Marble Hill press., 1895-01-03
GENERAL NEWS.
The Drink Problem.

equations have sent all over the
country letters like the following:
Washington, D. c., Dec. 10, 1894.
"Dear Sir: AS you will see by
the inclosed memorandum a com
mittee of fifty, of which Seth Low
of Columbia college, New York, is
president, is engaged in the study
of the liquor problem. Among the
questions which seem important in
connection with the work of the
subcommittee on the physiological
and pathological aspects of the
drink problem there may be men
toned the following: g..
~. Is the regular consumption
of moderate quantity of whisky,
wine or beer conductive to the
maintenance of health and working
power in any class of men? If so,
in what class, and what is the aver
age quantity thus useful!
"2. What is the quantity of
whisky, wine or beer which the
average man in good health may
consume daily without special risk
of injuring his health? Does this
vary in connection with variation S
of age, of climate, or Of occupation,
and what are those variationsl
The committee is fully aware of
the difficulty Of securing trust
worthy evidence with regard to
these questions, but still ventures to
hope that if the objects and methods
commend themselves to the intel
ligence Of the community an at
tempt to collect statistical informa-
ton will not be wholly fruitless.
With this object in view, the ques-
tions on the inclosed form are adj
dressed to a large number of men
in various parts Of the country who
are above 10 years of age, and are
engaged in mental work of a high
class. The list includes the names
of judges, lawyers. scientific and
medical men, bankers, fnanciers,
managers of corporations, etc.
If you are willing to contribute
the result of your personal expert
ence to the solution of the problem
YOU are earnestly requested to an
swer the questions on the inclosed
sheet and return the same at your
earliest convenience to DR.. John s.
Billings, Army Medical museum
Washington, D. c., for which pur'
pose an envelope is inclosed. The
answers thus received will be used
in the compilation Of statistical
tables, but the individual reports
will be held strictly confidential;
they need not be signed, and nc
names will be given in any case"
The other officers of this com,
mittee besides President Low are
Charles Dudley Warner, vice presi
dent; Prof. Francis Peabody, secre
tary; William E. Dodge, treasurer
The executive board consists of the
aforementioned officers and DR.. J
s. Billings, president; G. W. Elliot
Col. Jacob L. Green, and Gen
Francis A. Walker. President Low
said yesterday that this committee
has been working for severa
months and hopes from these letters
to obtain valuable statistics. 1t il
the aim to secure a body Of facts
relating to the medical, legislative
ethical and economic aspects of the
liquor question, which will serve
as a basis for intelligent public ant
private action.
With these letters are incloseC
blank forms on which are printed
the following questions:
|. Age. 2. Occupation. B. Arr
YOU a total abstainer? 4. fso, have
you always been so? B. Do yo'
drink spirits, wine or beer occa
sionally at a social function, bu
not Jaily1 6. Do you drink spirits
wine or beer every day as q matter
of habit If so, please state tn
kind and the amount of liquor thu
consumed. (If affirmative answer
are given TO either of the last two
questions please state whether an!
particular form Of alcoholic drinl
is in your case found to be special. !.
desirably or undesirable.) 7. Arr
YOU aware Of any chronic disturb
snce of your health; and if so
what Ia its nature? 8. Give an,
facts derived from your persona