The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

pFrom the replies received to the lettersof inquiry, two important pointswere brought out:1. A great many of the doctorsstated that they were using much lessliquor now than they did from five toten or fifteenyears ago, and that, too,patients are more successfully treatedthan when more liquor was prescribed.2. It could not but be noted that, ingeneral, doctors who had received theirdegrees in medicine within the lastten years were prescribing a greatdeal less liquor than doctors who graduatedprior to that time. A great manyof the very best doctors of the youngerset prescribe no liquor whatsoever.From these two points it appearsthat unmistakably the tendency in thebest medical practice of the presentday is to decrease rather than increasethe quantity of liquor prescribed.One of the most striking features ofthe whole matter is that while the bestmedical practice both in the State andin large hospitals outside the Stateshows a strong tendency to decreasethe amount of liquor prescribed, yetthe actual amount of liquor prescribedby the profession as a whole is believedto be largely increased duringrecent years, and it will be noted thatthis increase is coincident with themore rigid enforcement of our prohibitionlaws.The replies to the questions submittedwere so interesting that we can notrefrain from quoting the gist of a few.Space forbids longer quotations, butthese are typical."I find it c^dvisable to prescribewhiskey to perhaps less than ten patientsa year."'—W. L. Dunn, M.D.,Asheville."During the year I have prescribedno whiskey or brandy at all."—JamesJ. Philips, M.D., Tarboro."With all of our practice, includingthe hospital and our private work, wedo not advise an amount exceedingone gallon a year."—J. T. Burrus, M.D,High Point.THE HEALTH BULLETIN. 255"The amount used in the institutionfor the year has been an averageof 201/i ounces per patient. Thisrather high average is due to thequantity required by certain chronic patients,and will be reduced this year."—Albert Anderson, M.D., SuperintendentState Hospital for the Insane,Raleigh."I do not use more than one dropof spirits to the patient."—F. R. Harris,M.D., Henderson."I am sure that on my hospital servicesonly two or three patients ayear ever get alcohol in any form bymy order."—H. A. Royster, M.D., Raleigh."I have prescribed no whiskey orspirits of any sort during the lastyear, or previous one."—Wm. M.Jones, M.D., Greensboro."I don't prescribe whiskey at all."John R. Irwin, M.D., Charlotte."During the last five years of myactive practice I am satisfied I did notprescribe over a pint a year, and if Iwere practicing now Iwould not prescribeany at all."—J. T. J. Battle,M.D., Greensboro."I have never prescribed whiskeyat any time; have advised patients totake very small quantities of brandy,and that was in very few instances.Since I gave up general practice Ihave not had any chance or occasionfor the use of such."—M. M. Saliba,M.D., Wilson."I prescribe for 3,600 patients peryear, including twenty-five 'drunks.'I prescribe one ounce of spirits foreach of these. Otherwise I neverwrite a prescription for spirits."—E.T. Dickinson, M.D., Wilson."I prescribe 8 quarts of whiskeyper year—this would be 20 drops foreach patient."—Frank H. Russell, M.D.,Wilmington."I do not prescribe whiskey. However,I recognise it as a valuable remedy.'"-Dr.D. A. Dees, Bayboro."I do not prescribe it in any shape."—J. E. Koonce, M.D., Wilmington."I don't suppose I have prescribedon an average one-half gallon of whiskeyper year, and I suppose I see atleast as many patients as any physicianin the city. I believe the neces-