Health and Temperance by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 4, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 22.

Health and Temperance.

By Editor

Alcohol and Tobacco.

"I always want to smoke after drinking, and drink after smoking."

EDITOR SIGNS OF THE TIMES: The above remark was made in my hearing a day or two since by a man who was addicted to both habits. The remark startled me at first, but on reflection I concluded that the habits are so closely allied to each other that the remark was true in more cases than one.

A person who has the two unfortunate habits fastened upon him must feel lost when he is not yielding to the one or the other, or both. It is a noticeable fact that one who uses tobacco habitually, drinks much more water than one who does not, and if his appetite has become vitiated so as to crave alcoholic stimulants, it is only natural that indulgence in the one should induce indulgence in the other. It is hard to tell which of the two is most detrimental to the health; but both are destructive. The physicians take upon their shoulders a fearful responsibility when they advise the use of either, yet many of them, I had almost said most of them, frequently do it.

I myself in early manhood had a severe illness, and as soon as I was partially restored to health I commenced taking on a superfluity of flesh, so much so that it actually became burdensome. I called my doctor's attention to it, and asked him if he could prescribe a remedy. He told me that tobacco was the best remedy he knew, and advised me to learn to chew or smoke. After several ineffectual attempts to learn to chew the noxious weed, I resorted to smoking, and as a consequence became an inveterate smoker. For this I have blamed my physician ever since. But, thank God, by reason of an illness, from which I am now just recovering, I have partially conquered the filthy habit, and I hope and pray that I may never yield to it again. The accursed stuff so aggravated my disease, that, though I did not use it at all during my sickness, it made me suffer much more than I otherwise would have done, and very much delayed my recovery. But tobacco is comparatively seldom prescribed, while spirituous, vinous, and malt liquors are quite generally given as strengthening remedies as soon as the patient becomes convalescent.

I wish to give two incidents that have come under my immediate observation. I know a man who was raised in a strictly temperance family, and never tasted alcoholic stimulants until he was advised by the attending physician, when he became convalescent from a severe attack of typhoid fever, to drink brandy and water three times daily before each meal. This he followed up after entirely regaining his strength, and is to-day a confirmed drunkard.

A lady of my acquaintance, several years ago had a run of fever, and as she was regaining her health, the doctor advised her husband to furnish her with beer and induce her to drink it, to strengthen her. He did so. She drank it and did not desist from using it on her recovery, but has drunk it to excess ever since, to her own disgrace, and the disgrace of her family. I might give other cases, but for my present purpose these will suffice.

Stimulants may be, doubtless are, good in their place as medicines, but they should be prescribed with the greatest caution, and only in cases where nothing else will produce the desired result. It seems as though skilled pharmacy might produce a substitute for it. The man who does so and induces its general adoption by the profession, will send his name down to posterity by the side of the worthiest benefactors of his race.

I like the tone of the Signs on the tobacco and liquor questions. It is doubtless doing much good in these directions.

Some unknown friend of my wife is sending it to her, and thus I get to read it. It has been a Godsend to me, for while I have never been a Sabbath-keeper, I have long believed in the Sabbath of the commandment, and I cannot see how any Protestant can believe in any other. My lot since early boyhood has been cast among Sunday people, until I came here, where I find some Sabbath-keepers. But I have no apology to offer, as I might have kept the Sabbath alone. I failed to do it, and hence am one of those of whom it may be truly said, He knew his duty but did it not. On the Sabbath and baptism, I am in full accord with your people. With the other doctrines of your church I am not so well acquainted, and of course am not prepared to adopt them now. The time may come when I can see my way clear to cast my lot with you.

Yours for the Sabbath, for temperance, and for opposition to the use of tobacco, M. V. BURDICK.