Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-12-11
AND THIS IN FRANCE.

evil In that land. Even the daily pa
pers in America have had columns
about these consultations. AS a result,
the French Academy of Medicine, one
of the most iilustrious scientific bodies
in the world, has adopted a series of
resolutions, not only declaring that the
drink evil has become a permanent
danger" attacking "the very life and
force of the country !" but laying stress
on the fact that even the purest alco-
hol is always and fundamentally a
poison.n
Here is a translation of the resolu-
tions of these doctors of France-of
France, the historic home of wine,
we hare 80 often told is a preventive of
intemperance:
1.-THE French Academy Of Medicine,
believing
THAT the rapid increase in the
amount of intoxication due to the
manufactured alcohols and the es.
sences and liquors which they help to
compose, and that the artificial DO
quets,' oils of wine, aldehydes, and all
compositions intended for the artificial
manufacture of wines and liquors
cause permanent danger to public
health and create, both directly and by
way of heredity, impulsive and crimi-
nal insanity, and physical and mental
degeneration of the individual and of
the race; that they constantly attack
the very life and force of the country,
and greatly contribute.to its depopula-
ton and decadence; believing, there
fore, that it is urgently necessary in
the interest of human and national
honor to avert as far as possible this
danger, and the evil, already rooted,
which it produces; believing, on the
other hand, that science has demon.
strated, both by experimental study
and by chemical observation, that the
most impure and poisonous alcohols,
whatever may be their composition
and source, can be converted into the
purest and least poisonous alcohol.
which is none the less always and fun
~damentally a poison; therefore, be it
resolved,
THAT the absolute rectifcation of
all alcohol should be assured by law:
-. and that all products and compo.
sltions intended in behalf of the manu-.
facture of artificial wines and liquors
should be the objects of absolutely
prohibitive legislation; and that these
fundamental measures should be aided
by others, such as the lessening of the
opportunity and temptation, by limit
ing the number of licenses. :"
Since the approval of these resolu-
tons, the Academy has had consider.
able discussion over the way to make
them effective. Foremost among those
taking part in the discussion has been
NJ. Rochard, who, after referring to the
statistics that indicated that the per
capita consumption of alcohol had
doubled in France since 1885, and the
amount of insanity due to drink had
doubled since 1880, spoke as follows
about the drink of good wines" and
pure brandies," which some of the
members had advanced as the thin g to
be desired. Said M. Rochard:
1T will no doubt be useful to pre-
vent the manufacture of artificial pro
ducts, but it can not be supposed that
The danger will thus be removed. AL
cohol is always a poison, and the con.
sumer who can afford to drink pure
brandy may resist longer than the un-
fortunates who poison themselves in
the saloons, but nevertheless he will
succumb to alcoholism in a short time.
-. The coalition of retailers with the
habitues of the wine shops, the union
of those who live by alcohol with those
who die by it, ought to be opposed by
all interested in public health.n
Speaking of legal restrictions, NJ.
Rochard said:
VI know that this is difficult to &C.
complisb. Alcohol is a terrible power
The professional hierarchy of which
have just spoken THE manufacturers
and dealers holds the country enlaced
in the meshes of a net of unavoidable
self interest without pity. Alcohol is
the great impartial elector which flows
for all the world on election day. But
it never allows itself to be opposed"
One would almost think that it was
a Prohibition crank who was talk
ing, instead of a prominent member of
the greatest medical body in the world.
At a following meeting NJ. Laborde
gave an account of certain chemical
analyses and experiments showing that
the very poisonous effects OF the cheap
artificial liquors was due to the pres.
ence of "furfurol, a chemical product
which, in doses of 10 to 80 drops drops,
would kill a large dog in a few min
utes.
This made all the members feel very
Pitchers Castoria.