Defence of Dr. Sewall's work on the pathology of drunkenness, and his drawings of the human stomach, as affected by the use of alcoholic drinks, from health to death by delirium tremens.
- Edward C. Delevan
- Date:
- [1843]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Defence of Dr. Sewall's work on the pathology of drunkenness, and his drawings of the human stomach, as affected by the use of alcoholic drinks, from health to death by delirium tremens. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
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![to the lecture; and I am quite sure, I have never had the honor of speaking- before an au- dience when so deep an interest was exhibited, as these sailors manifested when witnessing this occular demonstration of the deleterious effects of alcohol upon the coats af the human stomach. I remain, sir, your ob't serv't, HORACE GREEN. Extract of a letter from Dr. Sewall to a Physician of this city, a copy of which is be- fore me. You ask upon what observation the stomach of the temperate drinker was made? I an- svjer, that all the plates were drawn from the observation of nature, as exhibited in my dis- sections, and of cases which came under my own notice, as staled in the work, and if the testimony of such men as Horner, Mott and Warren, does not establish their correctness, j / need not expect to satisfy the community, I although I have the additional testimony of \ some of the most distinguished of the British physicians, who say ' they are entirely accu-> rate and faithful to nature.' J am not sur- prised that the stomach of the temperate drink- er should be singled out, and that it should ' have given such deep offence. I know that j with a certain class, this is a delicate and tender point, and the plate presents to them a \ painful, a revolting spectacle; and if I could in I justice to the cause of truth and humanity, have spared the feelings of the temperate drink- er, J would have done so; and even now, if, he can make himself believe that there is no ' intermediate pathological state between the healthy stomach and that of the confirmed drunkard; if he can persuade himself that at one moment the stomach is entirely healthy, j and that without any intermediate transi- tion, the aggravated stale of disease rep- j resented in the stomach of the confirmed drunkard, is developed all at once, then he ! may get rid of the annoyance, and quiet him- self with the idea that though a temperate drinker, his stomach is still healthy and sound. From Dr. James McNaughton, Professor of the Theory and Practice of Surgery in the Albany Medical College. Albany, Feb. 28th, 1843. Dear Sin—Your note of Fob. 23d, has been duly received. You state that it is in contemplation to publish a second edition of Dr. Sewall's Pathology of Drunkenness, with the accompanying drawings, and request mo to state whether, if proper care be taken by tl»e artist, lithographic copies cannot bo ob- tained, sufficiently accurate to answer the pur- pose for which (hey were intended, and whe- ther said history and drawings, do not, in my opinion, admit of being advantageously em- ployed on ship hoard, in furthering the cause of temperance. Since the receipt of your note, 1 have again carefully road Doct. Sewall's essay, and have no hesitation in giving it as my opinion, that with, or without the plates, it admits of being employed on ship board, or any where else, advantag-eously in furthering the cause of tem- perance. Dr.'Sewall describes the bad effects not only of intemperance in drinking-, but also in eating-, on the stomach and other organs of the body, with sufficient fidelity to serve as a warning- to the unwary. The picture, taking- it as a whole, is not overdrawn. No descrip- tion can exceed the horrid realities consequent on drunkenness. The physical effects on the stomach of the individual, however, I do not regard as the worst effects of intemperance. The effects on the morals are far worse in my estimation. The habitual drunkard is an unhappy being, and often renders his con- nexions and dependents as unhappy as him- self. Intemperance leads to neglect of bu- siness, embarrassment and dishonesty, and not unfrequently to the blackest crime; con- sequently it tends greatly to the subversion of public morals. Any thing, therefore, which can lessen this evil, is deserving of public encouragement. For popular use, I do not consider it of much importance that the coloring of the plates, attached to Dr. Sewall's essay, should accurately represent that of the original draw- ings. No drawings of morbid appearance, however carefully executed, are any thing more than mere approximations to nature. I apprehend that the effects of intoxicating drinks, vary greatly in different individuals, according to circumstances. If, therefore, the effects do not always correspond with the appearances exhibited in Dr. Sewall's plates, it is certain that appearances equally unseem- ly, are the frequent consequences of the abuse of alcoholic drinks. The magnified drawings, I have no doubt, can be used with great advantage, if occa- sionally exhibited by lecturers on temperance, but I still adhere to my formerly expressed opinion, that the hanging up in public places of either the large or small plates, will soon cease to be useful, and that it is as likely to corrupt public taste, as to improve public mo- rals. But those are mere matters of opinion, which I have no desire to force upon others. I remain, dear sir, respoctfullv yours, JAMES McNAUGHTON. E. C. Delavan, Esq. From James If. jfrmsby. }f.P., Professor of Anatomy Albany Medical College. Albany, March 16, 1843. F, D W ARI) C. D E I.VV A X , E S I] . Dear Sir:—In reply to your communication of yesterday, asking my opinion relative to the accuracy and value of Dr. Sewall's essay and plates illustrating the pathology of drunk- enness, it affords mo pleasure to say, that I have always regarded thorn as an important auxiliary to the cause of temperance. From the strong certificates furnished by some of the most distinguished surgeons and physicians in the country, I have never en- tertained a doubt of their general correctness, and their adaptation to the purposes for which they were intended. My estimation of their value has been in- creased h\ the powerful testimony of all ad- vocatos of the cause who have employed them](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21114195_0014.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
