The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-16

Editor VirEinian:

Editor Virginian:
sir,--As the Times Dispatch has recently re-
turned my letter In regard TO DIR. Mei1ire's
address hope you viii publish It.
DR. Mctsuire's statement that aicoacl in
small quantities is beneficial to the human sys-
tenn has been a surprise and shoc- 70
great majority Of the physicians OF tn state.
Within the lest ten years / have not sen iii
any first class medical journal nor hear N any
medical society word that would indicate
that alcohol In a moderate amount wa bene
hclal bat much has been said and written to
show that alcohol in any form and IN any
amount Is injurious. Many experiment nave
been performed to show the injurious bene-
fetal effects of alcohol and almost without
eeption. when tried by impartial scientists
alcohol. even in moderate amounts, Has been
shown to he injurious
The ten life insurance companies for whom
/ medical examiner, ask more questions
about the drinking habit than any other dis
ease And few companies will take appli~
can't, except at an increased rate, who saws that
he takes daily three drinks of whiske, Ex
perience has shown that n moderate amount Of
alcohol taken every day Is more injurious than
he same amount taken periodical shrees.
DR.. Mcclure Ignorant OF the Subject
sent Or. Acfutre's statement thai alcohol
in moderation Is beneficial TO DIR. T. Z, froth-
ers, president Of the Walnut Lodge sanatoriurn,
Of Hartford. Conn, and of the leading
thorities alcohol in America I aSked him
If Dr McGuire's statement corTseponded 70 his
scientific findings In reply, jr. trOEheTS s32ds
Or McC1uire's statement is beLated. and he
has entired ignored the authorities. SIR Victor
Horsley ri London one Of the most dfstin~
guished nueroogists and brain surgeons of the
world. fatty contradicts such statements as seen
IN this circular. Others have written books
equally strong and equally authcrtative--rne
who are not prohihftionists, but who are scien-
tifc in the largest ssnse of the word 1t seems
foolish In this day to set up sjIcn claims
that, SO contrary. To all studies Of leading men
T3t,4 A1rfN will ii f}7l
! show mis- failure 10 study the subject. And II
Is unfortunate for him To heat against the cur
rent so sharply and .-nally be overcome"
Since the invention Of the sp1aygnauanemetor
(Which a majority of the country physicians
now own and use} and other instruments for
determining the force Of the hear alcohol
Is shown 20 be a depressaut and naHcotic, and
not a st1nulant kellogg editoriaiy, in the
Modern Science, says The implicit confidence
which has been placed in alcohol as stimulant
during tho last twenty years has heen waning
With Increasing raptdity, until at he present
time most Of the eminent authorities condemn
its pernicious and most positively con-
tra indicated in the very cases for which 1t has
for centuries been commended. The writer Of
this editorial is glad 10 know that those who
have lost confidence are eminent liberties"
Abel. Of Johns Hopkins saws ~ lcohol Is a
arch decetver 1t promises strength and gives
weakness; promises warmth, hut lagers tenn
perature; pdpmises stimulation. hut produces
anaesthesta: alcohol has failed To stand the
est of experiments anywhere
Alcohol Condemned by Highest Medical
Authority.
The Journal OF the American N Aical assc-
citation says. editorialy, in writing oe Secretary
Daniels order to abolish alcohol from the ma
Wy: THE gunpointer who directs q fourteen
inch rifle the modern man~nt-svar needs
not only personal courage. but also absolute
steadfness of vision and fine muscular co-ordi-
nation. All these things modern Histology has
shown to be impaired by even small amounts
Of alcohol. The nation needs The battle
ships the most capable. clear headed. cool
Drained and steady-handed men. and these men
are not found among the habitual or occasion
nj users Of alcohol in~any FORM
The Journal Of the American Medical associ-
ton Is owned and controlled by 6o 600 of the
best physicians in America It's e. itorials are
to he the highest medical author1ty. For this
that is%not in full accord with inc Ieading sci
entists Of that particular branch cf medicine
It Ia not strange that many rbvs!cians stin
hold to Or MctSuire's theory about alcohol
even against all scientific knowle dee when it
is an acknowledged fact that from e per cent
10 80 Ter cent OF the physicians IRE addicted
to the excessive use Of alcohol and other drugs
But DIR. MeGuire's position the LIQUOR ques-
ton is far behind the times The surgery
If an old physician living me who still
believes that more of Appendicitis die
because they are operated. upon han would
die If operation was performed. But coun-
try doctors not the only ones that are ig-
norant of medical subjects.
II. p. RAGEY NJ D.