The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-05-09
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ONE PHYSICIAN HAS REMEDY
Advocates Campaign Against Use Of
Alcohol Similar to One Used
Against tuberculosis.

Thirty years ago physicians were
rather promoters of the use Of alcohol
both as a stimulant and as a remedial
agent Now everywhere on both sides
OF the Atlantic medical men are fore
most oppoeers Of the use OF spirftuous
liquors as q beverage or even as an
agent In the treatment OF disease.
They have been living rather securely
In the tradition that alcohol had al
ways been with them and that most
peoples who had reached the crest OF
development had been free users OF
wine and beers, and that n alcohol
carried with II any peril to the race.
mankind would have degenerated long
ago.
Close historical study shows that
drinking was not so widespread In an
Client days as now. The liquors con-
tanned less alcohol. and having no Ice
machines they could not brew beer all
the year around. The strong drinks.
WHISTLES, brandies. cocktails. bitters
and absinthe had not been invented.
Without railroads and without bottles
tnere was less dlstrlDutlOn.
With the wider diffusion Of the idea
that alcohol was a food, drinking be-
came more general and alcoholism
more noticeable. With the tremendous
awakening Of science In the latter part
Of the nineteenth century. and with
the extraordinary progress Of the SCI
ence OF medicine. II was natural that
alcohol should have its share Of inves-
tigation.
The facts which have been borne In
upon medical men by such studies are
overwhelming and physicians are Just
beginning to understand how much re-
sponsibility rests upon them for the
abatement OF this evil.
All physicians are familiar with the
large catalogue OF physical disorders
directly due to alcohol. such as cir
rhosis Of the liver. dropsy. multiple
neuritis, heart disease. Brights dis
ease. Inflammation OF the stomach.
arteriosclerosis. delirium tremens.
wet brain, and the like. The number
OF these cases is constantly increas-
ing Between 20 and Is per cent OF
all the insane owe their insanity to
alcohol.
In answer to the question what had
best be done for the prevention OF
alcoholism, DR.. Peterson Of Columbia
University thought that campaign OF
education such as was being carried
on in the fight against tuberculosis
was the only efficient method Of ward.
ing off the evils OF drink. He advised
having printed in brief form all the
facts on this question which the med
lcal profession now has at hand. In
Paris they have statements regarding
the dangers of heavy drinking, printed
on posters and put up in every ward
and waiting room Of every public hos
pital and printed on every prescription
blank of the Paris hospitals and dis
pensaries.
DR.. Peterson asked why our public
spirited citizens should not Join in
such a crusade. Children should be
taught these facts In the schools. Ev.
cry hospital and dispensary In the
country should begin a similar method
of disseminating them Our asylums
for the insane and epileptic ought to
print the statistics OF alcohol as
cause OF insanity and epilepsy on ev.
cry letter sent out. There are many
thopkeepers. owners Of department
stores. druggists and others who
would be willing to have instructions
printed on their wrapping paper. In.
deed. such facts should be kept as a
standing advertisement in many Of
our newspapers with wide circulation.
He had himself tried the experiment
of printing them in briefer form on
his own prescription blanks and wish.
ed that the 49,. 900 other physicians IN
the United States might be induced to
aid the movement to this extent, for
they knew better than anyone else
the fearful ravages OF alcohol