Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-03-27
a NEEDED REVIVAL.

stinence from All Minus oA
y Beverages.
There is urgent present need OF more
effective teaching among the masses
concerning the use OF intoxicants. Inc
increase in the production and con-
sumption especially Of fermented liquors
in the last quarter of a century is start
ling. The quarterly report OF the chlet
Of the United States Bureau OF Status
tics. of the Treasury Department, for
the three months ending March 81, 1882
Colonel w. f. Switzler, being then the
official head of the Bureau, states that
there were consumed in the United
| States during the year 1888, OF malt
I~ioucrs, 767, 5S7, O56 gallons; OF distilled
spirits, rs, s45, 49, gallons; and OF wines,
49, 1856, 06s ~gallons-a grand total OF al
kinds, of $40, 767, 476 gallons OF liquors.
This is about IA. 30 gallons per capita OF
the entire population of the country.
Deducting abstainers, it indicates a sui
larger per capita consumption OF liquors
bv those who do drink. The large ma
,ority of drinkers, moderate and Inn
moderate. are men. As under our form
of government men, at the polls n IN
halls of legislation, determine legal
methods for the regulation, or prohlpl-
ton, OF the sale of intoxicants' 1t Is
matter of the utmost Importance that a
majority at least of the men be won over
To the ranks of the abstainers who VII
intelligently and conscientiously refrain
from their use. Men who are wont TO
use intoxicants, eyen occasionally IN
moderate quantities, will not generany
be inclined, either as voters, legislators
or executive officers, to do much to stop
their manufacture and sale.
In the minds of many otherwise intel
lioent people there fingers the conVlc-
ton that in reality, If not abused ="
alcoholic liquors, especially fermented
~liouors. NAV be taken without injury IN
health. and in sickness, with essential
benefit.
In Europe. especially in Great Britain
and to some extent nov on the contl-
9 nent. eminent medical men are doing
much TO dispel this illusion by teaching
with the authority OF enlightened
h science that in health they may ana
; should be wholly dispensed with n IL
= sickness that they are useful only In :
limited sphere and when prescribed
with scientific accuracy. somewhat
singularly. on this side Of the Atlantic
where the earnest Temperance agitation
Years q originated, it has now rela
lively less support and encouragement
from eminent and leading members o
:. the medical profession than abroad. Ih'
. Temperance reform, in its educatlona
and preventive aspect, greatly needs Il
y this era more help from the medlca
profession, whose representatives at
accepted by the people generally as IN
Q trne e~xnonents of the lessons OF sclenc
: concerning alcoholic beverages, as !
= other matters pertaining to health an
physical economy.
One grand pioneer in American sclei
IN tifc alcoholic investigation survive
still to render most valuable service
. Dir. N. S. Davis, of Chicago, the tatht
and founder oil the great American Me-
;cal Association. In a recent pamphle
NJ, npblished by the National Temperate
~ Society. he discusses, from the scienti
ic doint of view, with marked aoln'
and with the authority OF an expert
7, large experience and observation, tl
influence ofalcohol on the human systei
= esnecially as used in beer and wine, al
he declares unqualifedly that there
n no Greater or more destructive error e
;sting in the public mind than the b
= lief thai the use of fermenteo anu u
OF titled drinks does no harm SO long
they do not ~intoxicate." lie turth
declares that the oft-repeated popul
W. nhrase: at is not the temperate use Q
tes' the abuse of alcoholic drinks that dc
. harm /. embodies s'the error which he'
to rob more than 100, 900 persons OF fr'
R sr five to twenty years of lie each in I
MT, limited States, through the gradual
lgnt velopment of chronic structural d
pre- eases induced by the daily use OF be
rec. ale. wine or distilled spirits In quar
Z. ties so moderate as at no time 10 ?
duce intoxication." He maintains u
a nopular error but little less mlschl
Gus is the opinion widely preyale
that the substitution of beer and W
for distilled spirits promotes Temp
II once and lessons the evil effects OF al
bol on the health and morals OF th
who use them. His pamphlet Is repi
with most valuable instruction on
alcohol question, both for the med
N profession and the general public
IN know of nothing more absolutely
.1g elusive in behalf of total abstinence
There should be a general reylva
total-abstinence agitation which 81
make 1890 memorable as a year OF p
ress in converting those people, !
and women, who are now consumer
- alcoholics and patrons OF the brew
the distillery and the saloon, 70 an
acknowledgement, in theory n prac,
of the wisdom and duty OF personal
~stinence from all kinds OF intoxlca
beverages.
In this greatly-needed revival VI
~ tan ministers and members OF cnur
IN should take the lead. Withis the en-
nothing is worse for the spiritual
fare of its members than the alcof
paralysis which injurious social or
ing usages beget, and In the wori
- ~1uvarfmI Cnl