The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-13
ALCOHOL AND HEALTH.


Home.
general awaking not only of the pub
lie, but of the legislative mind rs to
the evils of alcohol, in its use rs II
beverage. Whether states and coun-
tries are moved TO restrictive measures
~ sanitary. n moral, an economical
or II social question. it is not always
easy to decide. The general use of
beverages having alcohol in them does
So much harm in each of these dircc-
tions that 1t is not always easy To single
out any one as the operative and pro-
peliing cause.
This movement is not confined to
our American States.
At lis last session, one Of the most
stringent measures of the German
Rcichstag was the tax levied upon al
cohol. 1t was. perhaps, the strongest
sanitary measure of the session. and
must tend To diminish the use of III
Coholic drinks. The alcohol tax
amounts To fifty pfcnnigS, or about
twelve cents of our money, per litrc
Cor quartz of pure alcohol manufact-
urcd in Germany. For spirits intro
duccd from abroad il is one hundred
and eighty marks for one hundred
Kilograms. Alcoholic fluids used for
industrial purposes, or for medical and
scientific purposes are exempted.
While there is great doubt u to the
ultimate benefits of taxation for reve-
nue. rs Temperance measure, il is
believed that it will promote Temper
ancc and health among the lower
classes of the people. In Switzerland,
some time since, bill was drafted by
the Government and passed by the
Bundcsrath. and now has been sub
nittcd to the vote of the people. 1t
was feared that this bill. which gave
TO the state monopoly of the business,
would not he sanctioned by the popu-
lar vote. But the vote stood 267. POO
yes. and 1855, l22 no. This will put n
higher price on alcoholic drinks. and
place the regulation of the traffic di-
TCctly under state control.
An important feature of the Swiss
Alcohol act is that ten per cent. of the
net revenue which the cautans will
gain from the alcohol tax is Ia he spent
in unfolding to the people the effects
of alcohol In its sanitary feature it is
much superior to the German law, and
promises To be of value lin combating
the dreadful alcohol plague in that
country
Some time since important lcgisla-
ton was had in France on the basis Of
startling statistical facts as to the in
crease Of alcoholic consumption; and
the use there of Intoxicating drinks
goes far to show that wine-producing
and 5eer-guzzling populations are by
degrees brought 10 indulge in general
alcoholic excess.
What has happened in several of the
States OF our Union is more familiar TO
our readers. 1t is ghost to political
parties that will not down ut bidding.
II involves great principles aud inter-
csts in political economy, in finance. in
the indispensable moralites Of n free
government. and in all that relates To
the physical, intellectual and moral
welfare Of mankind.
In the discussions that are rs newt
able rs they are important, the effect
of alcoholic beverages upon health
can not but be regarded rs rightly
prominent IL can not be doubted
that the practice and prejudice Of the
medical profession has been very
strongly in favor Of avery general use
of alcoholics rs medicine, and that
most of the professions believed the
moderate use of these stimulants rs a
beverage Ia DO commended and ap
proved. Tho fact OF their universal
use At tho fountains Of medical learn
ing and 10y most physicians In all
their social aud Conyiyial assemblies.
could not but have its influence on their
judgments. Some. like DIR. Rush. hal
sounded tho note of alarm. and few
hal been bold enough u seek the re-
striction Of their use.