The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-09
SATURDAY, MAY 9. 1903.
ALCOHOL AS A MEDICINE.
We have the following communicate
from an esteenand corras tnndnnt: -----

We have the following communication
from an esteemed correspondent:
Editor OF Tho .Dispatch
Sir.-I respectfully suggest the follow
ing as a proper and legitimate summary
Of your editorial "The Danville Expert
1nent." in to-days issue: ITO sum UP, the
Danville prohibitionists admit that alcohol
Is medicinal necessity That means that
somebody is going to make 1t, and that 1t
should be sold but only as other poisons
1866 OF the Code of Virginia edition OF
4 1&SO. And 30 Mt last we come back to the
stubborn proposition that alcohol is here,
and here to stay; that there is demand
for 1t as a medicine, and that so long as
there Is such demand for 1t there will be
ton for men to consider is the manner
and method OF regulating the sale of al
cohol in all Of its preparations in such
q way as to mako 1t least injurious to
mankind"
That is all very we'll as far as 1t goes.
but our correspondent makes the fatal
mistake OF assuming that alcohol Is a
drug and poison per Sc. We may call
It such by law, but we cannot make 1t
! such any more than we can change any
Dther fact OF nature by statutory enact
pent. Alcohol Is used as a medicine, and
when abused 1t becomes n poison. But
4 It can DO used. and 1t Is used, In modera-
ton ana when SO used 1t does no material
harm. It is dangerous -of course. 1t is
dangerous-for men and women to acquire
taste for alcohol. and we shall never
cease to advise young people to abstain
from It's use. But that does not alter the
fact that many people are capable OF using
1t within modern tion, and do use 1t within
moderation, all the days Of their life,
and are not seriously injured, If injured
at all. thereby.
Tor this reason 1t Is practically impos-
eible to restrict the sale OF ardent spirits
to medicinal uses. II sold at all, those
1,.lac purchase It will uso 1t as they please.
Il and It is impossible for the law to pre-
vent them from doing 80. Time and again
tho experiment has been tried OF restrict
ing the sale Of ardent spirits In this To-
& callty and that to tho drug stores. but as
in the case Of Amherst county, so In all
cases. so far as our knowledge goes, the
law has been evaded. 1t IS for this rea-
son that the Anti-Saloon League OF Dan
4 Vile was unwilling to have liquors sold
from the drug stores, and proposed to
give 1t away In all cases where 1t should
he required for strictly medicinal pur-
poses. under q physicians prescription.
But the Danvillo plan seems to be i'm
practicable. and 1t appears that Danville
must either do without whiskey for medic
anal purposes or permit tho drug stores
Ito sell 1t. and If the drug stores sell 1t
fUI medicinal purposes. 1t will be used for
other purposes. 1t Is undoubtedly possible
TO enforce strictly prohibition law in a
community whessa the Jaw is backed up
by an Overwhelming public sentiment. But
prohibition must be absolute. The sale
oil alcohol cannot be restricted to medici-
mi uses Alcohol cannot be treated ex-
clusively as medicine. because it is not
exclusively medicine. and is not used ex-
clusivcly for medicinal purposes.
.