ALCOHOLOGY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 333, 8 March 1910, Page 3

ALCOHOLOGY.

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, (Published by Special Arrangement.) The scientific evidence now at the command of the medical profession regarding the action of alcohol may he divided into two groups:—(l) Evidence that alcohol does not aid in the human economy in the way popularly supposed; (2) evidence proving the occurrence 01 actual damage to the structure and functions of tile different organs, Both classas of evidence have fof some time been carefully studied and weighed by the profession, and as a result on all sides indications may be seen that the rc;il [ (ion which alcohol holds among narcotic drugs is becoming, better known. Moreover, the gradual and recent discovery of several valuable and reliable medicines renders frequent resort to the use of alcohol needless, as it is often unsatisfactory, and, as a matter of fact, its role is becoming more and more restricted. The reason for this marked alteration in medical and surgical treatment is twofold. In' the first place, modern physicians and surgeons are cautious in prescribing alcohol, now that its double-edged action, and reasons for its disuse therapeutically, have been proven; and, in the second place, as guardians of the public health thiey desire to limit and safeguard even the medical employment of a drug concerning which they have daily evidence that its social or customary use is undermining the happiness and welfare of large numbers of the community. The general trend of medical opinion upon this matter is sliown in a striking •way by the steady fall in the amount of alcohol used in hospitals during the last forty years. Taking the returns from seven of the largest hospitals in London for the period 1862 to 1902, it -appears that the expenditure on alcohol ias fallen from £7712 to £2925, while that on milk has increased from £3026 to £9035, the number of beds remaining about the same. It is to he noted, though, that though the beds remain the same more patients pass through the hospitals in a given time owing to the introduction of asceptic surgery whereby recovery after operations is more rapid than formerly. Miuy reports from individual hospitals ■ 'nw more startling result still. At Salisbury Infirmary from 18G5 to 1905. there was a steady movement from year to year wherein the alcohol bill fell from £302 to .-$,lB, and the milk bill advanced from £94 to £317; the case of the Infirmary of the Wandswortn Union being more noticeable still, for there, while the number of patients increased from 1405 to 5451, the cost of wines and spirits 'fell from £371 to less than £3, and the cost of milk rose from £407 to £1226. Many more such instances might be quoted, all showing that medical authorities are deserting and "condemning" alcohol. The dis'use of this drug is marked in both surgical and medical practice. At one time it was thought to be absolutely necessary in pneumonia and in fever cases; now it is found to be harmful in both. The Metropolitan Asylums Board, who .treat' in their hospitals nearly 30,000 patients annually, have within the last ten years so far given up alcoholics that in 1905 the cost of all stimulants was only £515 for £.27,102 patients and staff. On this point. Dr. Ford Caiger, the superintendent, .says: "I rank, myself with those -who'hold that in most cases of enteric fever not only is alcohol not required, but that its employment is distinctly harmful, even when given in quantities which would not be considered excessive." (British Medical Journal, ! November. 1904). Sir James Barr. M.D., says: "Pneumonia and typhoid are the two principal diseases in,, which alcohol has been largely prescribed . . . but in the

latter' disease it is even more useless than in the former: there is scarcely any indication for its use, while the protracted nature of the disease allows this medicament more time to work mischief." (British Medical Journal, July, 1905).