New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-28
KING DEATH AND KING ALCOHOL.
THRONED-WHY THE DEPOSITION OF
ONE WOULD BE ENOUGH

II IS time to call a halt In the serum trade and
70 consider before II is allowed TO go on unre-
strained whether It is not likely to go too far. or
whether II may not already have gone too far. II
IS a good thing TO cure hydrophobia, in the rare
cases where II occurs It is excellent TO cure dph
iberia. in the many in which 1t occurs vac
clnation has now few opponents Yet II is ques-
ton whether the doctors not going too fast in
their discoveries
Two reports now arrive together-one that
process for preventing old age is almost perfected.
and the other that a cure for alcoholism IL
already discovered. The men who say that they
are about to prevent old age do not OF course.
mean what they say. They mean that they are
trying TO prolong life The easiest way 10 prevent
old ago would be TO kill ones self in middle age.
Neither is II likely that the doctors will succeed in
preventing It By the more elaborate means of max
ing # take a hundred years to be eighty
years old what they mean IL simply TO prolong
life. To keep a from growing old without
killing him seems contrary to pure mathematics.
and they might ms well try 10 make amendments
in the multiplication table.
They talk in the loosest sort OF way about II
altogether. ono OF the learned men who was In
duced TO speak for publication said that old age
was an abnormal condition. He illustrates thus:
I'VE desire 10 eat. and eat: thirsty and
drink Eating and drinking. then, are normal.
being preceded by desire TO satisfy those longings.
Old age. on the contrary, comes without that de-
desire for death"
Would It not be Just as easy 10 say mo man
desires before birth to be born. and therefore.
birth IL abnormar7 The hypothesis that every
thing for which there is instructive desire Is
abnormal and wrong will hardly hold water. There
IS instructive desire for breathing for the circu-
latIon Of the blood. for the processes OF digestion
for the growing Of the hair Therefore all these
things abnormal
The anu-acoholic serum is a different matter. II
is going to make its victims hate everything alco-
holic To such an extent that their chahng dishes
Will have 10 be made 10 go by electricity. The re-
port says The serum is extracted from the veins
Of horse primarily rendered alcoholic by artificial
means" Tho learned doctors dc not divuige what
they would regard as natural means OF rendering
a horse alcoholic, but horses are sober race. ana
no doubt artificial means are necessary With the
Increasing use OF the automobile many horses will
have leisure TO get drunk and stay drunk for the
benefit OF science. The noble animal Is called upon
In every emergency and seldom falls.
But as was said at first. the doctors are going
TOO fast II death is TO be declared abnormal ana
abolished why bother about alcoholism? Put
stop to death and then let alcoholism go on How
many men would say. II alcoholism were to be abol-
ished: Nay take my life and all; pardon not
that" II all the Joy Is TO out or life, why take
such pains preserve the life. Achilles preferred
a short and glorious ufe; 30 would many man
to-day But think OF long and glorious life! When
life Is so assured that alcoholism can no longer XIII
It's victim nor it's victim kill anybody else. 1t Will
have lost It's sting and horses may as well be LEFT
to the total abstinence which they seem 10 enjoy
The only danger will be that when alcoholism u
no longer dangerous II will be no longer attractive
but probably science will find remedy for 'h.'
evil as It does for all others