e belief that
the drug has improved the condition of the patient, while in
reality, it has no beneficial influence on the disease, and has
reduced the vital resistance of the patient. In no case has high
temperature harmed a patient and there was every evidence that
in some instances a high temperature was preferable to a low
one.

"Special attention has been given to the use of alcohol in
disease, not with any desire to approve or disapprove it, but
solely for the purpose of discovering the truth, for nothing
seems of greater public interest from a medical standpoint than
the truth regarding a subject for which so many virtues are
claimed on the one hand, and so many destructive elements proven
on the other. * * * * *

"We criticise the treatment of no institution, antagonize no
school of medicine, claim no unusual or peculiar scientific
virtue, but what we do maintain and insist upon is this: that
the human body may be ever so afflicted, ever so reduced, the
heart ever so feeble, and the spark of life ever so dim, the
conscientious student of medicine can secure as good results
without as with administration of antipyretics, sparkling wines,
beers or liquors.

"Experience teaches that true science does not antagonize
nature. In surgical cases, in septicaemia, in pneumonia, or in
any of the fevers, water freely administered has proven to be a
real source of comfort, and an aid to recovery. It is amazing
how favorably diseases terminate under this beneficent beverage.
The withholding of food does not retard, but rather hastens
convalescence.

"In the conduct of our Red Cross patients, irrespective of their
condition when admitted, it can be truly said that after
treatment began, delirium has not been witnessed in a single
instance, and as our hospital reports indicate, our mortality
has been unusually small.

"Alcohol has not figured as a life-saver in our institution.
Cases of extreme collapse following major operations, cases of
pneumonia, where the pulse ranged from 160 to 220, patients
suffering from pernicious anaemia, septicaemia, pyaemia, cholera
infantum and typhoid fever, some of whom when first seen were in
the worst stages of delirium and collapse have without alcohol
regained consciousness, overcome delirium and made excellent
recoveries.