SUPERINTENDENT'S LETTER.

White Ribbon, Volume 26, Issue 303, 18 September 1920, Page 4

SUPERINTENDENT'S LETTER.

M Kl>J< ’A I. TCMI ’FRA NCK. Hear Sisters, I ask. are we doing our duty loi’iod and Humanity if wc neglect Medical Tenipc ranee* work? I quote* a few extracts from an address given by the* late Sir Victor Horsley, L< 1 don’s greatest neurological surgeon, which I trust every White Riblxmer will read carefully, and then determine to pass on the* information to ot hers. Sir Victor Horsley said: “That alcohol was not essential to tile* treatment of any disease under any conditions. Personally, in* considered it was injurious. Alcohol was, unfortunately ■, such a part of the* life of liic nation that it was not only looked upon as essential as a drug, but as an essential of ordinary every day life. The medical profession now did not think of it in that way. They put it in its proper place as a narcotic drug. “It was over twenty years ago since the* Temperance* Hospital was founded, and lie* greatly re*spccted those founders as men who we*re liefore their time The*y learnt from the work of that hospital that not only was alcohol not needful, and neve r ought to Ik* used as a elrug, because of its social <lange*rs. but that there* we it* other drugs which were real stimulants, capable of getting more energy out of tin* tissues of the Indy without the narcotic and paralysing effect that alcohol invariably demonstrated." Sir Victor went on to describe various conditions, acute and chronic, in which alcohol was useless, as in the case of shock, "that most mysterious enemy of the human race." In that condition of collapse, the meaning of which was unknown. the* he*art was weak, and it w’as sought to stimulate it with brandy. That was what he was taught as a student; but in the hospitals to-day the brandy Ixittle* ha«l lx*e*n largely abandoned. They now knew tliat it was not goed for shock. Alcohol caused a dilatation of the arteries of the body.

and if there was a dilatation of the blood vessels, there was a lowering of the* blood pressure. In the case of shock it was this very lowering of the* blood pressure that made* stuck so dangerous. of all the- drugs in the* pliarniaeeipoe la alcohol was not a good one* to use*. Wh.it they did nowadays was to inject a drug which had be*t*n found by experi incut to predtiee* the «*\act opposite to the* effect of aleohed. and raise the* blood pressure. Not only were* they* getting riel of al coho* in this connection, but it was the reve*i> (I of tile* use of alcohol as a elrug which was now in modern practice*. Inferring to the* use* of brandy in the case of pe*op|e* who fainted or l*e*came unconscious m the* street or clse*where. Sir Victor pointed e»u f that in a large* nmilled' of ease s it was not a matter of heart failure* at all. and anyone* wine gave brandy in such Instances was e\ posing the* unconscious patient to a great risk; being a cam* of hemorrhage, brandy was absolutely dangerous. If the* heart failed, it die] so for one* of two reasons as a rule, e*ither tlie* natural nerve* stimuli were not going properly, and Its action ls*camo elisorderly, or Ihe* muscular power was tiled out. Alcohol helped neither of these conditions, but tlie* simple* act ot swallowing did, whether of water or anything. It bad lx*e*n shown experimentally that it was far better tei drink seimething hot; it might In* hot milk. or. liest of all. licit water, if cure Is* taken that it was not too hot. If the act of swallowing in an unconscious jierson could tie* excited, the heart was set going again.” In the* leaflets prepared by Mrs Martha M Allen, World's Superintend cut of the Medical Temperance* 1 >e*pnrtnient, the* latest scientific facts concerning alcohol are given. Send for a sample packet. Price 10*1 post free*. Then order those* which most appeal to you. The prices range from Id to 6d per dozen. —Yours in White* Ribbon bonds, CLARA M. NEAL, N.L. Supt. Medical Temperance T>e*pt.