without rousing up the
old desire for drink, or at least producing a degree of
irritation and excitement that clearly comes from this source.
It is also the experience of persons who are very susceptible to
alcohol, that any strong tincture is followed by headache and
other symptoms that refer to disturbed nerve centres.

"In many studies I have been surprised at the increased action
of drugs when given in other forms than the tincture. Gum and
powdered opium, have far more pronounced narcotic action than
the tincture. Yet the tincture is followed by a more rapid
narcotism, but of shorter duration, and attended with more nerve
disturbance at the onset.

"I am convinced that a more exact knowledge of the physiologic
action of alcohol on the organism will show that its use in
drugs as tinctures is dangerous and will be abandoned.

"There are many reasons for believing that its use in
proprietary drugs will be punished in the future under what is
called the poison act."

Dr. J. J. Ridge published in May, 1893, in the _Medical Pioneer_, the
following statement of the pharmacy of the London Temperance Hospital:--

"When the Temperance Hospital was first opened, it became a
question of practical importance, what should be done with
regard to the alcohol so largely employed as a vehicle and drug
excipient. Not that the principle of the treatment of disease
without the ordinary administration of alcoholic beverages
precludes the employment of alcoholic tinctures, but it was felt
that in such a test case as this it was important to obviate the
objection that while withholding alcohol as a beverage, it was
given in the medicine. As a matter of fact, it is surprising,
when one looks into it, how much alcohol is often given merely
as a vehicle for other drugs, and without the special action of
alcohol being required or desired. In prescriptions which are to
be seen in many text-books, it is not uncommon to find from one
to two or three, or even four drachms of rectified spirit in the
form of tinctures or spirits. This is very undesirable. If
alcohol is needed it should be given in proper measured dose.
But if it is not indicated, then it is not well to administer it
in this indirect manner.

"Experiments were therefore made, partly at the hospital and
specially by Messrs. South