The evidence of Sir Wm. Gull, F.R.S., physician to her Majesty.

  • Gull, William.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The evidence of Sir Wm. Gull, F.R.S., physician to her Majesty. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    u understand, are not at all uncommon, in which the same man would be a useful and sober man for weeks afterwards, and that therefore you would not consider it right to proceed against him as an habitual drunkard. But if you knew that he was likely to break out again as an habitual drunkard would it not bo desirable to prevent his having a recurrence of one of these dreadful bouts, in which he is not *nly dangerous to others, but is impairing his own health ? I have no doubt of the desirability, but I see the difficulty. Now, with regard to alcohol medically considered, you described it as a sedative; is it not a stimulant ? I think it may be a sedative on the brain, but a stimulant on the heart, because there are different sets of nerves; one set of nerves we call inhibitive and the others stimulating. By giving alcohol you may quiet certain nerve centres, and indirectly stimulate others. In those drinking parties which some of us can remember, and all have heard but which no longer exist as a custom, we have seen one man under the table quietly under the influence of drink, where another man was pugnacious ? Yes, undoubtedly. , , , , Those are different instances of the effects of drunkenness ? Yes upon the brain it customarily acts as a sedative; it may make the thoughts run quicker for a time, but they are not very good thoughte. In the earlier part of your examination you stated that the medi<»l faculty were beginning to see the mistake they had formerly made _m the immoderate use of alcohol, and that they were now employing it to a less extent ? In a more limited way undoubtedly. And you stated that you thought you could get the Committee ^me information from Guy’s Hospital as to the change of practice which has taken place; has it come within your knowledge to leam wh^ is done by medical officers attending workhouses and places of that sort. Not particularly. , Lord Hartismere: You spoke of a man who could carry a great deal without getting drunk; how could you deal with such a man. There would come in the difficulty. Because he does as much damage to himself as the other man, does *'^I*^think the whole question of drunkenness cannot be dealt with by legislation; I think the whole question must be dealt with by society at large by a better knowiedge of the disadvantage of stimulants, and by a better moral condition of the whole state of society. Better iiJormation however, wiU do a great deal; I feel sure that the people are ignorant of ^^You°do north/n^that it would be practicable to put up the name of a man of that kind as you suggested ? . No • YOU could not do it, though it might be desirable. Do you not think that that system would rather lead to more drmkmg ^ at home; that if people were determined to drink they would drink ''^IfT'man w'ere determined to drink in private you could not ^t at him With regard to leaving off drinlring, you thmk that you would stop the .^/supply of alcohol at once without injury ? U‘“.Si“S>elSe8in>.hich th, bram. have enlMy Boob I~m m.ybot.telrbr™.b.™ go.b tr„b thbir previous habits ?