Page 3 Advertisements Column 3

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2189, 19 September 1907, Page 3

Decline of alcohol as a MEDICINE. I By T. D. CROTHERS, ALL. Thoughtful observers recognise that I alcohol as a modicino is rapidly boI coining a thing of tlie past. Teon years I ago loading modieal men and toxt--1 books spoke of stimulants as ossen- ] tials of many diseases, and defended tlieir uso with warmth and positive--1 ness. To-day this is changed. Medina! men seldom refer to spirits as re- . medics, imd, when, they do, oxpress I great conservatism and caution. Tike j text-books show the same changes, nlthough somo dogmatic authors refuse to recognise the change of practice, and still cling to the idea of the food value of spirits. Druggists who supply spirits to fho profession recognise a tremendous . dropping off in the demand. A dis- : tiller, who, ten years ago, sold many thousand gnllons of choice whisky almost exclusively to medical men, has lost his trade altogether, and gone 1 out of business. Wine men, too, rocognise this change, and are making ' every effort to have wine used in the place of spirits in the sick-room. Proprietary medicine dealers are .putting all sorts of compounds of wine with iron, bark, etc., on the market with the same idea. It is doubtful if any of these will ho able to secure any permanent place in therapeutics. Tho fact is, alcohol is passing out of practical there politics, because its action is becoming known. FACTS ARE ACCUMULATING IN THE LABORATORY, IN THE AUTOPSY ROOM, AT THE BEDSIDE, AND IN THE WORK OF EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGISTS, WHICH SHOW THAT ALCOHOL IS A DEPRESSANT AND A NARCOTIC; THAT IT CANNOT BUJUD UP TISSUE, BUT ALWAYS ACTS AS A DEGENERATIVE POWER; AND THAT ITS APPARENT EFECTS OF RAISING THE HEART’S ACTION AND QUICKENING FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE MIS-

LEADING AND ERRONEOUS. French and German specialists have denounced spirits both as a beverage and a medicine, and shown by actual demonstration that alcohol is a poison and a' depressant, and, that anv therapeutic action it as assumed to have is open to question. All this is not the result of agitation and wild condemnation by persons who feol deeply the sad consequences of the abuse of spirits. It is simply tho outcome of the gradual accumulation of facts that have been proven within tho observation of every thoughtful person. The exact or approximate facts relating .to alcohol can now be tested by instruments, of precision. We can weigh and measure the effects, and it is not essential to theorise and speculate; we can test and prove with reasonable certainty what was before .a matter of doubt. Medical men who doubt the value of spirits are no more considered fanatics or extremists, but as leaders along new and wider lines of research. ALCOHOL IN MEDICINE, EXCEPT AS A NARCOTIC AND ANAESTHETIC, IS RAPIDLY FALLING INTO DISFAVOR, AND WILL SOON BE PUT ASIDE AND FOR-GOTTEN.—“-Journal of Inebriety.” C.P.

FOOTBALL. POVERTY BAY RUGBY UNION. ANNUAL FIXTURE. COMMON-SHELTON COMBINED MERCHANTS, In Aid of RUGBY ACCIDENT FUND, THIS AFTERNOON, at 3.30 p.m. Admission 6d. Ladies Free. Stand 6d. D. COWAN, Hon. Sec. gOCIAL. IN AID OF THE Q.ISBORNE JJOSPITAL. THE ANNUAL SOCIAL In Aid of the GISBORNE HOSPITAL Will be Held in the N.Z. SHIPPING CO.’S WOOL STORE THURSDAY and FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 10th and 20th. J. R. LITTLE, T. G. LAWLESS, Hon. Sees. Tickets (.Ladies 2s 6d, Gentlemen os) can be had of members of the Committee.

ALL, QALVATION A HMY GISBORNE. —FOR THREE DAYS—WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, and FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 26, 27. SPECIAL MEETINGS AND gALE OF yyOltK, In Aid of SALVATION ARMY MISSIONARY AND RESCUE WORK. Opening Ceremony by His Worship the Mayor, John Totvnley, Esq., Supported by a nuiiiher of Prominent Ladies and Gentlemen, on WEDNESDAY, 25th SEPTEMBER,

at 7.45 n.m. BRIGADIER and Mrs. ALBISTON, North Island Chief Officer, In Command, Assisted by MAJOR JAMES DUTTON, Provincial Secretary, and ADJUTANT and Mrs. DICKENS. Special Programme Each Evening. Admission Sixpence. On Sunday Evening, September 29th, after Church, at 8.15, a Special Missionary Meeting will be held in His Majesty’s Theatre, Conducted by Brigadier and Mrs. Albiston. Special Singing and Music will be rendered during the evening. G. DICKENS, Adjutant. TWO BOUNDS REWARD.

TT OST, on August 21, a BAY ,8 A MARE, Black points, no brand, about 15 Bands 3 inches. Funder please communicate with M. C. WINTER, . Ea ita. Telephone 326. RUBBISH R EMOVAL. NOTICE. NOTICE is hereby given that rail Householders must provide a proper Receptacle. for Rubbish, as provided by Section 17, Bant XV., Borough By-laws. Such Receptacle shall be constructed of iron, with a rain-proof lid, and shall be deposited in ta place easy of aiccess. R. D. B. ROBINSON, Town Clerk. Gisborne, September 17, 1907. WILLIAMS AND KETTLE, LTD., Will hold their NEXT STOCK SALE MATAWHERO YARDS. TO-DAY. THURSDAY, 19t51i INST., When they will offer — SHEEP, CATTLE, PIGS, Etc. E E P, Present Entries: .5)00 Including 250 Romney-cross Ewes (with lambs) 200 Prime Pat Ewes HEAD .MIXED CATTLE. 50 Further Entries Invited. Sale at 11.30 a.m. G. R. WYLLIE, Auctioneer.