The non-alcoholic treatment of disease / by John Higginbottom.

  • Higginbottom, John, 1788-1876.
Date:
1862[?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The non-alcoholic treatment of disease / by John Higginbottom. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    2. I noticed in my new improved fnethod of treating disease tlie tardiness of recovery in those patients who were in the habit of taking daily alcoholic beverages, compared with others who were Abstainers. This contrast was enforced upon my observation, and accordingly I formed my prognosis, that I could expect no particular amendment until the nerve-poison, alcohol, was eliminated from the system. In severe attacks of disease, patients using alcoholic stimulants regularly were in a more prepared state for disease, and certainly had less probability of recovery. 3. It is almost impossible to relieve patients labouring under chronic disease, whilst they are daily taking alcoholic fluids. 4. When a patient is in a sinking state from disease, and when a medical man has thought an alcoholic stimulant absolutely necessary to snatch the patient from death, in this case the great danger is, that such a stimulant will extinguish the small spark of life remaining, and that the patient will be destroyed. It was truly said of theBrunonian system, “that Dr. Brown had made no provision in his system for the recovery of exhaustion arising from the effects of taking alcoholic stimulants.” Lord Bacon observes, “If the spirit is assailed by another heat stronger than its own, it is dissipated and destroyed.” f 5. It is not unusual to give wine or brandy at the apparent approach of death ; such a practice is a mistaken kindness. In many instances patients are sent drunk into another world, having their minds beclouded and rendered incapable of leaving a dying testimony to their anxious and expectant friends and relatives. I have heard this commented upon as a very just and serious com¬ plaint against some medical men. “Let me go home sober,” said an old lady, when urged on her death-bed to sustain her failing strength with brandy. “The medical friend of the late excellent Dr. John Pye Smith, on perceiving a rapid diminution of power, recommended some brandy to his water beverage. This proposal was conveyed to the eye of Dr. Smith in writing, on account of his great deafness. He turned to his wife, and emphatically said, ‘Never my dear; I charge you, if such a remedy be proposed when I am incompetent to refuse, let me die rather than swallow the liquid.” 6. I have had patients apparently in a dying state, who have recovered by giving them very frequently small quantities of light nutritious food, and by particular attention to natural stimulants, similar to those cases I have related in the sinking state of typhoid fever. Shakspeare says, “ While the vital flame burns feebly, a little give at first; that kindled, add a little more ; till by deliberate nourishment the flame, revived, with all its wonted vigour glows.” 7. I have been led to observe the very great tenacity of life even in those patients suffering under incurable disease, when they have .been total abstainers from alcoholic fluids ; and the very speedy death’of the very intemperate under similar circumstances.