The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-26
NEW Books

THE PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF THE LIQUOR
! PROBLEM 1.-TWO volumes). Boston: Hough-
ton, Mifftn & Co. Price, 81. 80 net.
These volumes embody the fourth re-
port of the series on various important as
poets Of the liquor problem, published un-
der the direction Of the Committee Of
Fifty organized in 1893 for the purpose of
making trustworthy scientific investiga-
lions as to the effects Of alcoholic drinks
upon the human body to settle, so far as
possible, the questions as to the nature
and amount of such effects and bring
about a correct Judgment as to the merits
of the conflicting opinions as to the effects
Of the moderate use of alcoholic drinks,
expressed by writer's and teachers on the
subject. The scope of the investigation
was determined by a committee of the
Fifty" consisting Of Dr. J. S. Billings,
U. S. A., General Francis Walker of the
Massachusetts, Institute of Technology,
and Professor r. H. Chittenden, director
Of Sheffield Scientific school of Yale Uni
versity. The inquiry, by this committee
suggested, has been followed exhaustively
by the most eminent scientists In the
country, the first report covering the legis-
lative aspects of the liquor problem; the
second, it's economic aspects, and the third
relating to Substitutes for the Saloon,''-
! most interesting discussion Of that sub
ject. The present and fourth report con-
| a vast mass Of facts on the physiological
and pathological branch Of the liquor prob
lem touching the influence Of alcohol and
alcoholic drinks on digestion and secre-
| ton; it's effects upon brain workers in this
country; the relations Of drink habits to
insanity; the influence of alcohol on
| growth and development and its influ-
! ence IN acute form on the normal vital
! resistance Of rabbits to infection. The
conclusions from the valuable facts gath
cred are that the effects of a moderate
or occasional use of alcoholic drinks on
man differ greatly in different individuals
and depend on constitutional peculiarities.
| age, occupation, climate, etc. They agree
1 that science and the experience of life
have exploded the theory that alcohol
| gives any persistent increase of muscular
power; alcohol and effective work are in
compatible. The principle of the Very
moderate use of alcohol at the proper
time and place, Is the only principle COM
patible with its nom harmfulness or with
possible benefits to be derived from it.
The moderate; use is believed to be half
a pint Of table wine in the twenty four
hours, under the restrictions mentioned,
1 and three ounces of whisky well diluted
and taken only at lunch and dinner. The
nutritfye value Of alcohol is adjudged
small. It is shown that many so-called
Temperance drinks and family medi-
|
alcohol, some of the latter containing 26
/ per cent of it per bottle. Not over 20 per
cent Of our male population are total
1 abstainers and not over per cent are
i positively drinkers in such excess as to
cause evident injury to health. OF the re-
manning Is per cent SO per, cent are Oc-
casional drinkers and the remainder may
be classed as regular moderate drink
ers. About 80 per cent Of American brain
workers use alcoholic drinks occasionally
or regular In moderation. The committee
l find the moderate use Of liquor most likely
to be harmful to young persons on &C.
count of the danger Of its leading to ex
cess. The injurious effect of an alcoholic
drink is in proportion to the amount OF al
cohol contained in it, and, for this rea-
son, wine and beer are less injurious than
the distilled liquor. Beer, wine and
diluted whisky are seldom used for food
purposes but mainly for their peculiar ef-
1 feet upon the brain and in large quantities
and for a few persons Of peculiar tempera-
ment, even in moderate quantities, they
are poisonous. Alcoholic drinks are utter
! ly useless as preventives of infections OF
contagious disease, and lessen the power
of the organism to resist the effects OF
1 the cause of such disease. The committee
find that much Of the, methods and sub
4 stance Of the so-called scientific temper
ance instruction in the public schools is
4 unScientif1c and undesirable. The tenn
q perance instruction should be given to the
older pupils rather than the young chill
dren. 1t should be a part Of some ele-
mentary instruction in physiology and by
4 gtene- 1T should be taught say the com
2. rnittee, chat alcoholic drinks are almos
always useless expense, that their use
in excess is the cause of much disease
4 suffering. and poverty, and of many
crimes; but that such use is sometimes
!. the result rather than the cause, of dis
ease. It should not be taught that the
), drinking Of one or two glasses Of beel
or wine by a grownup person is very
dangerous, for it is not true, and many
4 children know by their own home expert
i ence that 1t is not true The findings o
s. the committee which makes the report tt
: the Committee of Fifty of which Sell
!, Low, LID, mayor of New York city Il
president, are based on carefully ascer
. tanned facts It is trustworthy an,
straight report handicapped by nobody
Il special theories, but based on persona
:. scientific inquiries.
g THE. MAGAZINES
Everybody's has among its Intimat
/ Portraits" full-page of Major Genera
Young, chief of the new general arm,
staff; Of the great concert singer, Madam