The Troubles of a Teetotal M.D.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3050, 10 November 1888, Page 2

The Troubles of a Teetotal M.D.

" It is not an easy tiling," said Dr •Bonsiield, when addressing a meeting of the British Women's Temperance Association,«to bo a teetotal doctor. It may surprise some hear tliat my experience as a generjidiP practitioner shows mo thatwliilitylio publicans, and Ihavo many of them among my patients, sec and own the advantages that are likelyjo accrue from the fact that their doctor's head will always be clear, his hand always steady, his faculties always fully at command, his teetotalism is decidedly ' a disadvantage to him so far as tlio general'public is concerned. Any effort which hojnakes hi the direction of dimininishing his patients' consumption of alcohol is looked upon with suspicion,'and he himself is regarded - as.a, riglit,meaning but > wrong-headed man, or a, narrow- '■" minded bigot, Nor does lio receivo from tho_ total abstainers a support which might in some mcasuro reconcile him to the cold shoulder which ho experiences from the general public. I know of only one patient, amongst all whom my practice in* eludes, for whose patronage I am nidebtetJ to my total abstaihanc& principles, and she is iho wife of a poor who wjiitcrested in thelTcmperaHce -\ moYomehtwpuldmako'their medical <: jt attendahts'iwaro: thatMhis; .^aVfan: 'eßsbutialjpointi;!>elieyo:ther6.\rbiili -f:-sooon-be ''a'-vast difference no \ this ; respect. Until this js done, however ] I do lVot tlihit^iiai ; affyViSlcked itn- ■. • pravement; in the attitude, of tha medical pi'ofossiondau bo looked for, ■; ajul womeni will alill conthitir lq go ■ '

down, and down,' and down as tho .result of habits oonttaclocl under .~ k modical advice, and, unfortunately, aft begun in times of physical weakness, , '"'' whon the montol power af resistance is at its minimum. ,