Temperance and teetotalism: an inquiry into the effects of alcholic drinks on the human system in health and disease / Reprinted from No. XLVIII of the 'British and Foreign Medical Review'.

  • William Benjamin Carpenter
Date:
1849
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Temperance and teetotalism: an inquiry into the effects of alcholic drinks on the human system in health and disease / Reprinted from No. XLVIII of the 'British and Foreign Medical Review'. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE. The following Essay had its origin in the desire eutertained by Dr Forbes, who at that time edited the ‘ British and Foreign Medical Review,’ to bring the ques¬ tion of the use and abuse of alcoholic liquors fairly before the medical profession. The author, heartily sympathising in this desire, undertook, at Dr F.’s request, the preparation of the article, and did his best to render it worthy of the dis¬ tinguished rank held by the journal for whose pages it was destined.* He had the advantage of being able to take a position of complete independence; being under no trammels, either to the advocates of total abstinence, or to the members of the medical profession; and he has addressed himself with equal freedom and sincerity to both classes. The reception which his Essay has met with, from both parties, has been a source of much gratification to him. Although stigmatised in a few temperance publications as likely to do as much harm as good to the cause of abstinence, it has not been so regarded by the managers of some of the most influential societies in this country, who have caused it to be reprinted in large numbers. Besides two very numerous editions disposed of in London, no fewer than 15,000 copies have been circulated through the agency of the Scottish Temperance League, a copy having been sent to every minister of the gospel in Scotland, and the re¬ mainder disposed of in other ways. It has been reprinted also by the Massa¬ chusetts Temperance Society, with the addition of an interesting history of the temperance movement in the United States. Of its reception by the Medical Profession, it will be enough to say that no attempt has been made to meet the facts and arguments which it contains by any counter-statement; and although few decided converts may have been made by its instrumentality, the author has the satisfaction of believing that it has contributed to awaken the attention of many of his medical brethren to the subject, and that among the most thoughtful and well-informed members of the profession there will probably be much more reserve exercised than heretofore in the sanction or recommendation of the use of fermented liquors. The author cannot but be sensible that the special purpose of this Essay, which could not but influence the mode of treating some parts of the subject, unfavour¬ ably affects its fitness for popular distribution. He has judged it best, however, to leave it in its original form; save as regards the introduction, in their appro¬ priate places, of some important facts which have come to his knowledge since its first publication. In now prefixing his name to it, he has been actuated solely by the desire of placing whatever influence he may possess with the public in the hands of the advocates of the abstinence principle; and he will be most thankful if, through his writings and example, any progress should be made in this most important (in his opinion) of all social reforms. WILLIAM B. CARPENTER. London, March 7, 1849.