The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
VALUE or ALCOHOL AS A Drug.
A Tepac IN which British Medical ASsOela.
tiOn DoCtors COuldn't Agree.

A TNpao IN which MrttaSm Meuical Ass0elA
tiOn Doctor Couldn't Agree.
AmonG the topics discussed at the recent
meeting Of the British Medical Association
nc Toronto was the value Of alcohol a.
drug. Contradictory opinions were 81.
pressed.
Alta luncheon given by the Ontario branch
Of tbs Dominion Temperance Alliance tho
guests OF honor were Sir Victor Horslsy
and Prof. Sims woodhead, both sdvo-
Gates Of temperance and both exceptionally!
well qualified. Sir Victor Horsley Of Lon.
don IA one Of che great authorities on tho
dipeases OF the nervous system, while Prof.
Sims woodhsad Of Cambridge UniEerIty
II ono OF the great psthologists, and q
such Ia familiar with the evils wroughs
by alcohol on organs Of the body.
Sir Victor Horsley spoke on alcohol from
the standpoint OF q urgeon, and declared
that the medical profession OF Great Britain
an a whole was opposed to the use Of alcohol
as a drug and a. a beverage. His personal
opinion was that the value Of alcohol as Q
drug was practically nil.
When he was a student the traditional
remedy in surgery for blood poisoning
and for an infectious disease like pneu.
monia wal alcohol, but now in such cases
alcohol has fallen almost entirely into dis
repute. He displayed a chart showing
the decreased use Of alcohol and the in
Creased use of milk in seven large London
hospitals in the last forty years.
In 1882 SIS 900 a year was spent for milk
and $4,000 for alcohol For ten years
this expenditure remained stationary. In
1882 the expenditure for the two was equal.
In 1901 the figures OF 1852 were reversed,
$50 o being spent for alcohol and $4,000
for milk.
Prof. Sims Woodhead said that In his
belief an equally marked change of opinion
was taking place in the medical branch Of
the profession with regard to the. value
of alcohol as q drug. Almost every eI-
perimenter has come to the conclusion
that alcohol interferes with the production
OF what il termed the state Of immunity;
that IL interferes With the condition as q
result OF which we recover from various
infective diseases. Experiments on animals
seem to nave proved this point.
Such were the opinions OF " eminent
members OF the medical profession. On the
other hand, in the section Of therapeutics,
the question Of alcohol was discussed from
a purely scientific standpoint as well as from
the point Of view OF treatment, and as a
rule the speakers were In favor Of the
judicious use OF alcohol. Yet there wers
wide differences OF opinion upon very many
essential points. One could not fail to be
struck by the fact that skilled laboratory
workers who presumably undertook theF
experiments under identical conditions
arrived al conclusions diametrically OPP
posed.
The scientific men were all more or less
agreed that as a heart stimulant alcohol
has little effect. such stimulation being
slight and deeting. DR.. Blackader Of
Montreal said that in the wards OF Montreal
hospitals the stimulated action of the heart
under the In fiuen ce OF alcohol was some.
what feeble and transitory. The action on
the nervous system Is more complex, butt
is certain y depressing on the centres OF
Judgment, disoernment and s~elf-control. To
enable the system to resist the germs OF
disease large doses are not justified by
experience.
DR.. Blackader attributed to alcohol q
definite food value in that it can he utilized
when other foods can be given with diff
Guilty. 1t requires no digestion and aids
in the digestion OF other foods. In fever
and in conditions Of exhaustion alcohol
places no tax on the digestive organs and
increases the secretion that favors Other
digestion. It also leaves fewer after effects
than any other narcotic. It will be noted
that alcohol il at the present time regarded
not as a stimulant but as a narcotic.
DR.. Meltzer OF New York was in favor Of
the medicinal use OF alcohol. 1t should be
used in small doses. Recent investigation
he said, showed that IL increased heart
pressure and corrected the distribution OF
the blood. In health alcohol might be q
poison and in disease a benefloent drug.
As a research worker DR.. W. G. Dixon OF
Cambridge University discussed the ques'
ton. He pointed out that the rate OF the
heart after the administration Of alcohol
was OF little scientific or practical value and
that the stimulating effect on the circulation
OF the blood was not due to direct action on
the heart but to the action Of the alcohol on
the part Of the brain known az the medulla.
Alcohol in large doses slowed the hearts
action. For every heart there was a
quantity, a small one, of alcohol which
would increase the rate Of pulsation, hui
a slight increase over this quantity would
produce a decided slowing of the heart
Alcohol was a poison to the heart for an
individual unaccustomed to its use.
Therefore the speaker argued that aloo-
hol should not be withheld from a man
suffering from disease IL he was hahitualy
accustomed TO it. He contended that a
person being treated for delirium trenen'
produced by spirit drinking to excess
should be allowed to have alcohol, but ms
expression Of opinion met with decided DIS
sent from other speakers.
The doctors we're, perhaps, an the Vhoe,
in favor OF tho use Of alcohol as 4 drus
and several medical men, British, Canadian
and American, gave evidence that in varloS
diseases they had used it with eXcenen'
effect. II was regarded az curious IN view
Of the numerous Investigations which havs
taken place in the last few year, WIN
regard to the effect Of alcohol that 10 MUS
has been discovered about il, Al eSnen'
mentors scarcely agree on any one POM
Physicians and surgeons vary IN NOV
Judgment almost as widely as do eHpen'
mentors.
A London physician, DR.. Rose Eradioro'
gave some good advice when ar chairman
OF the meeting he summed up. He dePre
Gated the custom OF many physicians u
recommending the Use Of alcohol 10 patlen'