Alcohol: A Dangerous and Unnecessary Medicine, How and Why What Medical Writers Say   By: Martha Meir Allen (1854-1926)

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible; please see detailed list of printing issues at the end of the text.

ALCOHOL

A DANGEROUS AND UNNECESSARY MEDICINE

HOW AND WHY

What Medical Writers Say

BY

MRS. MARTHA M. ALLEN

Superintendent of the Department of Medical Temperance for the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union

Published by the

DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL TEMPERANCE OF THE NATIONAL WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION

MARCELLUS, NEW YORK

COPYRIGHT, 1900.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION 5

PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION 7

CHAPTER I.

HISTORY OF THE STUDY OF ALCOHOL.

Discovery of distillation First American investigator of effects of alcohol Medical Declarations Sir B. W. Richardson's researches Scientific Temperance Instruction in American Schools Committee of Fifty 9

CHAPTER II.

THE WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION IN OPPOSITION TO ALCOHOL AS MEDICINE.

How the Opposition began Memorial to International Medical Congress Origin of Medical Temperance Department Objects of the department Public agitation against patent medicines originated by the department Laws of Georgia, Alabama and Kansas on Medical prescription of alcohol 21

CHAPTER III.

ALCOHOL AS A PRODUCER OF DISEASE.

Alcohol a poison Sudden deaths from brandy Changes in liver, kidneys, heart, blood vessels and nerves caused by alcohol Beer and wine as harmful as the stronger drinks Alcohol causes indigestion Other diseases caused by alcohol Deaths from alcoholism in Switzerland 28

CHAPTER IV.

TEMPERANCE HOSPITALS.

The London Temperance Hospital Methods of treatment The Frances E. Willard Temperance Hospital, Chicago "As a beverage" in the pledge Address by Miss Frances E. Willard at opening of hospital The Red Cross Hospital Clara Barton and non alcoholic medication Reports of treatment in Red Cross Hospital Use of Alcohol declining in other hospitals 37

CHAPTER V.

THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL UPON THE HUMAN BODY.

The body composed of cells Effect of alcohol on cells Alcohol and Digestion Effects on the blood The heart The liver The kidneys Incipient Bright's disease recovered from by total abstinence Retards oxidation and elimination of waste matters Lengthens duration of sickness and increases mortality 58

CHAPTER VI.

ALCOHOL AS MEDICINE.

Medical use of alcohol a bulwark of the liquor traffic Alcohol not a Food Alcohol reduces temperature Food principle of grains and fruits destroyed by fermentation Alcohol not a Stimulant Experiments proving this Alcohol not a tonic Professor Atwater on Alcohol as Food 96

CHAPTER VII.

ALCOHOL IN PHARMACY.

Strong tinctures rouse desire for drink in reformed inebriates Glycerine and acetic acid to preserve drugs Non alcohol tinctures in use at London Temperance Hospital Sale of liquor in drug stores condemned by pharmacists 131

CHAPTER VIII.

DISEASES, AND THEIR TREATMENT WITHOUT ALCOHOL.

Alcoholic Craving Anæmia Apoplexy Boils and Carbuncle Catarrh Hay Fever Colds Colic Cholera Cholera Infantum Consumption Displacements Debility Diarrhoea Dysentery Dyspepsia Fainting Fits Flatulence Headache Hemorrhage Heart Disease Heart Failure Insomnia La Grippe Measles Malaria Neuralgia Nausea Pneumonia Pain After Food Snake bite Rheumatism Spasms Shock Sudden Illness Sunstroke Typhoid Fever Vomiting 140