The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-02-25
SCIENTISTS ON ALCOHOL.
Thinking Men of Germany Becoming
Aroused Over the Liquor Evil.

Germany has long been reputed to be
The paradise of the beer drinker. Diff
ference in climate, in temperament, in
habits, we have been told, totally sep
arate the user of alcoholic drinks in
Germany from one of the same habits in
America, and we have been treated to
delightful views of the German fam
lily, cozily seated in the beer garden,
each member swigging his mug of beer
and enjoying the music. We confess
that we have seen pictures of family life
which seemed to us less gross and more
elevating; but this harmless, diverting
social amusement is the picture we have
been given of the nature of the alcoholic
habit in Germany.
1t is somewhat startling, therefore,
20 learn that leading German specialists
arc becoming greatly aroused over the
liquor evil in Germany. DR.. j. II. w.
Stuckenberg, long pastor of the Ameri-
can church in Berlin, gives in the Voice
a striking array of testimony by lead
ing physicians and professors, and
speaking i'll the gravest terms of the
nature and prevalence of the evil. DR..
a. Flick, professor of physiology in
Wurzburg, though speaking "as
critical scientist" declares that 1.-The
warfare against alcohol is the most i'm
portant phenomenon of our age-moro
important than political action, wars
and peace conventions" Having made
it his speciality to determine the effect
of alcohol on the system, his conclusion
is that "even the moderate dose of al
cohol dimnishes the power of work.
All that is said about the strength pro-
duced by alcohol is deception. The
small glass of the poor man taken dur
irg his hours of labor is undoubtedly in
furious. Every penny which the labor
er pays fer alcoholic drinks is not only
wasted, but also works destructiveIy"
DR.. A. Bear, of Berlin, Royal Medical
counselor and first physician of the
prison at Ploetzenzee, thinks that
drunkenness was never so prevalent
and never so injurious to the public
welfare. He aflirms that alcohol is not
a food, and instead of being benefit,
it destroys the body and ruins health.
Instead of preventing malaria, cholera
and other diseases, alcohol actually pre-
disposes the body to them. He adds:
alcohol destroys the individuality OF
men, paralyZes the will and the physical
energy, makes the individual a slave of his
passions, so that unless he gratities them,
he becomes stupid miserable, and impo-
tent; but if they are gratified they are culti-
waited inordinately so as to terminate
speedily in the destruction of the body and
the end of life"
Even more strongly speaks DR.. L. c.
Donders, Dutch Psychologist:
Never let a drop of whisky mosten the
lips of men. If large quantities destroy
mind and body, small quantities produce
phys!ologiCaly exactly the same effect.
Ihe difference is cumulative, not quail
tative. l do not hesitate to affirm that il
from this day not another drop of Spritu-
Gus liquors was drunk, the appetite for it
would be quoted after 4 few generations,
if not wholly destroyed
DIR. j. Gaule, professor of physiology
in Zurich, declares that the future be-
longs to those who have the courage OF
total abstinence. The man addicted to
morphine, he says, is a ruin in two or
three years. Alcohol gives a longer res
pite, often 10, 20 or 80 years, but it is
equally remorseless, the process being
in essence the same.
Similar testimony is borne by men
from the other great educational CEN
tiers of Germany, as well as from other
European countries. DR.. Fritjof Nam
sen, the famous arctic explorer, de-
clares that it is entirely false to claim
that alcoholic drinks are necessary in
cold climate. They are not only not
needful but absolutely injurious. 1t is
not necessary, however, he adds, to go to
the arctic zone to learn the injurious eff
fects of alcohol; these evil effects are
common experiences. And Jules Clare
tie, French author and member of the
French academy, says: "Unquestion-
ably alcoholism is one of the greatest
plaques of modern times, and against
it we must wage an unrelenting war
fare"
That the use of alcoholic drinks in
Germany and other European countries
is more respectable than here is unques-
tiOnably true. That it is less injurious,
Judged by these distinguished testi.
monies, is very doubtful. Everywhere
the terrible habit is being more and
more deprived of respectable scientific
support, and forced to rely solely on the
evil passions which have all along been
its real basis-depraved physical appe-
tite and greed of gain.-Chicago Adj
vance.