Produced by Bryan Ness, Deirdre M., and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) * * * * * 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.