The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-08
FRENCH DYING
FROM ALCOHOLISM
Use of StimuIants Knows No
Bounds,
BABY is GIVEN II
Government PowerleSs to
Change Course of Events,
BABY is GIVEN IT

Paris, March IN. Mesureur is a man
who has the courage of his convictions
He is the radical Minister of the Bour-
seois Cabinet of 1896, who had the daring
to cry out: Let us veer toward Social
ism.'' and three years later, as deputy.
IT was he that pronounced the historic
word of the occasion, when NJ. Louhet'
newly President was being insulted with
all his Ministers at the race course: "Je
men fousi" Granslatable only by the
Duke of Wellington's Il don't care
tupenny d-rO, said NJ. Mesureur, as ne
walked calmly through the paddock, while
noble ladies and anti-Dreyfusards de-
uonstrated frenziedly around him He
lost his seat in Parliament at the recent
elections, and the Government promptly
provided for him by installing him as
director of Public Assistance answering
.n an exaggerated manner to the charities
without the Correction, Department OF
New York city rule). M Mesureur
Rhould be an excellent man for this po-
sition, which gives him the high hand
over the multitudinous hospitals and
charitable institutions of Paris, with the
ACCOMPANYING works of outdoor relief, and
he has the courage to draw his own con-
Illusions He began life as industrial
zraughtsnlan, and worked his way up
first TO the Municipal Council, of which
he became President and afterwards
served fifteen years in Parliament. His
district comprised the crowded quarters
east and west of the Paris Bourse, and
he knows thoroughly the peculiar needs
and temptations of the little people
RI alfhOngb
the spirit of opposition to Government
ingrained in Parisians, they have re-
1ected him for a Nationalist opponent.
To one who interests himself in the
French masses. nothing is so important
neither commerce, nor industry, nor pow
erty-as their inordinate, ever-increasing.
STEADY consumption of alcohol. 1t is
question, not of drunkenness, but of plain
continuous, respectable alcoholism-the
ecrewing up of nerves and heating of
blood. day and night, year in and year
out, from the killing Of the worm by
the glass of fortified white wine on get
ring up, through the frequent pick-me-
UPS during the daily occupations. to the
bitters or absinthe taken appetizers
before eating (the French call all this
class OF drugged drinks "aperitifs,
openers'). with the little glass for the
coffee afterwards, and whatever social
drinking in all seemliness there may be
during the evening at the cafe or in front
OF the zine
Foreigners accustomed TO the ignoble
spreer remain in admiration of a people
that can moderate its thirst so regularly
and carry off its liquor with such de-
corum: but too often there is a regularity
only in a decorous excess. 1t is not
drunkenness, once more, alcoholism in the
form most difficult TO handle from the
side of health. The drunkard is nui-
sance. an intermittent lunatic cause
of senseless tragedies; but the French
.-alcohoique" is an anti-hygenic phe-
nomenon, breeding tuberculosis. epilep-
sy. and general insanity in himself and
his descendants. when the latter are not
simply criminaloids.
Patriotic Frenchmen long since saw the
danger To their race as well as to their
nation. and causes have been investigated
and remedies proposed without number.
Doctors have been foremost in proclaim
ing the necessity of educating the people
Or the subject. so that they may know
the danger to which they expose them
selves. Seven years ago NJ. Rambaud,
Minister of Public instruction in the Me
lire Cabinet. introduced - anti-alcohoIic
reaching in the primary schools of
France. The movement has continued.
with the usual opposition cries of ex-
nggeration. fanaticism. and the rest.
NJ. Mesureur. having the courage of his
convictions has now had the plain truth
about alcoholism stated in a few terse
sentences. giving the facts in popular
style. and all this has been printed in
large type on placards that are posted
up all around Paris This might not
have excited more than passing atten-
zion, IF scence-infallible regardless of
the individual. brutslly frank in its re-
Violations which are not 10 be qualified or
Gisputed-had not crossed the path in the
person of NJ. Duclaux. director of the
Pasteur Institute.
NJ. DuclauN adds 10 the courage of his
own convictions that sublime uncon-
seriousness Of the individual which be-
longs 10 men Of science occupying them
selves only with the species He led the
'intellectuels' in the pro-Dreyfus cam
paign. and was there TT one with NJ
Mesureur. He is a little past sixty and
has long been notablity in the chem
istry of the infinitely little, principally
microbes. for quarter Of a century. He
was a favorite disciple of Pasteur. and.
like him. is not a doctor Of medicine
which perhaps explains why so many
members Of the Medical Faculty look
askance at his work. In lSSS he was made
the first professor Of chemical biology. a
chair which had Just been created at the
TN, Il. l.
OF Pasteur. he was chosen to succeed
him at the institute.
II IS in the name OF the American ex-
periments Of Professor Atvater and his
associate that N. DUclauX has come for
ward 10 spite the doctors and NJ Mesur-
cur. by declaring that for science alcohol
IS food and valuable source OF nutri-
ton promptly assimlable by the system.
To the interviewers that came for con-
nrmation Of the good tidinss. he replied.
when the question of abuse was brought
forward by Struggling his shoulders: let
individuals take care Of themselves and
- learn wisdom and moderation Science
apparently no mere cares for them than
did the Roman rraetor for triies when
laying down the immutable LAW. In fact.
this seems TO he the general tone taken
by The ponufs of science. who decline
70 become sociologues NJ Rerthelot
who is now the most illustrious name in
French science. long since put alcoholism
on this basis when he was questioned
about the eNpedtence and efficacy Of ieris-
lstion: Il 60 not see THAI much can De
done until the human species becomes
wiser. more master OF himself"
This lcaviug the evil To be settled bv