Religious and educational aspects of temperance / by various authors.

Date:
[1874?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Religious and educational aspects of temperance / by various authors. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/172 (page 13)
    for twenty years I have made many families unhappy. .7 believe I have made many drunkards, not knowingly, not purposely, but I have recommended the drink. It makes my heart ache, even now, to see the mischief I have made in years gone by—mischief never to be remedied by any act of mine.” And the well-known medical declaration, signed by the leaders of the profession not long since, was, I think, a proof that they knew fairly well from what source the drinking habits of the age were receiving an impulse. My own experience has brought under my notice many cases of reformed drunkards having been utterly thrown back by what I can only call the inconsiderate conduct of medical men, who have for trifling ailments recommended for them what they call “ a little support” in the shape of stout, or other alcoholic drinks. In conclusion, I have to thank Dr. Maclean for thus publicly declaring himself “ a sworn foe to spirit drink- ing,” and also for affording me the opportunity of de- claring my humble opinion, derived from the researches of able medical men, upon the physiological effects of alcohol. Where doctors differ, I presume individuals have a fair right to study the evidence on both sides, and then judge for themselves, without rendering them- selves liable to accusations of empiricism, want of charity, intemperate advocacy, &c. I have done this as regards the alcohol question. And, in case my utterance should be of encouragement to the very many who are now looking to me for advice and guidance in this crisis, and who come to me almost daily, sometimes from considerable distances I take the