392 ALLEGED OBJECTIONS 



of opinion concerning the propriety of prescribing, the 

 utility, and mode of action of this important agent, in 

 severe forms of disease ; and although there are few 

 hospital physicians who would treat desperate cases of 

 fever absolutely without alcohol, there are many who 

 -give only a few glasses of wine to patients for whom 

 some of us would not hesitate to prescribe much 

 larger quantities of stronger stimulants, because we 

 have learnt that by this means the period of conva- 

 lescence is shortened, and the patient makes a better 

 recovery. 



Considering the grave importance of this practical 

 question, it seems to me desirable that it should be 

 fully discussed, and at the risk of being considered 

 tedious, I propose to pass in review some of the facts 

 and observations which, as I pointed out long ago, 

 justify the administration of alcohol, and enable us to 

 form some notion concerning the precise manner in 

 which this substance acts advantageously in some cases 

 of fever. In this way I hope to be able to support and 

 explain the favourable results of clinical experience. Of 

 the scientific arguments many are based upon minute 

 observations of my own extending over many years, 

 and which were carried out without reference to the 

 question at issue, and indeed without the thought that 

 they might at some future time assist in elucidating it. 



Objections to the Administration of A Icohol in Inflam- 

 mation. It is interesting, if in some respects painful 

 and depressing, to study the wonderful alterations 



