Proceedings of the New York Historical Association [1906]New York State Historical Association. Meeting
History
Proceedings of the New York Historical Association [1906]
New York State Historical Association. Meeting
New York (State) -- History -- Periodicals; New York State Historical Association -- Periodicals
Here is a curious anticipation of the modern gold cure, as it took form
in the fertile intellect of Dr. Rush:
"The association of the idea of ardent spirits, with a painful or
disagreeable impression upon some part of the body, has sometimes cured
the love of strong drink. . . . This appeal to that operation of the
human mind, which obliges it to associate ideas, accidentally or
otherwise combined, for the cure of vice, is very ancient. It was
resorted to by Moses when he compelled the Children of Israel to drink
the solution of the golden calf (which they had idolized) in water.
This solution if made, as it most probably was, by means of what is
called hepar sulphuris, was extremely bitter, and nauseous, and could
never be recollected afterwards, without bringing into equal
detestation, the sin which subjected them to the necessity of drinking
it."
In this pamphlet was sounded the first effective call for a combined
movement against the evil of intemperance--a trumpet call which
reverberated in the soul of Dr. Clark until, nobly responding, he stood
forth alone before the world, having inscribed upon his banner the word,
Organization. For Dr. Rush had said:
"Let good men of every class unite and besiege the general and state
governments, with petitions to limit the number of taverns, to impose
heavy duties upon ardent spirits, to inflict a mark of disgrace, or a
temporary abridgment of some civil right upon every man convicted of
drunkenness. . . . To aid the operation of these laws, would it not be
extremely useful for the rulers of the different denominations of
Christian churches to unite and render the sale and consumption of
ardent spirits a subject of ecclesiastical jurisdiction?"
Such are a few of the characteristic portions of Dr. Rush's famous
essay, a work which revived, not only the moral sense of this country,
but also of England, where it was republished in the following year. But
the giant of intemperance exhibited no signs of weakness, though he had
been undoubtedly pierced in a vital part. The weapon of Dr. Rush had
been slim, but keen--a highly tempered rapier, more effective than in
after years was the broad sword of Lyman Beecher's "Sermons on
Temperance." With an amiable exterior, the skillful reforming fencer had
managed to keep his antagonist off his guard while he transfixed and
permanently crippled him. But another mode of attack was necessary in
order to bring him under control. To indulge yet further in figurative
speech: Dr. Rush had manufactured the ammunition but who was to fire
the gun?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account