The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-10 00:00:00

AN EXCUSE FOR THE GLASS.

There are probably few observant medical men
who have failed to notice a habit which has been on
the increase for some years past, and which seriously
threatens the moral and physical integrity of
society. The growing tendency of those even whose
lives are gentle, and whose minds are educated, to
indulge in alcoholic stimulation, is a fact which the
profession would do well to recognise and protest
against. The vice is not the vice of our grandfathers;
the bottle or two of port which often laid them
under the dinner-table and always sent them reel-
ing into the drawing room. The sin of our days is
less obtrusive and even more disastrous. It takes
the form of an occasional glass at odd times
during the d'Ly, an extra dose at lunch, a glass
of sherry or two, more or less, frequently in
the course of the afternoon, another from the
table when the cloth is laid for dinner. Not un-
commonly a flask of sherry accompanies the blue-
book in the carriage. And it is worth noting that
this kind of tippling is not done in secret. So far,
indeed, from this, it is rather a matter of boasting
on the part of those who indulge in it, and they
press others, often warmly, to follow their example.
Sometime, it is true, a mild kind of excuse is offered.
Tho dose is taken " just to keep one up, you know,"
or as a " whet before dinner." Just as often, when
soda or seltzer water suggests itself as a refresh-
ment, the question arises whether its accompani-
ment shall be brandy, sherry, or liqueur. The idea
of taking it alone is not entertained. It is de-
scribed as " weakening," " too cold for the
stomach," and so on. Not so frequently, it is to
be hoped, but still often enough to be of serious
moment, these odd glasses of sherry, brandy-and
soda, dry curacoa, &c., are taken in the morning
between breakfast and lunch, sometimes even be-
fore breakfast. In time the results of these in-
dulgences do not fail to present themselves in the
nausea and retching which accompany the morning
toilet, the husky forenoon voice, the want of appe-
tite for breakfast, the vague dyspeptic symptoms
which lurk about during the day. More remotely
it is for a shattered nervous system that the patient
—or " person" seeks rad • from the physician.
Society is on its knees just now confessing, always
in a polite and " respectable" way, its sins of omis-
sion or commission in regard of dress-luxury, paint,
and the denzi-monde. It behoves the medical pro-
fession to see that the vice described is included in
the list.—Lancet.

The Ordnance Investigation.
19-

Just before Congress adjourned there was a spe-
cial committee authorised and appointed to investi-
gate the administration of the ordnance bureaus of
the war and navy departments. The complaints
which inspired the investigation were that favourit-
ism and extravagance had reigned in the adminis-
tration of these bureaus. and particularly that they
had been indifferent to valuable inventions offered
them, and laggard in improving the character of
their arms. The disappointments of contractors
and inventors, and the jealousies of volunteer offi-
cers of the army fed, if they did not originate, the
movement. Under these circumstances, the pre-
siding officers of the two houses made as unfortu-
nate a selection for the committee as could possibly
be imagined, that is, if an impartial investigation
and a judgment of moral weight aro sought as the
result. The Senate furnishes Mr. Cameron of Penn-
sylvania and Mr. Howard of Michigan. The rela-
tions of the first to the war department and to con-
tractors under it, only a man so thoughtless and
impulsive as. Mr. Wade could, omit to think ren-
dered him unfit for such delicate service. Mr.
Howard has been quarrelling with the war ordnance
office for several years. The house supplements
these names with General Butler, Goneral Schenck,
and General Logan, all volunteer officers, during the
war. The first two, at least, made conspicuous
mistakes for the lack of the scientific knowledge
that belongs to regulars, and they are not so re-
markably great men as to forgive others for their
own ignorance. One of them, too, is owner or part
owner of a patent breechloader that the Govern-
ment has not adopted. General Logan is an excel-
lent stump orator. We know of no especial quali-
fication that he has for this investigation. And
whatever the faults of the ordnance bureaus, either
of omission or commission, it is very clear that the
expcsition of them by such ac ommittee as this wi:lh
have no particular weight ith Congress or the
have
country. The most they can do is to pe " a
general worriment." That doubtless has
11.6 uses,
and in this country often works reforms. But
nothing more, except to spend money
uselessly, can
Ilow they
such a committee do with this subject.
arc managing to do that may be inferred from the
fact that they have begun by Calling for a full re-
cord of all the operations and business of the two
bureaux from the begng of the war till
clerks
now.
The war ordnance bureau has sett irty extra
at work to comply, and will not be able to make a
full answer under a year and a half, and the expen-
diture of $50,000 to $60,000. The naval bureau
has a similar job on its hands, both in time and
money. It does not require any especial gift of
prophecy to predict that this investigation will pro-
duce no valuable results to the country.

By the Royal Mail Company's steamship Seine
NT o hear that the Brooklyn (flag of American Admiral) was
at Rio Janeiro. The United States ships of war Colorado,
Frolic, and Canandaigua were at Lisben.