Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-05-10
From tbs Philadelphia Ledger Of April II
STATISTICS OF DRINK.

Tho Second Annual Report OF the
State Board of Health Of Massachu-
setts contains some curious statements
as to the quantity Of Intoxicating
liquors consumed abroad, and It's cf.
fects on the crime, health and pros
periiy Of the various nations therein
mentioned These statements have
been obtained from American amLas
sadors aud consuis who have had op
portunities Of witnessing tho effects
thoy describe, and the result will
probably astonish both sides Of the
temperance" question. Indeed, con.
.sidering- that tho Board took tho
trouble to collect the facts referred 10
with view to sustain prohibitory leg.
islation, it is somewhat surprising they
should have published what will tend
to defeat rather than to assist their
aims. The reader will draw his own
inferencos but it should be borne in
mind that as regards drinking in this
country, its evil effects are patent /;
and that while it is possible that the
moderate use ofintoxicating beverages
may bo harmless, or even beneficial
in some climates, they are injurious in
this.
In Italy every man drinks wine,
and some drink foreign wines, brandy,
rum and beer; bat intemperance is
not prominent evil Consul Rose, Of
Ancona, Italy, says that crime com
mittod under the influence OF liquor is
unknown there. Mr.. Tuckerman, Of
Athens, Greece, says that in that city,
containing $4,000 inhabitants, only
u deaths had been occasioned in ten
years by strong drink. Intemperance
is very rare in Greece In Switzer-
land they drink beer and wine, but no
trouble arises from it. The finest
men come from the wine cantons-
The peasants drink schnapps and po-
tato brandy, and these cause trouble,
especially when the poor do not get
enough food Mr.. Bancroft states
that the health and prosperity Of the
people are not injured by beer and
schhapps. At Bremen vino and beer
are used in unlimited quantities by all
classes without evil results but at
Cologne 75 per cent. Of the crime is
traced to hard drinking, and at Tsicr
the 81 criminals in the prison were all
hard drinkers. In Ireland whiskcy,
wine aud beer are larcly consumed -
The popular drink is whiskey, and al.
most all the crime of the country is
charged upon H. In 1868, 76, 600 per.
sors were arrested for drunkenness.
The consumption was 5,037 ,Sl4 gal
Ions Of domestic spirits, and 325 .905
gallons of foreign spirits with 1905.
233 gallons Of beer and 1893, 209 bar.
rels Of wlnc,, costing in all si0,sl8.7Sh,
or an average of S37 so for every fam
ily But England and Scotland are
no better. The consumption of these
two nations in 1869 was l5,l5l,74l
gallons Of spirits, and SOC, 6,5j3, ,O56 gal.
Ions OF ale and beer. Cider is also
used, bnt no returns is given Of the
quantity Three. iourths Of all the
crime in Great Britain springs from
drink. In the Netherlands, where
large quantities Of schnapps and gin
are consumed, fliteen-sixtccnths of the
crime is traced to these fiery liquids.
At Odessa, Southern Russia, wine
brandy, beer and whisky are patron
lied the latter is sold at five cents q
gill, and it occasions about three
fourths of the crime. At Cadiz the
people drink sherry wine, Burgundy
and aguardiente diluted alcohol, but
according to the report no crimes arc
attributed TO this canse. Denmark
presents some curious features. There,
tho aggregate consumption OF intoXi.
cation has decreased. With n popu.
laton of 100000 the consumption is
6,7G2,00 gallons of foreign and do.
nestle liquor. There has been a
slight increase in the number of sui
cides, and in diseases Of tho liver,
bowels and kidneys In the country
the laborcrs have five mcaes day,
and two glasses OF rum with each meal.
Yet Mr.. Ycaman, the American Min
istcr, says that there has been improve
mont in education, agriculture, land
tenure and political power, among
the people.
Another Danish correspondent says
that the annual average consumption
is 1 ! gallons a head, but is has no 10.
furious results. AT Frankiort-on. the.
Maine, wines, beer, cider and brandy
are drunk, but intoxieaton is rare,
and few offences are committed and
good health prevails. At Geneva
absinthe and oognao brandy are tho
favorite drinks, but there is little in
toxication or crime. Leipsic, 95.0OC
inhabitants, consumes 100000 gallon,
of beer, aud 100000 gallons OF wine
annuallyj about s per cent. only oI
the arrests are for drunkenness the
percentage OF crime is small, aud the
public health is good In Madeira
Malta, Beirut, Ceylon, Japan, Egypt
Arabia, Zanzibar, llayti, Nicaragua
Santa Cruz aud Peru intemperancc is
reported TO be almost unknown, and
the health Of the people good, although
wine and a great variety Of spirituou'
and malt liquors are used. Tho re
port from Lima states that all sorts
Of European and native wines and
liquors are consumed there, but that
in six years only one case of assault
and five homicidcs have occurred
among population Of 100000. AT
Para, Brazil, though there is drink
ing house at every corner and every
body drinks, the Consul saw only two
drunken persons during six months
At Pornambuco, rum is sold at 40
cents a gallon, but nobody drinks to
excess. Austria and Hungary stand
favorably with regard to temperance
but drunkenness has been greatly on
the increase 10 France for some time
past, aud has been productive of much
of tho suffering the nation has under.
gone. Toronto, Canada, drinks every,
thing, aud intcmperancc is charged
with gS percen of all the crimes =
/ These contradictory statements de
servel serious consideration; but il
may be safely said that, if all the