Alcohol: A Dangerous and Unnecessary Medicine, How and Why Part 4

"Only a few days ago a boy was brought in, apparently at the point of death. He was put into bed and watched by the nurse.

After a little ammonia had been given to him as a stimulant, he unconsciously expressed himself to the effect that it was not the same as they gave him in another place, and gradually when it dawned upon him that no alcohol was administered by the Red Cross, he said, 'Gin has allers made me better.' The doctor in charge, who already suspected that the boy was pretending illness for the sake of the drink, was not surprised an hour or two afterwards to learn that he had demanded his clothes, dressed himself, and left the hospital most ungratefully, but apparently quite well."

Dr. George F. Shrady, one of the consulting physicians, is famous as having been in attendance upon both President Garfield and President Grant. He is the editor of the _Medical Record_, one of the most important medical journals published in America. While not a non-alcoholic physician, he says of the medical use of intoxicants:--

"There is altogether too much looseness among physicians in prescribing alcohol. It is a dangerous drug. There is much more alcohol used by physicians than is necessary, and it does great harm. Whisky is not a preventive; it prevents no disease whatever, contrary to a current notion. Another thing, we physicians get blamed wrongfully in many cases. People who want to drink, and do drink, often lay it on to the physician who prescribed it. * * * * * I think that in most cases where alcohol is now used, other drugs with which we are familiar could be used with far better effect, and with no harmful results."

Dr. Steger, another physician of the staff, says:--

"I don't use alcohol at all in my practice. I used to use it, but my observation has been that other drugs do the same work without the harmful results. Alcohol over-stimulates the heart, and tears down the cellular tissues of the system, besides causing other deleterious effects. The use of alcohol is simply a superst.i.tion among physicians. They have used it so long that they think they always must. I am not a total abstainer, but that only shows that I take better care of my patients than I do of myself. It is not good for a healthy man to drink, but sometimes folks like myself do things which had better be left undone. I have seen patients in hospitals made absolutely drunk by their physicians."

The following interesting items in regard to practice in this hospital are culled from the report of 1897:--

"Temperature was never reduced by active drugs known as antipyretics.

"Water was allowed freely after all kinds of surgical operations and in fevers.

"Alcohol was never used as an internal medicine.

"The free use of water in saline solutions directly injected into the tissues was found of great service. Quarts have been injected that way with most satisfactory results.

"Antipyretics were altogether discarded as it is well known that their action diminishes the tone of the heart. Artificial reduction of temperature only deludes one into the belief that the drug has improved the condition of the patient, while in reality, it has no beneficial influence on the disease, and has reduced the vital resistance of the patient. In no case has high temperature harmed a patient and there was every evidence that in some instances a high temperature was preferable to a low one.

"Special attention has been given to the use of alcohol in disease, not with any desire to approve or disapprove it, but solely for the purpose of discovering the truth, for nothing seems of greater public interest from a medical standpoint than the truth regarding a subject for which so many virtues are claimed on the one hand, and so many destructive elements proven on the other. * * * * *

"We criticise the treatment of no inst.i.tution, antagonize no school of medicine, claim no unusual or peculiar scientific virtue, but what we do maintain and insist upon is this: that the human body may be ever so afflicted, ever so reduced, the heart ever so feeble, and the spark of life ever so dim, the conscientious student of medicine can secure as good results without as with administration of antipyretics, sparkling wines, beers or liquors.

"Experience teaches that true science does not antagonize nature. In surgical cases, in septicaemia, in pneumonia, or in any of the fevers, water freely administered has proven to be a real source of comfort, and an aid to recovery. It is amazing how favorably diseases terminate under this beneficent beverage.

The withholding of food does not r.e.t.a.r.d, but rather hastens convalescence.

"In the conduct of our Red Cross patients, irrespective of their condition when admitted, it can be truly said that after treatment began, delirium has not been witnessed in a single instance, and as our hospital reports indicate, our mortality has been unusually small.

"Alcohol has not figured as a life-saver in our inst.i.tution.

Cases of extreme collapse following major operations, cases of pneumonia, where the pulse ranged from 160 to 220, patients suffering from pernicious anaemia, septicaemia, pyaemia, cholera infantum and typhoid fever, some of whom when first seen were in the worst stages of delirium and collapse have without alcohol regained consciousness, overcome delirium and made excellent recoveries.

"The following cases very forcibly ill.u.s.trate the results of non-alcoholic treatment:--

"Case No. 1. A child, aged nine months, under treatment for six days for pneumonia, came under our notice on the seventh day.

The temperature was 106 5-10; pulse was 220; respirations 90.

Whisky, which had been given previously to the extent of two ounces daily, was stopped. Carbonate of ammonia, caffeine salicylate, nitro-glycerine and 1-10 of a drop of aconite were given internally; camphorated lard applied externally; with the result that on the ninth day temperature stood 99; pulse 100; respiration 20. The child made a complete recovery.

"Case No. 2. L. was a child aged eight months, suffering from a very violent attack of entero-colitis. For three weeks previous to coming under our notice the patient received brandy, stimulating foods and alkaline mixtures. Fearfully emaciated, temperature 106, feeble pulse 182, frequent b.l.o.o.d.y discharges from the bowels, numbering as much as thirty in a day and constant vomiting, the child was considered beyond hope. Under these circ.u.mstances, and at this time we first saw her. Brandy and all foods were stopped; bowel flushings were given, 1-12 of a drop of tincture of aconite was administered every half hour and salicylate of caffeine every two hours. In twenty-four hours the temperature was 105 and the pulse 160. In two days, temperature was 102 and the pulse 140. In one week, temperature was 99 5-10, pulse 110. In three weeks, the patient was discharged cured.

"Case No. 3. Mrs. C., aged forty-three, who had been under treatment for seven weeks for metrorrhagia, nietortes and peritonitis came under our notice. Brandy which had been previously given in large quant.i.ties had proved of no avail and the patient was considered beyond recovery. We found her completely prostrated, temperature 102, pulse 170, and unconscious. The heart very weak and irregular. The brandy was discontinued, salicylate of caffeine and nitrate of strychnia were given with the result that in a short time the patient was convalescent and finally recovered.

"Each case in our hospital is an additional proof that whether found in wines, spirits or beers, alcohol can claim no right as an indispensable medicine."

Dr. Lesser, who was Surgeon-General of the American Red Cross in the Cuban War said after his return from his first visit to Cuba that four out of six of his patients, to whom he allowed liquor to be given as a concession to the popular idea that it was necessary, died; while subsequently in treating absolutely without alcohol sixty-three similar cases, only one died, and he upon the day on which he was received at the hospital.

ALCOHOL IN OTHER HOSPITALS.

In the spring of 1909 a circular letter was sent to some of the best known hospitals throughout the country asking if the use of alcoholic liquors had decreased in those inst.i.tutions during the past ten years.

From the replies received the following statements are taken:

Cook County Hospital, Chicago, sent figures for two years only, 1907, and 1908. With 28,932 patients treated in 1907, the bill for wines and liquors amounted to only $719.40. In 1908 with 31,202 patients the bill for liquors amounted to $970.65. This makes a _per capita_ expenditure for liquors for 1907 of .024 cents, and for 1908 a _per capita_ expenditure of .031 cents. The _per capita_ expenditure for liquors during the same years in Bellevue and Allied Hospitals of New York city, with from 30,000 to 40,000 patients treated was .0246 and .029. Two or three cents as the yearly _per capita_ expenditure for alcoholic liquors in the two largest hospitals in America is striking evidence that the physicians practicing there have not large faith in whisky, or other alcoholic liquors as remedial agents.

Long Island, N. Y., State Hospital:--"We are not using more than half the amount of alcohol we used ten years ago."

Manhattan State Hospital, Ward's Island, New York City:--"Our patient population has averaged nearly 4,500 the last four years, and we have had about 750 employees, many of whom are prescribed for by inst.i.tution physicians. The _per capita_ cost of distilled liquors for the last fiscal year was .0273 at this hospital."

Milwaukee City Hospital:--"No alcoholic liquors are used to any extent in this hospital, or prescribed by the staff. I know of no move against such use of liquors, but venture the a.s.sertion that the physicians believe they have more reliable agents at their command for most cases."

Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia:--"We are now using about one-third the amount of liquor that was used in the Pennsylvania Hospital ten years ago."

The Presbyterian Hospital of Philadelphia sent figures for the years from 1900 to 1908. Those for 1900 show the cost of liquors to be $774.20 and for 1908 only $331.48. The number of patients was not given.

Grady Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia:--"That less liquor is now used than formerly is a fact well known to all connected with the inst.i.tution."

Garfield Memorial, Washington, D. C., sent figures for ten years. For 1899 the cost of liquors was $490.08, with a steady decrease to 1908 when the cost was $274.58. Number of patients in 1899 was 1,171; in 1908, 1,898 patients. The _per capita_ for 1908 was .144 cents.

University Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan:--"Very little alcohol is prescribed in this hospital."

Maine General Hospital, Portland:--"Comparatively speaking, we use but little alcohol for the reason that we now have many remedies which, especially for continued use, are superior to alcohol, which twenty years ago we did not have. For the conditions or emergencies in which we think alcohol has a value it is used when required or deemed best."

Buffalo, New York, State Hospital sent figures for six years which include cost of alcohol used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations, which, of course, makes a very decided difference. _Per capita_ for 1903 was 22 cents; for 1908 it was 18 cents.

Buffalo, New York, General Hospital:--"The use of alcohol as a drug in this hospital has diminished about one-third in the past ten years, but I wish to add in this connection that the use of all drugs has diminished in this hospital, and to the best of my knowledge in other inst.i.tutions of a like character. The use of the microscope, and other studies have advanced the science of medicine the same as all other branches of learning, and other methods are coming to be used beside the use of drugs."

Mount Sinai, New York City:--"The use of alcoholic beverages here for medical purposes is the exception rather than the rule. The majority of our cases are surgical cases, and in these alcoholic liquors are rarely prescribed for any purpose whatsoever."

Ma.s.sachusetts Homeopathic Hospital, Boston, sent figures for five years.

For 1904 the cost of alcoholic liquors was $197.69 with 3,720 patients; for 1908, the cost was $69.82 with 4,543 patients. The _per capita_ cost for the five years is as follows: 1904, cost .0531 cents; 1905, cost .0474; 1906, cost .034; 1907, cost .0171; 1908, cost .0153.

In the _Boston Medical and Surgical Journal_ of April 15, 1909, Dr.

Richard C. Cabot gave a table showing the decrease in the use of alcoholic liquors, and of other drugs in Ma.s.sachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

The following is his table:

1898 1899 1900 1901

Ale and Beer $759.00 $793.90 $1,062.00 $723.00 Wines and liquors, 1,563.00 2,209.00 1,348.00 1,063.00 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total for alcoholic drinks, $2,321.00 $3,002.00 $2,410.00 $1,786.00

Total for other medicines, $8,424.00 $10,013.00 $10,132.00 $9,168.00

Number of patients, 5,005 5,203 5,012 5,495 Cost of alcohol per patient, $0.46 $0.57 $0.48 $0.32 Cost of medicine per patient, 1.68 1.92 2.02 1.66

1902 1903 1904 1905