Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-15
The Revolution in the Attitude
Of Medical Men Toward Alcohol
CHANGE IN LAST IS YEARS As SHOWN BY re-
SUITS OF RECENT INQUIRY BY THE BOARD OF TEMPER
ANCE OF THE N. (. CHURCH.

drugs are better" while many Of
them confine their prescription or
alcohol to habitual users of it and
to external use. DIR. Stephen Harms
berger, president of the Virginia
Medical Society," says: alcohol is
sometimes valuable in fractional doses
to allay the anxiety of patients or
friends" In other words, simply as
Ia concession to superstition.
The replies from the chief health
officers of the leading cities all indl-
ctate that alcohol is a considerable
factor in sickness and mortality rates.
In reply to the question, do you
have to contend with the giving Of
beer or other drinks to children?"
the answers are usually NO." or
"Infrequently." The health officers
of Milwaukee, Kansas City. Grand
Rapids. Providence, and several other
cities, however, say YES" All of
these officers report that without
doubt a large decrease in the use of
alcohol would have great effect on
tho sickness and death rates. DR..
G.. 3. Young Of Chicago, Dr. William
say that the principal effect would be
in the improvement Of conditions OF
living among the poor.
The replies received from medical
colleges were chiefly signed by the
Professors of Therapeutics and Prac.
tice. An indication of their general
nature may be found in the fact that
"a say that beer is of no value as
an aid to convalescence. Fourteen
find it valuable only under exceptional
circumstances; for instance, for those
who are accustomed to it as a bever-
age; and only one answers uncondi- :
tionally Yes" In general, they agree
with the other men queried that alco-
hol has a small place in medicine,
much more limited than is generally
supposed.
The Drift Of Medical Opinion.
! The investigation carried on by
DR.. Hall, while it has secured more
definite information from representa-
tive physicians than any other, has
not revealed anything that was IN
known. Medical opinion is RAPIDLY
and surely turning against the use of
alcohol except as an occasional remedy
and is more and more speaking out
against its use as beverage. For
| instance, the national convention of
Alienists and Neurologists on July Is,
1914, in Chicago, passed the following
resolutions:
| Whereas, in the opinion Of the meeting
| of alienists and neurologists of the United
States, in convention assembled, it has
| been definitely established that alcohol
when taken into the system, acts as a
definite poison to the brain and other it's
sues, and that the effects of this poison
are directly or indirectly responsible for a
large proportion of the insane. epileptic,
lfeeble-minded and other forms of mental
moral and physical degeneracy; and
| Whereas, the laws of many states
make alcohol freely available for drink
| ing purposes, and therefore cater to the
| physical, mental and moral degradation
of the people. and many hospitals for the
| insane and other institutions are now
| compelled to admit and care for multi
tude of inebriates, and many states have
already established separate colonies for
! the treatment and re-education of such
! inebriates, with great benefit to the in
dividuals and to the commonwealth; there
! fore, be 1t
Resolved, that We unqualifedly con-
denim the use of alcoholic beverages and
recommend that the various state legisla-
lures take steps to eliminate such use
and that we recommend the general estab-
| lishment by all states and territories OF
| special colonies or hospitals for the care
| of inebriates; and
| Resolved, that organized science should
| initiate and carry on a systematic, per-
| sistent propaganda for the education OF
! the public regarding the deleterous eff
| fects of alcohol: and be it further
| Resolved, that the medical profession
| should take the lead in securing adequate
! legislation to the ends herein specified.
| The North Carolina State Board of
Health has become so aroused on the
question that it issued abstinence
literature under its own authority.
So did the Board of Health of New
York City. Such medical editors, as
DR.. Evans of the Chicago Tribune,
are constantly speaking out against
alcoholic superstitions. Great surgeons
| like DR.. Howard A. Kelly of Johns
hopkins University, are saying such
things as this: Liquor in all its
forms and used for any purpose is
an unmitigated evil. / believe m
! fighting it in every way possible"
| The Life Extension Institute in con-
vention at Philadelphia issued an anti
alcohol statement with the weight of
"a eminent scientists back of it,.
The Hygiene Reference Board of this
organization includes among its mem