The Grenada sentinel., 1889-11-09
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
a VIAL QUESTION.
Ehe Use of Alcoholic Drinks Matter
Great pubIic Concerp


1t is an encouraging fact that
large and influential portion of tt
Nation has come to realize that the IL
OF alcoholic drinks is more than a pl
vate and personal concern. 1t i
wolves the man as citizen, an hem
is public concern. 1t strikes at Il
Integrity of the family relation, al
as such must attract the attention
the State. 1t has to do with the ordt
OF society, and so demands special an
police regulation. 1t affects ou
financial prosperity, and so must hav
material consideration. In every as
pect it comes within the domain G
political economy; but in none NOR
than that which relates to the healtl
OF the individual and its effect upo,
present and prospective popu
lations After all, the mate
rial resources OF country are
not chiefly in soils, or forests. OF
mines, or cattle. The character and
ability OF the population is the sover-
eign idea. Whatever attacks or un-
dermines the public health is a most
serious consideration. All the more
II 1t not only affects individuals but
their offspring. If there is heredity
ot disability there is propagation and
continuation of peril to the State. We
see and hear enough of the ruin which
alcohol brings upon the physical
health of individuals. As relating to
the organs of the human body Dickiu-
son has well termed it the very
''genius of degenerations. As re-
lating to function, we know how often
1t dlsturbs digestion, deranges secre-
tons, and initiates vital parts. Harley
and others have shown this to be true,
not only Of those who are regarded as
indulging to excess. but of most who
rank as moderate drinkers.
But we have not had SO fully pre-
sented the entailments of alcohol.
There is not a realization of how the
effects distribute themselves through
succeeding generations in divers varia-
S-~'' L liz Liipl Y LDi Gully 10 SLuultu tl6
more apparent it is how the individ-
ual tends to reproduce himself The
diseased lung Or liver, or heart. either
repeats itself in some of the descent,
or its consequences appear in some
general impairment of function or
force. Even where there is no organ
&c change, not less distinctly do
we find dyspepsia, rheumatism. gout
and neuraIgias. Close analysis and |
the accumulation Of facts are more |
and more demonstrating how organic
changes or evil physical habits mingle
IN the Overfowing current of posteritv.
Since alcohol more than any other
one food or drink makes its
record on organs and functions,
1t would be strange ii it formed
any exception to the law. The fact
that some escape, that some take most
after the sound parent aud not after
the unsound one, that there is con-
stant dilutlon Of the heredity by sue
cesslvG marriages, and that there is q
and conservation in
nature, which often in the end over
comes this heredity, does not initiate
against the serious risks and impair
nents which occur. Nor are we to {
assume that no impairment has oc-
3urrcd unless We see some marked re- |
suit such as inherited taste for alco- I
lol, mental disturbances or a
to crime. There are protean !
orms Of result. Dr. Elan, who has I
tudied heredity more as philosophic 7
Ind skilled physician than as a re- /
ormer, says: 1T is not necessary that $
children should always inherit the /
,ctual alcoholic tendencies OF their Il
parents in order to present a type a
II progressive degradation. The v
Inspiring inherit either the original d
ice or some Of its countless protean v
transformations" We think that Dr.. t
!. d. Mason is right when he submits |;
nd substantiates the following prop e
sition: alcoholism in progenitors q
I'LL produce physical and mental de- h
eaeratiOn in their descendants and all
he neuroses that arise from a defective
crVe organization-epilepsy, chorea It
ar.Iysis-and all grades of mental
generation from slight tenfeeblement
t intellect to insanity and complete 70
iiocy. The laws which regulate these ~
egenerative changes are similar in :,
1eir mode OF development and ac- VI
on to those that govern congenital Gu
egenerative changes from other in -
eritcd cause5" 1t would be strange d
this were not the case. Sta %,
sites fully confirm the expec- ~
ltiOn of these Cntailments. A ".
cry great excess in proportion is -
'und both in asylums and in penal in ~ ~
.itutiOns of those who have had this ", ",
lheritance. Recently more care has "
cen taken to separate other exciting -
luSC8 such as arise from lust, avarice, 49,
C., but the very large percentage i''
i'll remains. Worse even than the oC oC
Imber Of drunkards that can point to " "
4 inebrlate ancestry is the fact that %
many have inherited a weakness of ~
i'll and diminished power of resist p
ace in the presence of temptation.
here is an undermining Of the founda- II
pns--an impairment Of wiIl-power - =;