THE PHYSICIAN BY THE FIRESIDE.
By Frederick M. Rossiter
CONDUCTED BY FREDERICK M. ROSSITER, M.D. 1–3.— SCRIPTURES ON ALCOHOL — ENEMA IN CHRONIC CONSTIPATION — GLUTEN IN FLOUR.
1. Do not the Scriptures teach in Prov. 31: 6, 7, that it is sometimes necessary to administer alcoholic liquors? If so, why should we abandon their use? 2. For how long a time can one safely employ the daily enema in cases of chronic constipation? 3. Do the lower grades of flour contain more gluten than the high grades? A. H. ANS.— 1. The words referred to are: “Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts [“bitter of soul,” margin]. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” The writer is aware that there are many Seventh-day Adventists, and even ministers, who believe that this is the divine prescription for strong drink to be given to one who is about to perish,—to be taken “as a last resort.” If this is true, it is evident that there is equal authority for those who “be of heavy hearts” to drink wine in order that they may forget their “poverty,” and “remember” their miseries “no more.” This is exactly what millions of men and women are doing to-day. And as long as they continue to do this, they effectually keep themselves from Him who only is able to comfort those who “be of heavy hearts.” Thousands of men to-day are attempting to “drown their miseries” in the flowing bowl. There is no greater enemy to truth in the world than alcoholic liquors. Moreover, it is evident that any drug that can cause one to “forget” and “remember no more” would have very little power in drawing upon the forces of the body when one is “ready to perish.” Any drug that causes one to forget, necessarily depresses the brain or exhausts the nerve centers. In verses 4 and 5, princes and kings are commanded not to drink strong drink, “lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment.” The only way the forces of the body can be aroused to resist disease and death is through the nervous system. Disease and death can only be resisted with life. Alcohol, which is the active principle of any strong drink, is a poison to all forms of life, in the smallest quantities, and is a narcotic to the nervous system of man, when taken even in moderation. The healing and curing power of the body is God. No man or animal that was ever sick, recovered except by this healing power. This healing power, however, is subject somewhat to man’s control, and may be assisted by proper measures. But it is absolutely inconsistent that He who said, “I am the Lord that healeth thee,” should advise His creatures to resort to an agent of death in order to save “him that is ready to perish.” There is no proof that alcohol ever saved the life of any being who was “ready to perish.” Alcohol will save a man from pain who is about to perish, and so he may die with more ease and comfort, for it is a narcotic and an anæsthetic. Alcohol has saved men from unexpected and violent deaths by so depressing their nerve centers beforehand that they were saved from a fatal shock of the nervous system. A man in Scotland, going home drunk, fell from a bridge one hundred feet high into a shallow stream,—the water coming only to the knees. The bottom of the stream being hard, he broke both thigh bones, as well as several other bones, yet he made a good recovery. It is a recognized fact among physicians that that which will keep a man well and strong will heal him when he is sick. Alcohol weakens the body, is a prolific cause of sickness, and cannot be regarded as a curative power. 2. The long-continued use of the enema is safer than the constant use of cathartics. One thus troubled should seek to overcome the difficulty by a proper regulation of the diet, outdoor exercise, and water treatment. 3. Grain that grows on an impoverished soil will contain less gluten than well-nourished grain. Most of the gluten is directly under the husk, or bran, of the grain. For this reason, whole-wheat flour contains much more gluten than a patent flour in which much of the outer portion of the kernel is removed. In many “high grade” flours much of the gluten has been removed. 4, 5.— BRIGHT’S DISEASE AND PARALYSIS — GERMS.
1. What is the proper treatment of Bright’s disease and paralysis in the aged? 2. Are there more germs to-day than there were one hundred years ago? do they fly in the dust? and how can we get rid of them? W. G. F. ANS.— 1. The most that can be done for Bright’s disease in the aged is to live upon a light, nourishing diet, drinking milk and buttermilk, and freely of water, keeping the skin active by means of warm baths, followed by moderately cool sponging with friction, taking full warm baths when the skin itches much and sleep is disturbed. A dry, warm climate is best for those who have this disease. 2. Germs have always existed, but were not known as such a century ago. To-day many hundred varieties of germs are known to scientists. Some are disease producing, and many are a benefit in the economy of life. One of the most common ways of spreading the germ that causes consumption is by means of dust. Many germs and molds are present in houses that are damp and poorly ventilated. The best way to get rid of germs is to keep everything pure and clean, and let the sunlight and the breezes of heaven into the home. Sunlight is the most effective agent in the world as a germ destroyer. The most deadly germs are destroyed in a few hours by the direct rays of the sun.