The national prohibitionist. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1907-1911, 1908-01-09

WHISKY ana wines are USED widely
DR.. R. E. Keyser, hospital physician of Mercy
Hospital, said alcoholic stimulants used largely
at the hospital
81 most certainly believe that alcoholic stimu-
lants indispensable in the treatment of certain
cases." said DR.. Keyser. in pneumonia cases in
particular whisky is better than drugs. 1t is used
here at the hospital in cases of complete exhaus-
ton and in many other ways. 1t is useful in the
treatment of diphtheria and in other diseases
where a heart stimulant is needed. 1t is useful,
too, in other cases where the system has suffered
a severe shock, as in an operation, or in case OF
accident where some portion of the body has
been crushed or cut l do not know of hospital
in Chicago, with the exception of the Frances
Willard, where alcoholic stimulants are not used.
I know very little about that hospital but it is
hard to see how the physicians there get along
without using wines or whisky
At the Alexian Brothers Hospital it was said
that the different physicians prescribed whisky in
many cases. but that it was used generally
last resort.
Dr. L. Blake Baldwin said last night that he
prescribed alcoholic stimulants in ali cases where
he deemed it necessary.
"No definite outline of the use of alcoholic
stimulants in the treatment of diseases can be
given" said Dr. Baldwin ct rests with the
physician in charge of the case. If his best judy
ment tells him that his patient would be benefited
by stimulants of this sort rather than by drugs
which stimulate, then, of course, he prescribes
the alcoholic stmulant. In cases of blood pois-
oning alcoholic stimulants used. AS general
tonics for weak and rundown systems they are
also good"
DR.. Clinton Hoy, at St. Luke's Hospital, said:
1--WE have found alcoholic stimulants to be
necessary in certain cases."
DR.. S. W. Ransom, at the county hospital, said
alcoholic stimulants were often used there.
I'm emergency cases alcoholic stimulants are
almost Indispensable" said Dr. Ransom. CAS-
tonics they are prescribed by most physicians
do not believe, however, that there is much
liquor used at the hospital now as a few years
ago. In of pneumonia and in infectious
diseases liquor plays prominent part in the
treatment of the cases."
Before treating the question in its bearing upon
the Frances Willard Hospital it is, perhaps peril
nent to remark that the non-alcoholic treatment
of disease is by no means innovation, nor
unheard of among wel1-informed medical men.
The late DR.. Nathan Smith Davis, of this city, a
man for whom could be claimed position very
near the head of the medical profession of the
United States, during his years of active practice
abandoned the use of liquors of all kinds in the
treatment of diseases, almost, if not quite haf-a-
century ago, and demonstrated in thousands of
cases the wisdom of his course With him have
stood some of the best-known physicians and
surgeons of Europe and America and the record
of their excellent work is part of medical lit
erature. The physician who expresses surprise
at the idea of treating disease without alcohol
simply reveals his own ignorance
Perhaps one of the most significant of facts
related to the subject is the fact that hardly
physician can be found no matter how outspoken
he may be in defense of liquors for medical pur-
poses, who is today using more than a small
percentage of the amount Of liquor which he