These are questions full of momentous interest.  Diseases of the body, if not cured, work a steady impairment of health, and bring pains and physical disabilities.  If their assaults be upon nervous centres, or vital organs, the danger of paralysis or death becomes imminent.  Now, as to this disease of intemperance, which is a social and moral as well as a physical disease, it is not to be concealed that it has invaded the common body of the people to an alarming degree, until, using the words of Holy Writ, “the whole head is sick and the whole heart faint.”  Nay, until, using a still stronger form of Scriptural illustration, “From the sole of the foot even unto the head, there is no soundness in it; but wounds and bruises and putrifying sores.”

In this view, the inquiry as to increase or diminution, assumes the gravest importance.  If, under all the agencies of cure and reform which have been in active operation during the past fifty years, no impression has been made upon this great evil which is so cursing the people, then is the case indeed desperate, if not hopeless.  But if it appears that, under these varied agencies, there has been an arrest of the disease here, a limitation of its aggressive force there, its almost entire extirpation in certain cases, and a better public sentiment everywhere; then, indeed, may we take heart and say “God speed temperance work!” in all of its varied aspects.

HOPEFUL SIGNS.

And here, at the outset of our presentation of some of the leading agencies of reform and cure, let us say, that the evidence going to show that an impression has been made upon the disease is clear and indisputable; and that this impression is so marked as to give the strongest hope and assurance.  In the face of prejudice, opposition, ridicule, persecution, obloquy and all manner of discouragements, the advocates of temperance have held steadily to their work these many years, and now the good results are seen on every hand.  Contrast the public sentiment of to-day with that of twenty, thirty and forty years ago, and the progress becomes at once apparent.  In few things is this so marked as in the changed attitude of the medical profession towards alcohol.  One of the most dangerous, and, at the same time, one of the most securely intrenched of all our enemies, was the family doctor.  Among his remedies and restoratives, wine, brandy, whisky and tonic ale all held a high place, and were administered more frequently, perhaps, than any other articles in the Materia Medica.  The disease of his patients arrested by special remedies or broken by an effort of nature, he too often commenced the administration of alcohol in some one or more of its disguised and attractive forms, in order to give tone and stimulus to the stomach and nerves, and as a general vitalizer and restorative.  The evil consequences growing out of this almost universal prescription of alcohol, were of the most lamentable character, and thousands and tens of thousands of men and women were betrayed into drunkenness.  But to-day, you will not find a physician of any high repute in America or Europe who will give it to his patients, except in the most guarded manner and under the closest limitations; and he will not consent to any self-prescription whatever.