ALCOHOL IN INFLAMMATION. 397 



considerable quantities. Desperate cases of low fever 

 and extensive internal inflammation were treated by 

 very large quantities of stimulants, the amount being 

 varied from time to time according to the symptoms 

 present and the progress of the case ; but the propor- 

 tion was not limited by any inflexible or arbitrary rule. 

 It is, however, only during the last twenty-five 

 years that we have actually demonstrated that alcohol 

 administered in small and oft repeated doses does not 

 excite or increase the inflammatory process, and that 

 inflammation may cease while a patient is taking con- 

 siderable quantities of alcohol, but even to this day, 

 there remain not a few who are not convinced of the 

 truth of these remarks. Some have fallen into the 

 error of supposing that practitioners who advocate the 

 use of stimulants in fever order large quantities in 

 every case. Practitioners have been accused of giving 

 brandy in a routine manner, inconsiderately and indis- 

 criminately. But this is a very grave charge to make, 

 and ought to be supported by those who prefer it, by 

 reference to special cases. Mild cases of fever and 

 inflammation were treated by Dr. Todd without 

 stimulants altogether, or with very moderate quan- 

 tities, but as this physician was naturally desirous of 

 treating as many desperate cases of febrile disease as 

 possible, a very large number of the worst forms of 

 acute disease admitted into the hospital were placed 

 under his care. The curious argument was adopted 

 by some, that because very large quantities of alcohol 



