The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-03-11
Whiskey As Medicine. I"
Wilmington Times


I We understand that Christian Scientist
I do not believe ia the efficacy Of connection
which arr the products OF human effort,
/ for the cure OF diseases, but PIN their faitl
] 10 Divine power, From certain inionna
ton obtained from returns ol druggist,
| 10 the county clerk, We are inclined to III,
belief that the claims OF the Scientists az,
entitled TO a respectful consideration. In
passing, We may say that Scientists hay,
no more respect tor doctors than Tor then
prescriptions. Among the connections pre-
scIibed by doctors ~ a relief from the raw
ages OF disease, T. liquor ~ IT, varlou,
forms.
To illustrate the point We wlsh 10 make,
let us take the returns oi the dOrtors
liquor prescriptions filled at limttleboro
drug stores during the year 1909 During
January aud February there appears to
have been quite bit of sickness IN and
about the Vermont metropolis OF the Con
necticut valley, for during those months
the doctors prescribed intoxicating liquors
~ about one thousand casts of whatever
disease, were then prevalent II would
Ice naturally expected that If these pre-.
scrptlons had any curative force, they
would serve To check disease IN that com.
munlty. Blu; ia March aud April we lind
that the same remedies were prescribed
fully one thousand times, and in MAY and
June about fifteen hundred times But
even the liberal prescriptions OF these men
OF science, these men upon whom We all
rely To tide III over the dangerous places
ut llle'> pilgrimage. and to prolong our ex.
istcnce here on earth, did not check the
spread Of disease, even after six months
Of treatment, because during the last six
months of the year Intoxicating liquor was
prescribed 10y Brattleboro doctors for nee.
esSary medicinal purposes over I'VE thou
sand times During the year in question.
eight thousand and eight hundred and
twenty'four prescriptions for liquor were
filled by Battleboro druggists for such
purposes ~ are contemplated by the stat.
ntory provisions.
II the average prescription quantity was
pne and one.half pints, then about fifty
i've barrels of medicine" was put out in
me community OF this state all to no
wall because the course of disease was not |
'hecked thereby. as evidenced by the nun. !
Der of prescriptions filled during the first |
wo months of the present year. Strange. |
Y the diseases for which liquor is pre-
cribed seem To prevail in the localities |
where fifth class licenses are exercised. /
londonderry, which boasts OF license OF /
hat class, seems to be strangely afflicted,
o that the doctors who there toy with hu.
nan life are writing liquor prescriptions at
he rate of about one hundred per month.
assuming that the doctors have prescribed
wisely, and in accordance with the dictates
t modern medical science, we are forced
o the conclusion that there must be some
asis for the belief of the Scientist that
unan connections for the cure OF dis.
asses only serve the purpose OF affording
leans for the doctor and the druggist 10
eparate the patient and his money.
In any view of the situation it is evil
ent there is a most alarming condition as
D the prevalence of disease in and about
because each doctor in each
ise has certified on each prescription that
was for necessary medicinal use. We re-
pectfuly call upon that all powerful ex.
,utive and judicial body, officially known
; the state board of health, to take imme
late cognizance of this alarming condi-
on to the end that the public health may
e protected and that the state may never
gain be compelled to worry along during
mother trying period with Bratteboro
nder quarantine ,