Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-14

One of the investigations conducted by the
board of health during the last year embraced
inquiries concerning the effects of Intoxicating
drinks upon the public health. Among other
means of obtaining information on this subject,
the following question was addressed to ply
stefan in each of the towns in the state: "What
in your judgment has been the effect of the use
OF intoxicating liquor as a beverage upon the
health and lives of the people in your town, or
in the region in which you practiceP One
hundred and sixty-four answers were received
to this question. OF those making these an
swers, fOrty-eight thought the use of liquor velv
destructive to health and life; forty-nine had
found it injurious in a greater or less degree;
sixteen could not say that its use had any effect
on the public health in their towns; in twenty
seven towns the people were very temperate;
in five, intoxicating drinks are not used accord
ing to these reports; in four, the effect of IL
quors is found to be bad upon foreigners who
drink them often to excess, but not upon ma
tiVes, who use them, if at all, in moderation;
one physician believes liquors are useful in the
decline of life; one thinks their use promotes
longevity, and thirteen give indefinite replies
II ID Ilb testimony OF
the doctors, though by SO large majority they
condemn the use of liquors, is not more nearly
unanimous against the practice. Those, how
ever, who are so unobservant as to report thar
no intoxicating drinks are used in their towns,
cannot be expected to form very correct con-
illusions as to the causes of disease. 1t is very
strange that intelligent members of a profession
trained IN lnVpsfipatp fbn nall A.
means of cure of sickness, should form such di-
verse opinions upon subject which gives album
dant opportunities for observation. The great
majority, as was just stated, believe the use of
liquors to be injurious. One SAYS, "In-
toxicating liquors have Injured health
and shortened life in proportion to their
nse; another, Intoxicating LIQUORS kill
more than all Diseases" while another saws,
cannot sec but that moderate drinkers are as
healthy as any" and still another, No disease re-
snihng from its use has come to my knowledge"
The Boston correspondent of New York paper.
noticing the report of-this board with approba.
lion, refers especially to the answers to this in.
curry in regard to the use Of Intoxicating drinks
and quotes as fair specimens of the whole five
OF these answers, all the five quoted being select
ed from among the few which represent the use
OF intoxicants as harmless, if not beneficial,
The report of the board also contains great
deal OF useful and curious information received
IN answer TO inquiries addressed to the minis.
iers and consuls of the United States in foreign
countries These answers relate to the drinking
usages OF the people in all parts of the world,
and their effect upon health and morals. They
contain but few authentic statistics, but it NAV
NC gathered from them that northern and cen.
uai Europe and in the United States utoxica-
non As more common and more disastrous in its
enecu than elsewhere, and that this difference =
NOT que 70 the abundance and cheapness of hoer
and light wines, but rather to influence. &c "oei
mate or race vi ch-