The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-19
w. C. 7. U. NOTES
A LETTER TO PHYSICIANS
Forest Hills Gardens,

EAhAA VI 81 Lung ASAdHds ~
Dear Doctor:
The Department Of Medical Tenn
perance of the National Woman's
Christian Temperance Union again
appeals to you for your active CO
operation in the struggle against in
temperance.
AS a public health measure it
would seem that physicians should
lead in educating the people as to
the dangers of alcoholic drinks. The
physicians warning will be needed
where the warnings, OF others may
be derided. Some physicians have
been speaking out bravely on this
question, but there is great need of
concerted action upon the part Of
the medical profession in behalf to-
! tai abstinence from drinks which i'm
pair the health, enfeeble the mind,
and loosen the moral structure. II
medical societies all over the land
would pass resolutions to discourage
the use of alcoholic liquors both in
and out of the sick-room, as West
Virginia State Medical Society did
several years ago, and send out these
resolutions broadcast by the ASCOT
ated Press, and follow them up by
the personal word with their pa
tents, more would be accomplished
for the saving of men and women
from alcoholism and it's attendant
, evils than by any other possible
measure AS the medical profession
of the past is largely responsible for
the common belief that alcoholic
liquors are strengthening and stimu-
T, lating, the medical profession of to-
day, which has learned better. should
labor to undo the evils caused by
PAST errors.
Not long ago an article appeared
in high-grade medical journal in
, which the physician writer discussed
+, the reasons why the public now has
, less faith in the medical profession
than formerly. Christian Science and
| other cults were mentioned, but the
writer omitted all reference to alco-
holic prescriptions as possible fac
tor in the problem. The schools, the
platform. and the press have dome
much to educate the public as to old
medical errors regarding the nature
and effects of alcoholic drinks, so
that now In many homes drinking,
whiskey advising doctor Is distrust-
ed, and such men reflect discredit
upon the whole profession. Not long
; ago heard business man say OF Q
physician who advised beer for 9
nursing mother, II would not trust
such a doctor to attend to sicl
dog. Many people have learned tina
good authorities class alcohol as |
heart depressant, and they lose con
: fidence in the medical adviser VIII,
says whiskey should be given as
, stiumlant for weak hearts. The,
know that many good authorize
3 declare that alcoholic liquors shout
] never be given to children, so whel
! a physician advises whiskey for
8 weakly babe he is likely to be locke
e upon with disfavor, as behind tn
d times, or unduly prejudiced in fave
8 of alcohol. The attitude of the ply
: stefan toward alcohol must be cor
n sidered in any discussion as to lac
e of confidence in him. 1t is unfortI
y nate to have any preventable reaso
q for distrust of the medical advise
= for people need good physicians
" sickness or accident, and certainl
d physicians need patients If they al
% to subsist by their profession.
h The medical use of alcohol
II liquors as advised by many phys
re clans is large hiudrance to the a.
8. vance of the temperance cause viii
q those who like an excuse for indu
gence in these drinks. AS good
number of successful physicians ha'
lost faith in alcoholic liquors as
remedial value, would it not
worth while for others to try no
alcoholic methods for a time, and,
r. nothing is lost, lay aside the age
which humanity has converted in
an instrument of destruction? Pr
no lessor Cushny, formerly of the III
~ versity of Michigan, but now of t
nc University of London. says: IF ale
" hol were new synthetic RENE
ay fresh from Germany, it might
el hailed as a useful addition to thel
IL peutics, but its popularity as a re
De-