WHAT MEDICINE 
OFFERS FOR THE RELIEF OF 
Common Drunkenness 
A CLINICAL REPORT/AND STUDY OF IT. 
By Z. Collins McElroy, M. D., Zanesville, Ohio. 
Reprint from Cincinnati Lancet & Observer, July, 1877. WHAT MEDICINE 
OFFERS FOR THE RELIEF OF 
Common Drunkenness. 
A CLINICAL REPORT AND STUDY OF IT. 
By Z. Collins McElroy, M. D., Zanesville, Ohio. 
Physician to the City Infirmary ; Fellow of the Zanesville Academy of 
Medicine; Sec. Muskingum County Medical Society; Hon. Fel- 
low Meigs and Mason Academy of Medicine; Member 
of Perry County Medical Society; Member of 
Licking County Medical Society, etc. 
Reported to the Hocking Valley Medical Association at its Session in the City of Lancaster, 
0., April 3d, 1877 ; and published in compliance with a resolution of the Association. 
The age presents no more important problem for solution than 
how to abridge the use and abuse, and lessen the evils resulting 
from alcoholic drinks. There is a large minority sentiment stead- 
ily resisting its encroachments, with few results to reward their 
persistent work. Spasmodic efforts are made from time to time of 
much larger proportions, and with apparently satisfactory present 
results. But, somehow or other, these apparent good results soon 
disappear. The money interest in the traffic is too strong to be 
kept long at bay by moral considerations. The local governments 2 
of cities and towns is, in our day at least, in the hands of those in- 
terested in the traffic and use of liquors. 
As a man of science I need not dwell a moment on the personal 
and social results of strong drink. And it is hardly worth while 
to insult your intelligence, and consume your time in writing up the 
genesis and geneology of the pathological changes of structure in 
dipsomaniacs. The question which more immediately concerns us, 
as physicians, is, what has medicine to offer for the relief of chronic 
drunkenness? The only direct and truthful reply is, nothing. 
Perhaps the most frequent suggestion is “ multiply asylums for the 
treatment of chronic alcoholism.” And if asylums were largely 
successful, perhaps the question would he satisfactorily solved. 
But are asylums successful ? So far as my knowlege goes, they 
are unsuccessful in too large a proportion of cases to justify society 
in multiplying their members. For, it seems to me, they simply 
hold the pro|X‘nsity to drink in check, and do not remove the con- 
ditions of structure on which the demand for drink de}>ends, to be 
otherwise than mainly unsuccessful. 
Not long since I came in contact with a lady, who had, at a con- 
siderable ex|xmse, kept an erring son Sit an inebriate asylum one 
year; who was dismissed, “cured,” in the report of the superin- 
tendent, who went straight to a saloon, and got drunk, and in 
that condition returned to his mother’s residence! Now, I have 
a gate on my premises which is held shut by a weight, which has 
hung there these many years. Let the gate be opened ever so many 
times a day, or not at all for weeks, or months, the weight is ever 
ready and prompt to close it again, unless there is some obstruction 
in the way of superior force. 
That it seems to mi; explains what asylums do. The inebriate 
has a propensity for drink. Asylums interjiose a force against his 
gratifying this pro|>ensity, but do not remove the conditions of 
structure on which appetite dermis. When set at liberty the 
appetite is gratified at the earliest jKissible moment. 
I confess that until recently my own judgment was in favor of 
treating the inebriate as a man of unsound mind in asylums, sub- 
jecting him to the recognized treatment for insanity, or unsound- 
mindedness, if I may coin so unmanageable a word. But certain 
events running through ten years, and culminating in mv watching 
the treatment of an almost hopeless case of chronic drunkenness, 
has brought me to a different conclusion. 3 
That you may have the whole case before you, permit me to 
briefly state the circumstances which led to the treatment of the 
case I am about to report under my direct observation. 
Nearly ten years since I published an elaborate study of “ How 
do medicines produce their effects?” read as a valedictory address to 
the Muskingum County Medical Society ; and a year later another 
on “ Alcohol viewed by the eye of science as a therapeutic agent” 
and both published in St. Louis Medical Journals; the first in the 
St. Louis Medical Reporter, and the latter in the Medical Archives. 
I received a good many letters in regard to both at that time, and 
among them, some from Dr. S. E. McKinley, then a resident of 
St. Louis, thanking me in the most complimentary manner for the 
matter of both, particularly the first, as it had enabled him to see 
through the treatment of chronic drunkenness. He opened a 
small private hospital, receiving patients in all stages of chronic 
inebriation, and dismissing them in ten days, or less, with no 
appetite whatever for liquor. He gave me in letters, details of 
the daily treatment and results. In a year or two he removed to 
Chicago, occasional letters passing between us. After the great 
fire in Chicago I lost sight of him till the latter part of July, 1876, 
when I received a letter from him dated in Edinburgh, Scotland, 
where he had been called to treat some persons among the upper 
classes of Scottish society. He had been honored by a joint 
meeting of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, and of Surgeons, at 
which he explained his mode of treatment. He was the first 
American physician who had ever spoken in their new hall. He 
returned to his residence, in Philadelphia, and entertained some of 
the Scottish delegates to the late International Medical Congress 
during its sessions in that city. 
I visited the Centennial Exposition near its close, and called to 
see him, fortunately finding him at home. My call was very short, 
and as he thought, far too short, for, on returning to my office on 
the evening of Friday, 8th, Dec. last, I found his address on my 
table. I brought him from the hotel where he had stopped, and 
made him my guest during his stay in our city. The next evening 
after bis arrival I called the members of the Muskingum County 
Medical Society together, at my residence, to whom he explained 
his mode of treatment, and proposed to remain and treat a case for 
any member of the society, to illustrate it. 
A friend in whom I was much interested, badly needed his ser- 4 
vices; but just how to get at the patient was quite a riddle. Folks 
of that kind are generally very touchy and sensitive, and very 
easily offended. So I kept quiet, hoping that some member of his 
family would move in the matter. But they did not do so. So, on 
Sabbath evening, I broached the matter myself. It was quickly 
and satisfactorily arranged, and the patient passed under profes- 
sional management that night. 
Mr. P. B. A., set. 57; lawyer, married. Family all grown up, 
except one. Has been a drinker for forty years. Has sacrificed 
everything usually held dear, to his apf>etite for strong drink. 
Home, property, and business, or professional reputation, 
and health, all gone. He is bloated with abdominal dropsy, 
measuring eight inches more than his usual girth round the abdo- 
men. Was in fact in the pathological stage of shrinkage, which 
sooner or later overtakes the victims of intemperance. He was 
under my professional management, but not improving to any 
considerable extent. 
Sabbath eve , Dec. 10, 1876. Weather extremely inclement. 
Mr. A. has had to go out several times to-day to get his scanty sup- 
ply of whiskey, as it now has to be obtained by stratagem, chance, 
or wit. On inquiring of him how much he had drank during the 
day, he replied not more than half a pint. Appetite very poor, 
very thin in flesh, though proud spirited and haughty. 
Dr. McKinley requested the family to get him a pint of whisky, 
and told him to take all he desired during the night. No medi- 
cine. Pulse 90°, very feeble ; temj)erature not taken. Though 
early in the evening, Dr. McKinley followed him to his bed-room, 
had him take off his clothing, and go to bed; sending his 
clothing out of the room to another part of the house, and requested 
him not to get up at all, only to attend to natural calls until he 
allowed him to do so; and forbid his family bringing him his cloth- 
ing in case be asked for it. He has not been sleeping good lately. 
Dec. 11th, morning.—Dr. M., and myself found Mr. A. in 
bed, and well pleased, had slept better than for several weeks past. 
Pint of whiskey about gone. Mr. A., was to remain in bed, and 
have another pint of whisky to-day, and drink all he wanted. He 
was to have bad a mush and milk breakfast, but it was forgotten, 
and he had drank some coffee, and eaten some ham and bread. 
Was to have mush and milk the remainder of the day for diet. 
Evening.—We found patient in bed, and feeling better; thinks 5 
this kind of treatment splendid. Patient was to have pint of 
whiskey during the night, or so much as he wanted. Just before 
leaving Dr. McKinley dropped on the patient’s tongue, dry, what 
he said was a drachm of Howard’s Hydro-sublimate of Mercury, 
simply pure calomel. It was mixed with a little powdered licorice 
root, and washed down with a tumbler of whisky, the patient al- 
ways preferring whiskey straight. Patient asked for some water, 
however, after the whiskey, and had it. Dr. McKinley now placed 
patient in bed in the position he was usually most comfortable, 
and requested him not to change, only as he was obliged, during the 
night. He seems in a very good humor and enters heartily into 
the treatment. Pulse very feeble, and eats but little. 
Dec. 12, morning. Patient has had three copious discharges 
from bowels during the night. Says he feels very comfortable ; 
skin soft and moist, pulse exceptionally good, about 100°, tempera- 
ture not taken. Dr. McKinley had visited patient at 6 o’clock 
this morning, and stated that he had dropped on his tongue a 
drachm of Squibb’s powdered ipecac, mixed with licorice, same as 
the calomel, washed down this time with a tumbler of whiskey and 
water. He was to have all the whiskey he wanted to-day and 
mush and milk diet. Continues to have soft, mushy, ill-smelling 
discharges from bowels. 
Evening.—Found Mr. A. with soft, compressible and easily ob- 
literated pulse. Has had four more operations from bowels, three 
large, one small. Has had only some soup tor food. Dr. M. 
gave him two scruples powdered ipecac in the same way as he has 
given all other medicines. 
About 11 o’clock, P. M., a messenger came for Dr. McKinley 
and myself to visit Mr. A. He was desperately sick at stomach, 
and thought he was dying. Dr. M. declined to see him, and ad- 
vised me not to go either, as the sick stomach was to be expected. 
Sent request by messenger for Mr. A. to take more whiskey. Heard 
nothing more from him during the night. 
Dec. 13, morning.—A messenger came early to say that Mr. A. 
wanted to see me alone, and before Dr. M. visited him. On reflec- 
tion, concluded I would wait till after breakfast, and go with Dr. 
M. Found Mr. A. very sick at stomach. While we were there 
he threw up considerable dark billious matter, as we doctors 
call it. 
When alone, I said to patient, all was going on safely, that he 6 
was not in immediate danger of death; and thought it better not 
to interfere with Dr. M., but let him have his own way. I said to 
him further that I was a much interested spectator, and in- 
tended to interfere if necessary, at the proper time, if I thought 
his life in danger. 
Dr. McKinley gave no medicine this morning, but pressed more 
whiskey'on the patient. Pulse exceptionally good, notwithstand- 
ing the vomiting. The patient thought about 10 o’clock in the 
forenoon, that either Dr. M., or his family had put something in 
the whiskey he was drinking that made him sick. Though assured 
to the contrary, he did not believe it. To satisfy him a note was 
sent to his son-in-law, requesting him to get a quart of the very 
best whiskey, and deliver it to the patient with his own hands. It 
did not get there till afternoon, but he never tasted it. About one 
o’clock he requested his wife to remove all liquor out of his bed- 
room, as he had got turned against it. And he has never tasted it 
since. Since his recovery he says, to use his own language, he lost 
his taste for it in a twinkling. He sees it now, sees people use it, 
but has not the slightest desire for it. Whereas before, the sight 
of a bbl. on a dray, or truck, would send a thrill through him. 
Evening.—Found Mr. A. at 8 o’clock in good humor and spirits. 
After his stomach settled, he ate some hot milk and cracker. Has 
no sick stomach now. Pulse exceptionally good, color improving, 
capillary circulation of surface active, no pallor. Dr. M. gave the 
patient 25 grains chloral, in comp. spts. lavender. 
December 14th, morning.—Mr. A. had about eight hours sleep 
last night, two naps, from nine to four, and one hour from five to 
six o’clock. His bowels continue to move, and discharges continue 
very offensive. Kidneys fairly active, swelling of abdomen about 
the same, though there is evidently more gas, and less water than 
heretofore. Dr. M. commenced at 6 o’clock A. M., dropping grain 
doses of ipecac on his tongue, each hour, and remained with pa- 
tient till noon, and did not give him any food, and though slightly 
nauseated all the time, did not throw up. He gave the last dose 
of ipecac at noon, and requested his family to give him hot milk 
and cracker when his stomach would receive it. 
Evening.—Patient improving; pulse good, liowels have moved 
several times. No medicine. Dr. M. said he must lie put on his 
own resources in regard to sleep as soon as possible. 
December 15, morning. —Mr. A. is very comfortable this morn- 7 
ing. Has slept about six hours, and has had four motions trom 
bowels during the night. His tongue, heretofore red and glazed, 
is losing its bright tint, and is covering over with dark fur. Is 
having hourly grain doses of ipecac, same as yesterday. No food. 
Evening.—Find patient very comfortable. Pulse 90, fair force 
and volume. Has taken some hot milk and cracker this afternoon. 
Is losing flesh rapidly, though his color is good. No medicine. 
December 16th, morning.—Mr. A. takes hourly doses of ipecac, 
with one grain calomel in each of the first three doses in the fore- 
noon. I did not see him till nearly noon. Has had two large 
motions from bowels. Did not want any food, though allowed to 
eat if he could. Pulse 90, fairly good. 
Evening.—Find patient lying in the bed with his clothes on for 
the first time since he went to bed, Sabbath night. Had eaten 
some hash, made by boiling beef and tearing it into shreds with the 
fingers. No medicine to-night. 
December 17th, morning.—It was near noon when I saw patient. 
Found him dressed and down stairs, and as it was near dinner time, 
was looking after food. Has a fairly good.complexion, the circu- 
lation a little sluggish on the surface. Pulse 80, fair volume and 
force. Has no pain or discomforts of any kind, and does not 
complain of being weak. His abdominal dropsy all gone. Tongue 
as near as possible what it ought to be, though rough and cracked 
in the center. Commences to-day to take iodide of iron, two 
ounces officinal syrup, to six ounces simple syrup ; to take just be- 
fore eating meals, tablespoonful, and return a tablespoonful of water 
to the bottle after every dose, so that it shall be full all the time. 
When it becomes tasteless, he is to commence on common tincture 
of iron, two ounces iron, to six of syrup, and to take in same way 
as the iodide, keeping the bottle full all the time by adding water, 
after taking each dose. 
The subsequent progress of the patient was marked by progressive 
loss of flesh, with increasing appetite and good color. Towards 
the close of January he had some important cases in court, and 
spoke one whole day with a vigor and clearness such as he had not 
manifested before in a dozen years. He was frightfully thin in 
flesh, and during the day he spoke so long was sweating profusely 
all the time. 
He became deeply interested in building a house about two miles 
out from the center of the city, and spent many days there, walk- 8 
ing out in the forenoon, and returning in the evening. The 
weather most of the time was very rough, and though the men at 
work on the house had fires, they could not. and did not render 
him comfortable. During all this time he was coughing a good 
deal. His bowels fairly regular, and appetite good. He was 
allowed anything he fancied as food, hut was not to use in any 
way, tobacco, coffee, tea, chocolate, or any kind of liquor, or opium 
in any form. His throat seemed red and inflamed most of the 
time; and was apparently the occasion of some of the cough. 
Besides, owing to a fall in childhood, one side of his nose was ob- 
structed somewhat, and was apparently the cause of his breathing 
more or less through his mouth. To overcome this, his attention 
was frequently called to his breathing, so as to induce him to make 
continuous efforts to use his nose more, and mouth less in breath- 
ing, at least till his cough was better. To give more stability to 
the tissues of his throat, I gave him gargle per chloride of iron, 
and some doses of Dover’s powder, with only temporary relief from 
the cough. I noticed how keenly he scented the opium in the 
Dover’s powder, as indeed all drunkards do. He asked for them 
again and again, though they had additional ipecac added to pre- 
vent his becoming fond of them. He would have become an 
opium debauche with very little indulgence on mv part. He was 
anything else than prudent in going about and ex|>osing himself. 
He was repeatedly warned that he was overdoing matters, but he 
persisted in his own way. Would occasionally try to smoke a 
stogy cigar, though every time he tried he would be made sick at 
the stomach, even to throwing up, several times. Would drink 
coffee occasionally, but had no desire for it, and did not taste liquor 
of any kind. Near the close of February Mr. A. broke down 
completely. Lost his ap|>etite and strength. Lost his good, 
wholesome color, and he l>egan hiccuping, and I got into trouble. 
My patient was going about, had no particular pain, and thought 
that if the hiccups were only stopped he woidd he well again. I 
could not get him or his family to understand that, of itself, the 
occurrence of hiccup was nothing — that its significance was as to 
the serious nature of the mischief going on in his body; so that 
several days were lost by mistakes, misunderstandings and forge t- 
tings. Mrs. A. still clung to the idea that I was mistaken in re- 
gard to their significance. She heard that fresh plums were a sure 
cure, and they had to be tried and fail, which they did. In 9 
the mean time he lost rapidly, and began to be very putfy about 
the abdomen again. But at length I got to apply blisters, and 
gave small doses of calomel, and chloral at night to get to sleep, 
and relief—temporary relief—from the constant hiccup. But the 
tide was eventually turned towards life and health again. At first 
he gained very slowly, and the cough came on and persisted, for 
he used the per chloride of iron again, with marked relief. 
He is now gaining about two pounds per week weight; has lost 
his cough, appetite keen and sharp, and sleeps well, and has a 
splendid complexion. Has given up his country house, and now 
devotes his time to business. No vestige of dropsy, no pain, or 
much uneasiness of any kind. 
It is proper to state that the details ot the treatment of this case, 
as Dr. McKinley declares, only illustrate the principles of treat- 
ment ; he hardly ever managing two cases exactly alike. He 
offers no theoretical explanations of the way in which the results 
are brought about, only that the conditions of body and stomach 
demanding liquor are completely removed. There is no appetite 
left, and therefore patients will not take liquor. They must form 
the habit, de novo, by tippling, which by the wav, is much more 
easily done than for the first time. 
Such is this gentleman’s present condition; everything as promis- 
ing as in the morning of life. He fell once, and he may fall again. 
Society, in the larger communities, presents many opportunities for 
men to form, and once they have quit, to re-form the habit of in- 
dulging in alcoholic drink. It is proverbially hard to teach old 
dogs new tricks. He says he has often quit before, but it was a 
constant struggle against appetite and inclination. Now he has no 
appetite, no struggle against inclination to indulgence. Yet none 
of his friends have full confidence that it will last through the 
remainder of life. The wife of an inebriate once said to me: “When 
my husband stops drinking, as he has done now, I feel that I am 
living on a volcano, which may burst into eruption at any time. I 
never can feel safe. ” I can now understand the copy I used to 
write at school. “Evil communications corrupt good manners.” 
The main agents he uses are calomel and ipecac, and thinks oidy 
Squibb’s ipecac, and Howard’s hydro-sublimate of mercury should 
be used. But they are simply agents of higher purity than those 
found in ordinary commerce. All other calomels, English and 
American, but Howard’s English, contain corrosive sublimate, and 10 
that defeats his purposes and ends in the treatment of chronic in- 
ebriation. As accessory remedies he uses capsicum, chloral, and 
camphor; sometimes lobelia; and even tobacco injections, in vio- 
lent mania potu. 
In regard to final success of treatment, he says it is perfect in 
nine out of ten cases. And has had several die while under treat- 
ment, but whose death was in no wise hastened bv treatment. Does 
not consider the treatment dangerous to any subject, lie gives no 
attention to any other branch of the profession, though, as I think 
from personal knowledge, a very competent physician and surgeon 
in all departments of the art. 
The case, to my mind, was one of surpassing interest. First, 
because of the unpromising condition of the patient. It was with 
me a very serious question whether he was a proper subject to be 
treated at all. I had grave tears that he was too far gone—he had 
been a drinker for 40 years,—and was in the stage of shrinkage of 
dipsomaniac degredation of tissue. I therefore watched the treat- 
ment very closely, intending to interfere oidy in case it promised 
to hasten the death of the patient, which, in the natural order of 
events, was not far distant in the future. There was about tin* 
treatment that simplicity and directness of purpose and ends, which, 
in its precision and results, rivalled in accuracy mechanical en- 
gineering, and filled me with admiration. 
It must be borne in mind in singling out the salient features of 
the case, that, counting from Sabbath evening, when only more 
liquor than the patient had l>een able to obtain was prescribed, 
but no medicine, to Wednesday soon after noon, when he refused it, 
and has had no appetite for it since, though it was pressed on him 
with some earnestness, was just two days and three quarters, b(> 
hours; a very short time in which to effect such a striking change 
in a man who had used spirits for so long. 
Another was the few medicines used. The patient did not get 
but five doses of medicine until the condition of his stomach demand- 
ing liquor was entirely changed ! 
Another feature not to be omitted was, that Dr. McKinley gave 
all the medicines taken by the patient himself; he did not allow 
either the patient, or the patient’s family to do that. A very wise 
precaution on his part, as I have often found to mv regret in 
general practice. 
The patient himself was confined to bed, room darkened, and the 11 
utmost quietude maintained. Callers were not allowed to see him 
for any purpose whatever, until after the critical point was passed 
—to wit, the removal of the condition of structure in his body 
demanding drink. 
The after treatment had some peculiarities in this, that the doses 
of the iodide and muriated tincture of iron, steadily decreased from 
the commencement till they became nothing. 
Dr. McKinley left on Monday, having had the patient under 
control just one week the evening previous. I was recomended to 
give Mr. A. once a month, a 20 gr. dose of calomel, but the pro- 
gress of the case did not permit this to be carried into effect. 
The patient has evidently a new body now. Sleeps well, eats 
well, no pain, or uneasiness about him, and no apparent organic 
changes of structure, not incident to his age. 
It is proper to remark, perhaps, that Dr. M. declines to give any 
explanation of' the modus operandi of these common medicines in 
his hands, other than refer me to my own monograph on the sub- 
ject, which gave him the clue to use them so successfully. And 
in regard to the doses, says, that a large experience in their use, 
has shown him that the large doses are necessary to success. 
The results of m v observation of this case, together with reports 
of many other cases from Dr. McKinley, leads me to conclude: 
First: That medicine offers the confirmed inebriate relief from 
the trammels of appetite, with as much certainty as relief from 
any other pathological condition. 
Second: That what is done by specialists in the treatment of 
chronic drunkenness, can, and should be done equally Avell by the 
profession at large. 
Third: That reformation by the aid of medicine has a solid and 
real foundation in changes of structure on which appetite depends, 
which purely moral reformations lack, and are, therefore, less 
permanent. 
Here I might with propriety terminate the history, and my re- 
marks on it, of this unique case; but I should feel that my work 
was not as well done as it ought to be, did I do so. The facts of 
the case have an explanation, whether I can give it correctly or 
not. With only the current conceptions of physiology and pathol- 
ogy, in reference to life, in mind, they must stand as solitary facts, 
having no relation to other pathological states of the human body. 12 
Rut I do not believe it to be so. What Dr. McKinley did do 
for Mr. A. was to get up an artificial fever process with medicines. 
That fever process burnt up, so to speak, almost the entire body of 
the patient. The new l>ody he got, as the old one disapjteared by 
by a fever process, differed in many important particulars from the 
old one, notably, in not demanding liquor, as a condition of com- 
fortable existence. For all through the realms of nature, function 
is the expression or index of the structure from which it proceeds. 
This is an inexorable truth in animal and vegetable life, as well as 
in inorganic nature. If there were no changes of structure, from 
any causes, there could be no changes of function ; and if no changes 
of function, how, let me ask, could there be any sickness? Pathol- 
ogical anatomy is simply an enumeration of the changes of structure, 
in once living beings by accidental causes, or design. Nothing 
more, nothing less. 
What does alcohol do in living human bodies? Why, limit 
the speed of molecular waste, furnishing nothing to add to 
the sum of life’s forces; but supplying conditions for the most 
economical expenditure of existing stores of force, by limiting the 
speed of molecular changes. The secret indulgence in alcoholic 
liquors has its unerring tell-tale in the bloat of the drunkard. 
Income greater than ex|>enditure. With this comes changes, or 
modifications of structure, with corresponding modifications of 
function, evidenced in the habits and appetite of the drunkard, for 
liquors. 
The agents used in the treatment of Mr. A., were all agents 
operating in the interest of waste of existing tissue. And they are 
the agents having the greatest power within the limits of safety, 
which are ever given or used as medicines. Agents having high- 
er powers, are called caustics, or poisons, as concentrated acids, 
alkalies, etc. Those having inferior powers are but little used, 
because of their inefficiency. 
Prof. Bartholow, of Cincinnati, in his late work on Materia Medica, 
classifies certain medicines, and remedial measures as, “used to 
promote constructive metamorphosis,” and “those used to promote 
destructive metamorphosis,” a |>ortion of the classification I made 
and published ten years ago; and in the exact language I used. 
He now claims originality for them, though I sent him a copy of 
my monograph at the time of its publication! Realizing after ten 
years the truthfulness of my classification, I rejoice at their adoption 13 
by the profession, though I think Prof. Bartholow would have lost 
nothing by giving proper credit. 
I think I have learned several important lessons, from watching 
the treatment of Mr. A.’s case. One is, how to use ipecac, and 
how much good may be done with it. It seems to me, with it many 
recent cases of insanity, or unsoundmindedness, could be prevented 
from becoming chronic, if properly used, much more speedily than 
is usually done. One large dose at bed-time, in my hands, since 
Mr. A.’s case was watched, has done some very desirable things 
for some of my patients. 
The wife of the president of the Muskingum Co. Med. Soc., had 
been sick all last month. About the 20th of February the president 
invited me to see her. She was semi-delirious. Pulse 108. Tem- 
perature 101°, had not slept any for a week, though taking opium, 
chloral, brom. potass., etc., all the time. Ten grains of ipecac, with 
5 gr. Dover’s powders, added by a consulting physician, and 1 gr. 
calomel, late in the afternoon, gave her some Considerable nausea 
for two or three hours, but no vomiting; but it gave her a quiet 
night’s rest, and convalescence next day. But I need not detain 
you with other cases. Gentlemen, you have in ipecac an agent of 
wonderful power, worthy of study and experimentation. But give 
largely, and only at night, when all is quiet, and you will be on 
the right track to success. 
Pardon me, if before I close, I enter my protest against continu- 
ing to call alcohol a “stimulant.” So far from its “urging, or 
goading on,” or temporarily adding something to the sum of force, 
available for life’s purposes in living bodies, it does exactly the 
reverse — to wit, — limits the speed of molecular transformations. 
Let us, as men of science, speak of it truthfully when we speak of 
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THE CINCINNATI 
Lancet and Observer. 
A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE. 
The favorite organ of the medical profession in the 
Ohio Valley and the West. 
Each, number is made up of Original Communica- 
tions, Society Transactions, Hospital Reports, Transla- 
tions, Selections and Reviews of late medical books. 
Each number contains ltd pages of reading matter, 
making this one of the cheapest of medical journals. 
Terms. $3.50 per annum, in advance. Specimen 
copy, 25 cents. 
Notice the amount of matter and low price. 
Address ell communications to 
Dr. J. C. CULBERTSON, 
2S1 If . Seventh St., - CINCINNATI, O.