The evening times., 1900-01-19
INTEMPERANCE IN PARIS.
Dr. Jacauct's Enquiry SHOWS an In
crease of Alcoholism.
tFrom the Pail Mall Gazctte)


Dr. Jacquef has Just communicated 10 a
medical society the results of an enquiry
on which he has been engaged into the
prcgress of alcoholism in Paris. His facts
and figures are OF the most disquietinS
character. and only too fully bear out the
information derived from other sources as
to the rayages caused By the incredibly
rapid increase il the consumption Of IN
toxicating drinks in the capital
DR.. Jacquet's ob-eryati3n bore more par
ticu!arly on TIE patients treated in the
Paris hospitals out of 4.144 cases per
soaalIy investigated b. the eminent pny-
stefan l.i05, or 29.6l per cent we're found
TO be persons who habtually drank 10 eN-
cess, and whose malady. if not directly
ascribable to alcohol. had been greatly ag-
grayated by the abuse Of stmulants More
over. DR.. Jacquet is convinced that the
percentage given ought in reality to BE-
higher The patients are disposed TO con-
Ceal their eXcesseS-a fact especially no
ticeable in the case of women. who even
when confirmed tOpers. StCutly maintain
that they are models OF sobriety 4 strik-
ing feature Of the situation is thar the
proportion of drunkards greatly augmeIts
when only the more serious cases treated
in the hospitals are considered. Caiculdt-
ed on this basis the percentage of inc
briates rises TO i6.
The perhaps unparalleled facilities for
obtaining drink that exist in Paris, and
the practice rapidly becoming univ ersaI,
of taking aperitifs, or appet.zers. before
meals are considered by DR.. Jacquet to be
among the principal causes of the alarm
ing growth of the drink habit. Women,
in particular those OF the lower classes,
are especially influenced to join the ever
increasing army of tipplers by the fact
that the temptations to indulge in stimu-
lants meet them at every turn. A great
number of small tradesmen, especially
green grocers and coal merchants add to
their income by selling intOXicants. Ser
wants and others can thus obtain drink
without frequenting the bars vine
shops they would be ashamed to enter
Chemists. TOO, are capital offenders. They
have taken advantage of the vogue acquir-
ed by certain much advertised strengthen
ing wines or "quinquinas TO push the
sale of similar products of their own
manufacture. DR.. Jacquet affrms that
they often persuade their customers TO
take one of these connections, which are
merely strongly alcoholized wines sweet
ened and with an admiXture of koa in
the place of prescriptions ordered by a
doctor
But the craze for appetizers is more
deadly still. 1t has spread to all classes
of society, while the drinks swallowed un-
der this pretext-absinthe, vermouth. and
the various ''butters''-are the most per
nicious forms of alcohol in existence
The increase in the consumption Of alb
snthe the most deleterious of all these
poisons, among the working classes is
appalling. Many workmen have now
reached the pitch of drinking absinthe
with their meals, as well as taking it
when they get up in the morning and be-
fore luncheon and dinner. DR.. Jacquet is
of opinion that the habtual taking of alb
sinthe is responsible for much of the NOR
Did irritability displayed by Frenchmen at
the present day.