The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-11
DRUNKENNESS IN GERMANY.

DRUNKENNESS IN GERMANY.
The proposed bill for the repression Of
drunkenness in Germany ls pretty strong
measure even for q paternal government.
It proposes that retail dealers, so far as pos
sible, shall be under obligs tions to suppy
food as well as spirituous refreshments and
that they shall not be permitted to sell
liquor before eight o'clock in the morning.
They must furthermore do all in their power
to hinder the abuse Of spirituous liquors. By
clause nine every spirit dealer is forbidden
to sell spirits to any person below the age Of
sixteen years, or to any visibly drunken
person, CT to any person who within three
years has been punished as a confirmed
drunkard. The spirit dealer is bound to see
that drunken persons are conducted to their
dwellings or handed over to the care Of the
police, and is forbidden to supply liquor on
credit. One OF the most drastic clauses OF
the bill provides that persons who, on &C
count of their drunken habits, are unable to
manage their affairs, or threaten to bring
their families into want or endanger the
safety of others, may be placed under a
guardian, and this person, with the consent
Of the cogrt, may place his ward in an
asylum of inebriates. Where the guardian
does not exercise his rights in this respect
the court my intervene and order COM
initial The bill is the subject OF lively in
terest, especially among the topers.
SOME STATISTICS OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
But few people have an adequate concep.
ton of the magnitude OF the liquor traffic Of
the United States, or of the vast amount e1-
pended yearly in the consumption Of intoxi-
eating beverages. It seems incredible that
the aggregate sum paid by consumers should
exceed the total cost Of bread and meat re-
quired by our whole population OF sixty or
si1ty-flve millions, yet such is the fact and
the official census is the authority for the
statement. According to the statistics col
lected by the Government officials no less
than nine hundred millions OF dollars 60 into
the tils Of the dealers in all kinds o. alcoholic
drinks every year, while the bakers and the
butchers receive but eight hundred and eight
millions or ninety-two millions less than is
paid to the liquor trade.
A further comparison of the census re.
turns is no less suggestive. Thus we find
that the liquor dealer outstrips the dry goods
merchant, ths clothier and the boot and
shoe maker in the race, and comes out ahead
with difference of two hundred and fifty
seven million OF dollars in his favor over all
these
AS to the matter OF education it is hardly
deserving Of mention, for the liquor interests
exceeds It in the proportion Of over ten to
bar-keeper ten dollars to every one that Is
paid to the school teacher.
But still more astounding Is the compar1.
son between the expenditures for spiritual
and spirituous dispensations. Thus 1t ap-
pears that the total salaries o. the clergy OF
all denominations Is less than twenty mil
lions OF dollars, or at the rate OF one dollar
to every ffty-ave which goes into the pockets
Of the liquor dealer.-Cuthotic Reute,c.
THE CURAsILrrY, OF THE INEBRIATE.
The durability follows from the applica-
ton Of certain general principles, the first OF
ings. The drunkard must 20 into quaran-
tine, where all the external conditions Of life
will antagonize his disorder, and assist
nature to return to health. In a quarantine
station or special asylum the diet, baths
exercise, medical study and care, with all
other means, can be applied with military
exactpess. Each special phase OF disease
and form of degeneration can be treated,
fromits particul n symptoms, with parricu.
lar remedies. Nerve and brain rest and
restoration Of all the organic functional
activities, can be obtained by the use OF
means under the care Of the medical man.
Thus the drink impulse Is overcome and dies
away with the increasing vigor OF the mind
and body. Like insanity, drunkenness Is
cured, not by drugs alone, but by building
up the body through all the avenues OF nu-
rition, healthful exercise regulated mental
and physical surroundings, and appropriate
drugs. Drunkenness must be recognized as
a disease legally and the victim forced into
conditions where he can live along the best
sanitary lines of health; where medical
treatment and control can be perfect; and
where physiological and hygienic training in
its broadest and best sense can be applied.
The durability Of the inebriate is far more
certain than that of the insane. The liberty
of both is equally dangerous; one Is recog-
nized; the otner is seldom restrained until he
becomes criminal. The moment man be-
comes O drunkard he forfeits all rights to
liberty and becomes ward Of the State, and
should be controlled by it. It Is dense ignor-
ance that permits anyone to destroy his life
and property by drink, on the supposltion
that he is free moral agent. The inebriate
is mentally and physically sick, and needs
the same help as the insane; and the question
of care is simply one Of adequate means and
remedies to reach the disease.-Dr. T N.
Crothers.