The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-09-22

DOCTORS ALTER THEIR VIEWS
Where Moderation Was Permitted
Few Years Ago Total Abstinence
Now Recommended.

in a public sermon:
I'VE find now the constant and
agreement of doctors on the subject
of alcohol to a vast degree going in a
direction opposite to that which they
took in 1859. Then their opinion might
be summed up thus:
"a little wine or beer or a very
moderate amount of spirits is good for
most people. but there are some who,
can do without it, and some who would
be much better without It.
Their opinion summed up now
would be something like this: !
For the vast majority of the hui
man racs nothing of the kind is the
best rule; there are a few exceptions
for whom 1t is either good or gives
no HARM"
1t has been many years since those
who spoke Of the dangers lurking in
the use Of alcohol were scoffed at as
ignorant and prejudiced. and they
were told: Hear what the doctors
say in favor of alcohol as both food
and medicine"
Some of the doctors took 1t upon
themselves to cover with abuse all
those who favored abstinence, espe-
cially among their own number. Some
regarded a physician as being I'M
scientific If be did not order it. Some
of us laymen remember well how heat
ed some of the doctors became in
their condemnation of the fanatics"
as they stigmatized those who urged
abstinence.
Now a great change has come and
it Is indicated In such statements as
the following:
DR.. Howard A. Kelley, of Johns Hop
kins hospital, Baltimore, at the Wash
ington meeting of the American So
ciety for the Study of Alcohol and
Other Drug Habits, speaking, 'as a
physician with 80 years experience"
said:
Il began my practise in private life
by prescribing alcohol in its various
forms as an easily diffusible stimulant
in cases of periodic weakness, In low
fevers, and exhaustion. in accordance
with the common custom Of a genera
ton ago. My experience has
told me that the effect is temporary,
evanescent; that the drug (for such
it is) does no real good. and that a
dangerous habit is thus easily endan-
dered which may be most difficult to
eradicate, a habit that may utterly
ruin the patients body. soul. and
spirit"
DIR. w. H. Waugh, editor Of Clinical
Medicine, Chicago. said in a paper
read at the same meeting: Person
ally / stand ready to use alcohol any
time when / believe it to be to the
best interests of my patients. but do
not know a solitary use or solitary
case occurring In the widest range OF
medicine practise in which alcohol Is
the best remedy that can be applied"
Concerning the use of alcohol In
pneumonia, Dr. A. A. Hill says: Il
rely on digitalis. strychnine. careful
feeding, and absolute rest, but always
refuse at the critical period when the
oyerburdened and dilated right heart
has almost reached the breaking point,
to help my patient over the precipice
by prescribing the so-called stimulant
that must often by its paralyzing ef-
feet on the cardiac nerves take away
his last chance of recovery. Lobar
pneumonia, cardiac failure'-so runs
the usual certificate, and the cause Of
the cardiac failure In 95 cases out Of
100, is alcohol"
DR.. Stilie, German health officer.
replied recently to brother practi-
toner who had said that an abstainine
physician has no right to impose his
views upon his patient and deny him
alcoholic drinks, when he needs them
to relieve depression. DIR. Stille said
that only very small part Of the al
cohol consumed can be said to afford
pleasure in any true sense. and that
is so infinitesimal compared with the
misery it causes that he should con-
slider himself inexcusable II he did not
do all In his power to combat alcohol
He thinks that If any one is not con-
yinced of the general injuriouness Of
alcohol 1t can only be because he has
not made a sufficient study of the sub
ject. e
!, A book on "vital Economy; or How
to Conserve Your Strength" by John
H. Clark, M. D., just published in
London (1909). contains this state
ment:
1.-The doctor Is certainly responsible
for large share of the drinking Gus
toms of the present day. He gives
indiscriminate or indefinite advice to
take little whisky with lunch and
dinner or burgundy, or claret or port,
as the case may be. and the patient
is pretty certain to carry out the pre-
scription-in all probability to the end
of his days"