The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-08-06

contracting a love for distilled liq-
uors that the smallest amount posi-
bic should be prescribed by a physi-
clan. A physician of eminence who
died near the close of the last cen
fury in London lamented in pathetic
terms that he bad innocently made
many sots by prescribing brandy and
water in summer complaints. Smok-
ing and chewing tobacco, by render
ing water and simple beverages in
sipid, dispose to the use of ardent
spirits.
''No man ever became a drunkard
suddenly. BY gradually accustoming
the taste and stomach to ardent spir
it's a habit is formed, and the desire
for more liquor increases; the odious
nuisance of a dram drinkers breath
becomes a permanent acquisition,
with the accompaniment of down
right stupidity and impotence.
ministers of the Gospel of every
denomination in the United States,
aid me with all the weight of the in
tiuence you possess, by your precept
and example, to prevent the multi
tude Of crimes and miseries the Off
spring of strong drink!
at is highly probable that not less
than 1000 people die annually in the
United States from the use of intoX-
icatng drinks. Where are all the In
dian tribes NboSa numbers and arm :
formerly spread terror among their
civilized neighbors? In the words of
the famous Mingo chief; 'the blood of
many of them flows not in the veins
of any human creature
They have persisted not by pesti-
human life than either of these, ar
dent spirits. The loss of 1000
American citizens by the yellow
fever in a single year awakened gen
eral sympathy and terror, and called
all the strength and ingenuity of
laws to prevent its recurrence. Why
is not the same zeal manifested in
protecting our citizens from the
more general and consuming ravages
of distilled spirits?'
As | have already indicated. it was
believed so or 100 years ago by tenn
perance men, like DIR. Thacher, that,
while distilled liquors were despon-
ents and eXcitants of disease and
crime, wine, porter, and strong beer
IN nj Mt ri
tious. Modern investigation shows
that the nutriment in these bever-
ages is almost negative quantity
while the amount of alcohol which
they contain varies from six per cent.
to rs or more, and that as disease
and crime producers they are close
second to ardent spirits in the vi
cious race. Physicians know, or
ought to know. that diseases are
produced or aggravated by the use of
alcoholic beverages, and that the
records of police courts demonstrate
that the mass of criminals arrested
are hard drinkers. In the earlier
years of the republic it was esti-
mated by Thacher and others that
1000 people died drunkards every
year. Now more than hundred
thousand graves are required an
nually to hold the victims of alcO-
holic poisons. How many of these
victims were started on their down
ward course by the prescriptions of
reputable medicine-men may be
known only by the recording angel,
but we have reason to believe that
every week if not every day there is
added to the list of physicians one at
least who can truthfully and proudly
answer the charge that doctors make
drunkards: Thou canst not say |
did it.'-Henry D. Didama, NJ. D.,
vice president of American Medical
Temperance Association.