Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-03
STARTLING.
New Vices Which are Taking the Place
Of Rum Drinking.


Boston Post.l
A recent address of Governor Gar.
celon, before the Maine temperance
convention, calls attention to various
kinds Of intemperance which have
generally escaped attention Of reform
ers in that State. He has been for
many years an eminent physician of.
large practice, and a close observer of
the habits Of the people. He spoke OF
the use OF tabaccO as an increasing
evil, especially among the young, the
tendency of which is to cultivate
an appetite for stronger. stimulants,
besides being ~deleterious in itself. In
addition to chewing and smoking, he
says snutf-dipping is becoming almost
universal. As he added himself, this
fact many are ignorant of, and excites
surprise. The use of opiates has also
increased to an alarming extent. Many
a man, he says, has appeared upon the
stand advocating temperance who had
in his pocket a bottle of laudanum of
black drops, which pave the way to an
early grave. The lady, too, carries
chloroform and ether to moistion her
handkerchiefs, with which to allay ner-
yous excitement. As a practicing
physician and observer of human ma
ture, he placed all these forms of in
temperance in the same category with
the Incorporate use of spurious
liquors, all Of which demand correc-
ton.
Such views were timely and all the
more needful from the fact that the
temperance reformers have confined
their efforts too closely to but n
phase of the great evil, and, as a rule,
prescribed but one remedy for that.
They have proceeded too much upon
the ground that if they could prohibit
the sale of intoxicating drinks there
would be no more drunkenness, and
the work of reform would be com
plete. Hence hanging rumsellers has
been advocated as the suitable penalty
for their offenses, and as the appro-
pirate remedy for incompetence. This
is General Neal BOWS specific, and
his views are potential on the subject.
In view of Governor Garcelon's dis
closures there is a demand for some
thing more effective than the hand of
the executioner. Or, if that is to bethe
accepted agent for curing one kind of
intemperance, and is effective, it
should be prescribed for the dealers
in opium and tobacco.
There can be no question that opium
eatingh has increased to a fearful extent.
Not long since from Staunton, Va, a
conference of druggists reported that
the ratio Of increase of sales in 1877
over 1876 was 81 per cent, and in 1876
over the preceding year "a per cent.
and in 1915 over the preceding year 80
per cent. That was another section
Of the country, and was thought to be
a peculiar Characteristic of the Shen-
andOah valley. But we will venture
the assertion that the percentage OF
increase in Maine has been quite as
large and that the sales of druggists
since the prohibitory legislation has
been in vogue will show. II such is
the fact the change from the use Of
intoxicating liquors to opium is fan
from being an improvement. Cover.
nor Garcelon has done the people good
service by directing attention to new
channels of inquiry. If followed III
it will be found that the "Maine law
has not been the grand instrument e.
reform claimed in its behalf, and that
after all that can be said and done to
correct personal and social evils, moth
ing is so effective as good example and
an appeal to the higher nature Of the
individual and society.