Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-12-30
TEMPERANCE COLUMN
CONDUCTED BY THE ADDISON
COUNTY |. o. G. T.


This time let us hear from France.
If we we're to accept the deliverences of
certain ones we should think of this land
as blessed with wines and light drinks
that promote temperance and a jovial,
social life and general good health, pro-
noting the welfare of the individual, of
society and of the state.
But France has other blessings In the
form of men who are leaders in scientific
pursuits. The French Academy of
Medicine is one of the most illustrious
scientific bodies IN the world. 1t has
turned its attention to alcohol and its
effects upon the human system and upon
man in general. 1t has also considered
drunkenness in France and its effects
upon the people and its relation to the
country. Here are some resolutions
passed by this ilustrious body after dis
cussion; "The French Academy of
Medicine, believing that the rapid in
crease in the amount of intoxication due
to the manufactured alcohols and the
essences and liquors which they help to
compose, and that the artificial
bouquets oils of wine, aldehydes, and
all compositions intended for the artfi-
cial manufacture Of wines and liquors,
cause a permanent danger to public
health and create, both directly and by
way of heredlty, impulslve and criminal
insanity, and physical and mental degen-
GRAFTON of the Individual and of the race !;
that they constantly attack the very life
and force of the country and greatly
contribute to its depopulation and de-
cadence. Believing, therefore, 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; be-
leving, on the other hand, that science
has demonstrated, both by experimental
study and by chemical observations,
that the most impure and poisonous al
cohols, whatever may be their compost
ton and source, can be converted into
the purest and least poisonous alcohol,
which is none the less always and funda-
mentally poison. Therefore, be it re-
solved, that the absolute rectifcatiOn of
all alcohol be assured by law;
and that all products and compositions
intended in behalf of the manufacture of
artificial wines and liquors
should be the objects of absolutely pro-
hibitive legislation; and that these fun
damental measures should be aided by
others. such as the lessening of the OPP
portunity and temptation, by limiting
the number of licenses"
This dellverence deals especially with
the artificial, or made up drinks, sold in
the saloons of France. Here let us pause
for two considerations. One is the
statement that the prevalence of wines
and light drinks, like beer, keep out the
stronger drinks and hold the people
from drunk enness. 1t does not so work
in France, the land of wines and light
drinks, where the people have favorable
opportunity to get pure wine. 1t does
not so work in the "canteen" of the
United States army. The lighter drinks
sold by the government, or by its per-
mission, in the camps creates a great
deal of disturbance in camp and starts
the drinkers off for something stronger.
Consideration number two is the fact
that artificial products are largely sold
in the saloons of France. feel sure no
one will contradict me in saying that it
is artificial products sold almost exclu-
sively in the saloons of America and in
the saloons of Addison county, Vermont.
1t is stated on good authority that it is
almost impossible to get any alcoholic
liquor of any kind and at any place
that is not an artificial product.
At one of the meetings of the academy,
one of its members, Mr.. ROchard, spoke
as follows about the drinking of good
wines" and ''pure brandies,' which some
of the members had advanced as a thing
to be desired: at will no doubt be
useful to prevent the manufacture of ar
tificial products, but it cannot be sup
posed that the danger will thus be re-
moved. Alcohol is always poison, and
the consumer who can afford to drink
pure brandy may resist longer than the
poor unfOrtunates who poison themselves
in the saloons, but nevertheless he will
succumb to alcoholism in short time"
That agrees with the statement in the
resolutions passed by this same medical
body that the purest and least poisonous
alcohol is none the less always and fun
damentally poison. That is, the very
not food, 1t in no way builds up a
healthy body and gives it no aid to en-
dure the pressure of cold or heat or
work; and many of the best Of physi-
clans say it does no good in sickness.
At later meeting of this same learned
body, "Mr. Laborde gave an account of
certain chemical analyses and expert
ments showing that the very poisonous
effects of the cheap artificial liquors was
due to the presence of furfurol, chemi-
cal product which, in doses of 10 to 30
drops, would kill large dog in few
minutes" AS none of the members
drank such cheap stuff, they felt very
respectable after this deliverance and
thought themselves quite virtuOus in
preventing other people from drinking
it, But at the next meeting this feeling