The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
THE USE OF sTIMULANTS.
A Vigorous View which VIII Arouse
Discussion.
Boston TRANSCRIPT

Boston Transcript.
In an article in the Journal Of Medicine
and Science Of recent date DR.. A. z. Grin
nell. of Burlington. VT, expresses his Opin-
ion in respect to the use of stimulants in a
very decided manner. He evidently holds
IN slight esteem the professional temper
ance exhOrter. DR.. GrinneIl goes so far as
10 declare that the sO-Called temperance
reformer knows but little of the subject he
attempts to discuss. He says: The man
who talks the most, who appears most IN
pubic print. who is most responsible for
the legislative enactments regarding the
sale Of stmulants and narcotics, who de-
nounces the use and abuse of all things
which he cannot use himself. has the most
fects of these drugs OF the evils they are
likely TO produce" Who shall say that
there is not a deal of truth in this declara-
ton, even If ii be more general in its COM
prehensiveness than facts actually war
rant? II is at least certain that a great
many men and women who are intemper-
ately jealous in the temperance cause have
no scientific knowledge as to the effects Of
alcoholic beverages upon the physical or
the mental system.
But DR.. Grinnell does not content him
self by the following of a negative course.
He very frankly announces his conviction
that stimulants are beneficial. For many
years." he says. Il have believed, and L
know hat the experience of every physi-
clan engaged in the practice of medicine
will justify my belief, that every human
being Graves some artificial stimulaut.
Ask yourself what your stimulant is, what
is mine. what Is my neighbours? We all
have, and after thirty years experience 1
can truthfully voice the opinion entertained
by the medical profession, that every
human being Graves and requires some
artificial stimulation" To some men al
cOhOlic stimulant is everything they seem
TO need to satisfy their cravings but
what is stimulating TO one may not be to
another; hence the great variation in the
character and amount of the stimulants
used-tea, coffee, tobacco, opium, cocaine,
Qu1nlne. tdDaSCO sauce. CatSnn. fOnicG and
blood purifiers, etc. DR.. Grinnell tells of
an eloquent after-dinner speaker who de-
pended upon a glass of champagne, and
could do nothing without it; and OF another
whose oratOrical powers were set a-going
by a cup of black tea. Another man." he
says, who was largely responsible for
the prOhibitory law, as it was called in
Vermont, came TO see me for treatment. [
told him under no circumstances TO eat
acids. He said. Do you mean to tell me
that 1 can't eat pickles?' l told him, GER
tainly, that he had a disease of the kidneys
and bladder which made the use of acids
impossible. He said, L have pickles three
times a day, made out of everything that
it is possible TO make pickles from; I
can't get along without pickles. And yet
this man went to the State Legislature and
said, 1 can drink beer; therefore. you
DIR. GrinneII says he believes that an
artificial stimulant is desired by or is ac-
ceptable TO everybody, and that the selec-
ton of that stimulant depends upon the
environment. occupation and popularity
of the individual. In illustration Of this.
he cites a temperance speaker who drank
four cups of strong coffee at each meal
and another who declared that it was i'm
possible for him to deliver a lecture upon
temperance unless he was under the in
tiuence of compound tincture of gentian.
Sooner or later" says DR.. Grinnell. 'the
reformers of the world have got to divert
some of their feverish antipathy to alco-
hOlic stimulants and consider calmly and
intelligently the drug evil. The deleterious
influence on the individual of all forms of
drug addiction and the consequent effect
on society. and all relations of mankind
make it's consideration in its sociological
and criminal aspects of paramount import
ance."
Now, whether one can agree wholly or
partly, or not at all with DIR. Grinnell. what
he has TO say is at least worthy of respect
full considerations as much considera-
ton, certainly, as are publications very
widely regarded as the gospel of temper
ance. but which are not accepted by men
competent to judge as scientifically
founded.