. Its effects are much wort
then than later in life as the child hs
less resisting power than the adult. !
short time ago met young mothe
for whose little girl the doctor had pr
scribed q teaspoonfull of pure olive O
after each meal. 1t was unpalatable
the little one and she refused to take i
so the mother added a few drops {
brandy to each dose and the child too
it without further trouble. i remol
strated with her for giving the brand
and she listened to me in a patient wa
but felt sure she considered it jus
one of my fanatical notions and woul
continue the use Of the brandy.
might have censured her littl
more severely had i not felt that at he
age would have done the same thin
had occasion required, but my childre
soll Al. u