The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-29
ALCOHOL AND LONGEVITY.
Important Information for Those
VINO Wish TO Go TO Their Graves


Prematurely.
What the facts are in regard to this
matter of the influence of alcohol upon
human longevity has been latelya mat
ter of dispute, but the following extracts
from Medical Progress Can be taken Us
fairly representing the truth:
In 1888 the British Medical Associa-
ton appointed committee TO gather
what they termed collective statistics
in regard to the effects of alcohol on
longevity. These statistics were sent
in by the various physicians written to
by the committee, but as the temper
ance movement in England had then
been o. comparative short duration, it
obtained mostly among the young peo.
pie under the age of thirty years. There
being, comparatively, at that time, but
few old persons who were total abtain-
ers, the average life among that class
was necessarily short. Then again, at
that time great many members of the
profession in England were moderate
drinkers themselves, and no doubt were
prejudiced, to greater or less extent,
in favor of that habit.
The old-time saying is true in this
particular, as in others, that if we have
a mote in our eye we cannot set it in
others.
But "both the chairman of the COM
mittee, DR.. Owen, of London, and the
British Medical Journal have repeat
edly denied that the so-called statistics
justified any such differences as the re-
port seemed to convey" The report,
including both the figures and the Brit
ish Medical Associations explanation
of them, was adopted by the Associa-
ton and published by it in the British
Medical Journal of June %, 1888, page
1915. An abstract from this report of
the British Medical Association reads /:
"On the whole, then, in addition to
other information which we have re-
ceived from these returns as to the alco-
holic habits of the inhsbitants of the
country, and as to the relative habits
of different occupations and classes, we
may not unfairly claim to have placed
upon basis the following conclu-
siOns:
II. That habitual indulgence in al
coholic liquors, beyond the moderate
amount, has a distinct tendency to
shorten life, the average shortening be-
ing roughly proportioned to the degree
of indulgence.
"2. That Of men who have passed
the age of twenty-five, the strictly tenn
perative on the average live at least ten
years longer than those who have be-
come decidedly imtemperate. We have
not in these returns the means of COM
ing to any conclusion as to the relative
duration Of life of total abstalners and
habitually temperate drinkers of alco-
holic liquors"
lis very astonishing to any thinking
man who is at all familiar with men of
drinking habits, much more medical
man, who would pretend to give Gre
dence to such a report as that above
stated, and test the credulity of his fel-
low-men by singing his name to 1t. We
presume there is not medical man
who has had any experience in treating
or observing the effects of alcoholic Ii
quors onthe system, but will say that in
temperance tends to the production Of
disease, and the natural inference is
that whatever produces disease shortens
life. 1t would be almost useless and
unnecessary task to state or even allude
to the many diseases due to the use of
alcohol. In making this statement |
am, of course, speaking to medical
men.
"The detrimental influence of what
is called the temperate or moderate use
of both fermented and distilled liquors
on health and the duration of life has
been very clearly demonstrated by the
practical working of life insurance or
ganizations. These institutions, estab-
Iished and maintained exclusively on
financial principles and for financial re-
suits, are developing facts of the great
est value in determining the effects of
social habits and occupations on health
and longevity. For example, in 1917
the United Kingdom Temperance and
General Provident Institution of Lon
don began to issue life policies to total
abstainers from alcoholic drinks and
to non-abstainers on exactly the same
terms, but kept them in seperate sec
tions on the records up TO December
81, 1883, the whole number of policies
issued was 9l,35S, of which two-fifths
were to total abstainers, and three-tifths
to non-abstainers. The rate Of premi
ums paid for policies was the same in
both sections, and was based on uni
form rules, regardsng the expected du
ration of life at any. given age.