The Daily bulletin., 1889-11-26
the LIQUOR PROBLEM.


privilege Of stating few facts in
opposition to short article In the
BULLETIN OF Nov. goth, entitled
"Alcohol and Longevity" 1t is
always unpleasant to enter the lists
with an opponent whose cloven foot
is so easily discerned, The truth in
this case has been so fully and free
ly stated in books and speeches and
journals for the past eighty years,
that one attempts to repeat them
with the feeling that II all that has
been said does not convince intelli-
gent minds, neither will they be
persuaded though one rose from
the dead. Yet, if the friends Of
truth keep silent and let falsehoods
go unanswered, it will not be strange
il some are led to believe such state
ments as these which appear from
some unknown source and reappear
periodically without any responsible
authority.
That alcohol does not induce
longevity, but on the contrary is the
most destructive agent existing in
the world, can be shown by the
highest medical authority. In fact,
the evidence is 50 overwhelming that
it is hopeless TO attempt to even
touch it in q newspaper article.
Baron Liebig, the celebrated Ger
man scientist, says: "Beer, wine
and spirits furnish no element cap
able Of entering into the compost
ton Of the blood, muscular fible, or
any part which is the vital princi-
pie" DIR. Thomas Sewell of Col
umbia College, Washington, ID. c.,
says: "Alcobol is poison ever at
war with mans nature and finally
produces cancer of the stomach and
other organic affections. No one
who indulges habitually in the use
of alcoholics, whether in the form
of wine or more ardent spirits. pes
sesses healthy stomach" Drs.
Yirchow and Boecker agree that cal
cohol poisons the blood, arrests de-
velopment and hastens decay Of the
red corpuscles and decreases vital
ity." DIR. Adams, Professor of
Medicine in the University of Glas-
gov, says that of his Incorporate cho-
lera patients 914 percent died. ~
have found the use of alcoholic
drinks to be great disposing cause
Of malignant cholera. l would
placard every spirit shop in town
with these words, Cholera sold
here" VIM. B. Carpenter, M.
D., T. r. S., f. G. S., Examiner Of
Physiology in the University of Lon
don and Professor of Medical Juris-
prudence in the University College,
in 1850 secured the prize of one
hundred gulneas for an essay upon
the effects and uses of alcohol. His
statements were afterwards en-
bodied in the following certificate,
which was signed by upwards of
two thousand of his professional
brethren of all grades and degrees,
from the court physicians and lead
ing metropolitan surgeons to the
humble country practitioner:
"We, the undersigned, are Of
opinion:
| 81. That very large proportion
of human misery, including poverty,
disease, and crime, is induced by
the use of alcoholic or fermented
liquors as beverages.
"2. That the most perfect health
is compatible with total abstinence
from all such Intoxicating beverages
whether in the form of ardent
spirits or as wine, beer, ale, porter,
cider, etc.
"3. That persons accustomed tc
such drinks may with perfect safety
discontinue them entirely either al
once or gradually after short time
"a. That total and universal alb
stinence from alcoholic beverages Of
all sorts would greatly contribute tc
the health, the prosperity, the mo-
rality and the happiness of the hui
man race. - The Liquor Problem
by DIR. Dorchester, Page 584.
1t would hardly be possible to citt
higher or more conclusive human
testimony than the foregoing. ]
will only take the space now to ado
few statements from the expert
ence and observations of those who
deal with human life, not sentiment
ally, but as business commodity
and whose success consists in thei
knowledge of the conditions which
promote or destroy it. Omittins
volumes of statistics which can b,
given and have been published re
garding the increased "expectancy o
life" in favor of total abstainers,
will only give the personal testimon.
of officers of various life insuranc,
companies in America.
Col. Green, President of the Con
necticut Mutual Life Ins. Co., says
"The death rate is more profoundl,
affected by the use of Intoxicating
drinks than from any other on
cause, apart from heredity."
Janus ID. Alexander, Vice-P -Presi
dent of the Equitable Life, says
"How often what we designate a
moderate drinking extends into i'm
moderate drinking and causes earl,
death, is sadly realized by those
who do not have the evidenc,
brought under their ewes, as We do. >