the
published experiments of many acute observers at home and
abroad, and by my own observations, that almost all diseases
could be managed as well if not better by the non-use of
alcohol, and satisfied from the communications of some brother
practitioners that the fatality in certain specified diseases
was not delayed, to say the least, by the employment of
increasing and enormous doses of wine, whisky and brandy, and
influenced also, I must admit--overwhelmed, indeed--by what I
know and what I read daily of the pauperism, domestic
wretchedness, crime, insanity and incurable maladies transmitted
to innocent offspring, I abandoned entirely, more than three
years ago, the use of alcoholic remedies.

"I have endeavored by personal example and earnest council to
dissuade my patients from the use of intoxicating beverages and
medicines.

"The outcome of this practice, medically and morally, has been
satisfactory to myself, and, I have reason to believe, to my
patients also.

"Whatever regrets I may feel for my former teaching and
practice, I have no apology to offer for my inconsistency except
that once given by Gerrit Smith:--'I know more to-day than I did
yesterday; the only persons who never change their minds are God
and a fool.'

"Permit me to add that while there may be an honest difference
of opinion regarding the efficacy of legislative enactments in
overcoming or restraining the drink habit, there should be
little doubt that a whole-hearted, persistent,
precept-and-example effort of the medical profession exerted as
individuals on their patients and the families of their
patients, and as associations on the community at large, would
do immeasurable good.

"And the newspapers might aid materially in this beneficent work
if, while they continue to spread before our households every
day the details of the brawls and fights of drunken men and the
horrible murders which they commit, they would discontinue
advertising, without warning or dissent, side by side with the
atrocities, the 'innocuous beers,' the pure malt whiskies, the
genuine brandies, guaranteed to prevent and cure all manner of
diseases."

The following testimony from an English physician is significant:--

"Although I know beforehand that their united testimony must be
in favor of t